KEVIN CASSIDY: Clifford, Walsh, Canavan and an exhibition

AS I stood in Salthill last Sunday, I witnessed two things. The first one was the worst breeze I have ever witnessed a match taking place in. Secondly, it was the best display of kicking technique I have ever had the pleasure of watching.

The conditions at Pearse Stadium were absolutely atrocious, and so the array of kicking that Shane Walsh displayed was even more admirable.

In the first half, he used the wind to his full advantage, swinging points over from all angles. What was even more impressive was how he still kicked scores after half-time, when Galway were playing into that gale-force wind.

The point that sticks in my mind is the one where he took off down the left-hand side, before shimmying past his marker Brendan McCole and swinging it over with the left against the wind.

That was the score that just broke the Donegal momentum and put to bed any sort of potential comeback.

Let’s state the obvious. Donegal were seriously understrength, but you would still have to be impressed with Galway’s display both with the elements and against them.

The major talking point was the sending off of Matthew Tierney at the end of the first half. Let’s begin by saying that there is no way that it was a red card.

As Hugh McFadden collected the ball, Matthew lined him up for a shoulder but at the last second Hugh dropped his head and it made it look a lot worse than it actually was.

The one thing I would like to highlight was the reaction of the Donegal players, who were pointing and roaring in the direction of the referee.

I do not like to see this type of behaviour and I would hate to see it creeping into our game.

This is the second week that Donegal have been accused of this type of behaviour.

From their own point of view, it’s better to stamp this out now because if they get a reputation for this, then, they themselves might miss out on a big call somewhere down the line because at some point referee will take a stand against it.

Both teams are comfortable in the league, and it all comes down to which team actually wants to make a league final and which team’s attentions have already turned towards the championship.

Elsewhere, three heavy-hitters made the return over the weekend. To be honest, the three of them looked as sharp as ever.

David Clifford put on a masterclass. Darragh Canavan nearly dragged Tyrone over the line on his own and King Con just took over where he left off with this club.

It’s great to see that sort of calibre of player returning and I’m sure in the coming weeks we will see much more of those three guys in particular.

There is no rest for the wicked this weekend, as the next round of league action takes place, and after this weekend’s action, the picture should be a lot clearer of who will be in the league final, and who will be scraping for points right up to the last game.

This weekend, I’ll make my way to Ballyshannon, for what should be a bit of shadowboxing between Derry and Donegal.

Their championship date is fast approaching so you can be sure that both of these teams won’t want to show too much this weekend.

I expect Donegal to makes changes this weekend, so it could be an opportunity for Derry to snatch some much-needed points. In saying that, Ballyshannon is always a difficult place to go for away teams.