Where Galway were cautious last week, they were creative and flamboyant on this occasion. And for all the talk about their improving defensive structure, it was their forward movement and precision passing that ripped Roscommon apart.

The first Galway goal may not have arrived until the 19th minute, but there was inevitability that sooner rather than later the Roscommon rearguard would be breached. Two minutes earlier, referee Ciaran Brangan disallowed a Damien Comer goal for square ball.

When it did land, it was Danny Cummins who supplied the opening major. Comer flashed over a point in the ensuing play and Galway were 1-5 to 0-2 clear – Roscommon’s difficulties were highlighted in their failure to get on the board until the 14th minute.

Cummins and Comer kicked a point apiece as Galway’s grip tightened and Roscommon were in dire straits when Gary Sice rounded David Keenan to blast home their second goal.

Ciaráin Murtagh, the sole Roscommon player to make any sort of an impact in the opening period, kicked two late points to leave 10 between them at the break, 2-9 to 0-4.

Danny Cummins kicked his second and Galway’s third on 57 minutes, Roscommon’s woes compounded by a second yellow to Donie Smith which saw the home side play the final eight minutes with 14 men.

Scorers for Galway: D Cummins (2-1); G Sice (1-2, 0-2 frees); S Walsh (0-2 frees),D Comer (0-3 each); E Brannigan (0-2); B Power (0-1 '45);E Kerin, G O'Donnell, P Conroy, P Varley (0-1 each).

Scorers for Roscommon: C Murtgh (0-4, 0-1 free); S Kilbride, D Shine, E Smith (0-2 each); F Lennon, T Corcoran, U Harney, C Cregg (0-1 each).

Galway: B Power; E Kerin, D Kyne, D Wynne; G O’Donnell, L Silke, G Bradshaw; P Conroy, T Flynn; G Sice, E Brannigan, J Heaney; D Cummins, D Comer, S Walsh.

Subs: A Varley for Walsh (51 mins); P Sweeney for Comer (58, bc); F Hanley for Kyne (66); P Varley for Heaney (67); E Hoare for Sice (68); P Cooke for Cummins (70).

Roscommon: D O’Malley; J McManus, S Mullooly, N McInerney; S McDermott, D Murray, S Purcell; N Daly, C Compton; F Cregg, C Devaney, D Keenan; C Murtagh, S Kilbride, C Cregg.

Subs: D Smith for Keenan (30 mins, bc); F Lennon for S Purcell (HT); E Smith for Devaney (HT); D Shine for F Cregg (42); T Corcoran for Compton (48); U Harney for Mullooly (52 mins, bc)

Referee: C Branagan (Down).