Galway will go into their 4 July Connacht Championship showdown with Roscommon boosted by this victory at Pearse Stadium as they carved out a six-point win.
It's Galway’s first competitive victory since they defeated Tyrone in the league in February last year and will be a big boost to manager Padraic Joyce after last week’s 22-points loss to Kerry.
Rob Finnerty, one of three late changes made by Joyce, was the standout performer for Galway in the opening half as they built a 1-07 to 0-08 lead despite playing against the strong breeze.
The Salthill/Knocknacarra clubman kicked four points in the opening half, the first of them from a mark and then three from play.
Roscommon, having opted to take the elements in the opening half, struggled to make it count and by the break had only registered two points from play, with Ciarain Murtagh and captain Enda Smith hitting the target.
Roscommon found themselves 1-03 to 0-05 behind by the first water break, with Paul Kelly giving Galway a perfect start with a goal after three minutes after being set up by Damien Comer.
Comer fisted over a point from a rebound after Roscommon goalkeeper Colm Lavin had saved well from Walsh. Galway then pushed the lead out to 1-05 to 0-05 when Walsh pointed a free.
Roscommon hit back with a pointed free from Murtagh and a good effort from captain Smith but Finnerty responded with two for Galway.
Donie Smith cut the gap to two points with his third free just before the break. That left it 1-07 to 0-08 at the end of a foul-ridden half where each team was awarded a dozen frees.
Three points from Walsh and another from Finnerty, with Donie Smith and Murtagh responding, left Galway leading by 1-11 to 0-10 after 47 minutes and they took a four-point lead into the second water break after Walsh and Donie Smith exchanged points.
Donie Smith added a free to cut the gap to a goal with 13 minutes remaining but Comer landed a good effort to restore their four-point advantage before Walsh pushed it out to five with a superb point from play.
Murtagh gave Roscommon hope when he fisted a Shane Killoran delivery to the net but then Galway found the net when Tomo Culhane fisted home after goalkeeper Lavin failed to deal with a delivery from another sub Dessie Conneely.
Galway: Bernard Power; Sean Kelly, Seán Mulkerrin, Jack Glynn; Kieran Molloy, Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke; Matthew Tierney, Paul Conroy; Paul Kelly (1-00), Damien Comer (0-02), Finnian Ó'Laoi; Robert Finnerty (0-05, 1m), Eamonn Brannigan, Shane Walsh (0-07, 5f).
Subs: Peter Cooke for P Kelly (42), Johnny Heaney (0-01) for Brannigan (49), Dessie Conneely for Finnerty (61), Tomo Culhane (1-01) for Tierney (61), Ronan Steede for Comer (68), Johnny Duane for McHugh (70), Gary O'Donnell for Molloy (70).
Roscommon: Colm Lavin; David Murray, Gary Patterson, Niall Daly; Brian Stack, Richard Hughes, Sean Mullooly; Eddie Nolan, Tadhg O’Rourke; Conor Devaney, Cathal Cregg, Enda Smith (0-01); Donie Smith (0-07, 5f), Cian McKeon, Ciaran Murtagh (1-05, 4f).
Subs: David Neary for Patterson (29), Conor Hussey (Michael Glaveys) for Hughes (ht), Diarmuid Murtagh for Devaney (ht), Shane Killoran for McKeon (47), Conor Cox for Cregg (50), Niall Kilroy for Nolan (50), Hubert Darcy for C Murtagh (67).
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).
