Goals from captain Seán Kelly and wing-forward Cein Darcy in the second half proved decisive as Galway built on their Connacht championship title by putting Derry to the sword at Pearse Stadium.
Derry were reduced to 14 men after 21 minutes when wing-back Gareth McKinless was sent off after he stamped on Damien Comer after pulling down the Galway full-forward as he charged forward.
Galway led by 0-08 to 0-06 at the break despite playing against the wind, with Derry shooting five wides in addition to dropping several balls short into the hands of Galway goalkeeper Connor Gleeson.
At the time of the sending off, the sides were deadlocked at 0-04 apiece but Derry never led again and suffered successive defeats for the first time in six years of league and championship action.
Derry’s hopes of a good start after their Ulster final defeat to Donegal was achieved with early points from Paul Cassidy and Emmett Bradley, despite starting without Conor Doherty and Eoin McEvoy.
But with Paul Conroy impressive around the middle of the field, Galway settled and they hit the front through Rob Finnerty when he pointed the free following the dismissal of McKinless.
Ethan Doherty equalised but three in a row from Conroy, Finnerty and John Daly put Galway three ahead before Shane McGuigan, who finished with four points, reduced the margin to 0-08 to 0-06 at the interval.
Conor Glass and Lachlan Murray pointed to tie the game in the opening five minutes after the restart but then Finnerty edged Galway in front before they pulled away when skipper Kelly finished to the net after corner-back Diarmuid Baker had blocked his initial effort.
McGuigan pulled back a point but Galway hit three in a row to lead by 1-12 to 0-09 after 52 minutes.
Ciaran McFaul and Conroy exchanged points before Mickey Harte’s men rallied with a couple of points from Murray and one from Brendan Rodgers to leave a goal between them seven minutes from time.
But they were unable to complete the comeback and Galway sealed it when Darcy palmed to the net after exchanging passes with Daniel O’Flaherty moments after McGuigan had been denied by Gleeson at the other end.
McGuigan and Donnacha Gilmore pulled back points for Derry in the closing stages but they never looked like getting a goal against a Galway side who have only conceded five all year.
Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, John Daly (0-02); Paul Conroy (0-03), Matthew Tierney (0-01); Johnny Heaney (0-01), John Maher, Séan Kelly (1-00); Robert Finnerty (0-04, 0-02f), Damien Comer, Shane Walsh (0-02).
Subs: Cein Darcy (1-00) for Comer (47), Cillian McDaid for Maher (58), Daniel Ó Faherty for Kelly (61), Cillian Ó Curraoin (0-01) for Finnerty (64), Liam Ó Conghaile for Heaney (65).
Derry: Odhran Lynch; Conor McCluskey, Christopher McKaigue, Diarmuid Baker; Brendan Rogers (0-01), Gareth McKinless, Ciarán McFaul (0-02); Conor Glass (0-01), Emmett Bradley (0-01); Ethan Doherty (0-01), Paul Cassidy (0-01), Declan Cassidy; Lachlann Murray (0-03), Shane McGuigan (0-04, 0-01f), Niall Toner.
Subs: Donncha Gilmore (0-01) for D Cassidy (ht), Eunan Mulholland for Toner (48), Cahir McMonagle for Murray (67), Shea Downey for McFaul (69).
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).
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