13. 40 Welcome to Pearse Stadium where it is the same old story in the west: the weather is wet and miserable.  There won’t be a huge crowd here in Salthill for this Division Two League opener.

13.41 No word of any late changes so both teams should line out as follows:

Galway: Manus Breathnach; Donal O’Neill, Finian Hanley, Johnny Duane; Cathal Sweeney, Gary Sice, Gary Sweeney; Niall Coleman, Fiontan O’Curraoin; John O’Brien, Michael Martin, Sean Denvir; Sean Armstrong, Michael Meehan, Danny Cummins.

Derry: Eoin McNicholl; Ryan Ferris, Dermot McBride, Carlus McWilliams; Christy McKaigue, Mark Lynch, Sean Leo McGoldrick; Patsy Bradley, PJ McCloskey; Enda Lynn, Ryan Bell, Daniel Heavron; Colin Devlin, Eoin Bradley, James Kielt.

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).

There is one late change on the Galway team.  Mountbellew-Moylough’s Joss Moore will start instead of Donal O’Neill.  Both teams have just entered a Pearse Stadium pitch that doesn’t look in great condition.

This should be a decent game in Salthill.  Galway limped out of the Championship badly last year losing to Sligo and Antrim.  Manager Alan Mulholland hasn’t made wholesale changes, but it will be interesting to see how the maroons cope without Padraic Joyce and Joe Bergin.  For the visitors Brian McIver is in the hotseat now and he will want his team to make a statement at Pearse Stadium.

One duel that could be tasty is the potential clash of Finian Hanley and Eoin Bradley.  Will Derry be able to drill enough ball inside?  How will Galway cope at centrefield?  Can Fiontan O’Curraoin deliver on his underage promise at the highest level?  That is what the locals are looking out for.

Galway 0-1 Derry 0-0 Nice early point from Galway.  Michael Meehan’s pass was on the money.  So was Sean Armstrong’s finish.

Galway 0-2 Derry 0-0 Galway have been lively early on here.  Michael Martin has just added a fine score from play.

Galway 0-3 Derry 0-0 Michael Martin has kicked another point from play for Galway, who are motoring well in Pearse Stadium.

Galway 0-4 Derry 0-0: 10 mins-Michael Meehan has just slotted over a free for Galway, who are ruling the game in the early stages here.  Gary Sice has settled impressively at centre back.

Galway 0-5 Derry 0-1: 15 mins-PJ McCloskey has landed a neat point for Derry, but Galway reply instantly through Danny Cummins.  Fiontan O’Curraoin’s delivery was delightful.

Galway 0-6 Derry 0-1: 19 mins- Galway have been highly impressive early on here.  Michael Martin has just kicked his third point from play.

Galway 0-6 Derry 0-3: 25 mins- Still a tale of Galwegian supremacy at Pearse Stadium.  PJ McCloskey has kicked two points for Derry and Ryan Bell one, but Galway are well on top.  There has been a few flashes of class from Michael Meehan too.

Galway 0-6 Derry 0-4: 31 mins- The woodwork comes to Derry’s rescue.  Sean Denvir dashed through on a good run, but his powerful shot smashed the crossbar.  A couple of plays later James Kielt lands a smashing point for Derry.  Game on.

Galway 0-8 Derry 0-4: half-time- Galway finish the first half strongly with two points from Michael Meehan.  Overall the four point cushion is probably a fair reflection of what has happened so far in Salthill.  The Tribesmen have controlled chunks of a game that is being played in difficult conditions.

Galway 0-8 Derry 0-5: 37 mins-Patsy Bradley has rifled over a long range score for Derry at the start of the second half.

Goal for Galway!-38 mins

Galway 1-8 Derry 0-6: 39 mins- Galway have got a goal and there was more than a touch of good fortune about it.  Michael Martin’s fisted effort hit the crossbar and Michael Meehan, ever the opportunist, palmed the loose ball over the line.  Ryan Bell has responded with a free for Derry.

Galway 1-9 Derry 0-8: 44 mins- It is just like old times in Pearse Stadium because Michael Meehan is in the groove.  The gifted Caltra attacker has brought his total so far to 1-4, including 1-2 from play.  Fitness is temporary, class is permanent!

Galway 1-9 Derry 0-10: 47 mins- The visitors are making steady progress in Salthill.  Eoin Bradley’s free taking has helped trim the deficit down to two points.  Goalkeeper Eoin McNicholl made a brilliant double save to deny Galway’s Danny Cummins too.

Galway 1-9 Derry 0-11: 50 mins- It is getting tight and tense.  Derry have hit four points on the spin and now only trail by the minimum.

Galway 1-10 Derry 0-11: 53 mins-Galway have just ended a 10 minute search for a score.  Substitute Gary O’Donnell’s point might be crucial.

Galway 1-11 Derry 0-12: 57 mins- It is moving along nicely here in Salthill.  Derry have been dominant after the restart, but another Galway replacement Paul Conroy has clipped a point.  Conroy, a surprise omission, split the uprights from an acute angle.

Galway 1-13 Derry 0-13: 60 mins- Ten to go in Salthill and the issue is delicately poised.  PJ McCloskey and Galway substitute Eoin Concannon have swapped points.  Interestingly Concannon is the third Galway replacement to score.

Galway 1-14 Derry 0-14: 63 mins- Michael Meehan has done it again.  The trademark distance free floated over with supreme skill. Derry substitute Raymond Wilkinson replies for Derry, though

Galway 1-15 Derry 0-14:69 mins- A minute of normal time remains in Salthill.  Referee Michael Duffy has indicated there will be two minutes of additional time.  For any stattos out there Mark Hehir becomes the fourth Galway sub to score.

Full time: Galway 1-15 Derry 0-15