Rout of Derry has Joyce's Tribesmen back in top flight

Galway returned to Division One in style after an 11-point hammering of a previously unbeaten Derry side at Owenbeg.

With Derry winning the toss and electing to play against the stiff breeze, Galway made them pay a heavy price, running in three first-half goals and making the second half immaterial with a breathtaking opening 35 minutes.

Goals from the brilliant Matthew Tierney, Damien Comer and Dessie Conneely and saw the Tribe lead 3-08 to 0-04 and even a second-half red card for Paul Conroy, as well as a black card for Owen Gallagher, made little difference to the scoreboard.

Derry eventually finished with 13 men after a second-half red card for Gareth McKinless which rules him out of next week's trip to Navan while Ciaran McFaul was also shown a late black card.

Those were mere footnotes as Padraig Joyce's Tribesmen strolled over the promotion finish line with one game to spare ahead of next weekend's trip to Roscommon.

Derry's two changes from the draw in Dr Hyde Park last week were enforced.

An injury to Conor McCluskey meant a start for Lachlan Murray while Shane McGuigan's controversial suspension means Ciaran McFaul, who was introduced off the bench against Roscommon, returned.

Galway also made two changes from the side that defeated Clare.

Captain Sean Kelly and Conneely came into the starting 15 with former Antrim player, Gallagher, and Shane Walsh dropping to the bench.

If the setting was picturesque for a game tantamount to a promotion play-off, a stiff breeze blowing straight down the Ownebeg pitch was always going to play a major role in proceedings with Galway electing to use the elements to its full effect in the opening half.

Derry, who won the toss, were camped inside their own 45 for most for the first 35