Galway rout Kilkenny in Leinster opener

Manager Micheál Donoghue credited the energy of his four championship debutants for the emphatic performance at Pearse Stadium.

Kilkenny struggled to find any rhythm after Donnelly's dismissal, eventually falling to a 2-23 to 1-13 defeat.

The result marks a significant shift in the Leinster landscape as Galway look to end their six-year wait for a provincial title.

Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng acknowledged his side was 'miles off the pace' and will need a rapid turnaround before their next fixture against Dublin.