Tribesmen Ease Through to Face Offaly in Semis

Leinster GAA Hurling Championship Quarter-Final: Galway 5-19 Westmeath 4-12

Galway moved into the semi-finals of the Leinster GAA Hurling Championship with a 10-point win over Westmeath in Mullingar on Sunday.

Everything seemed to be going to script when Galway led by 1-12 to 0-4 after a relatively unremarkable first period, but a crazy burst of goals in the second half thrilled the more than 2,500 spectators at Cusack Park.

Having won the corresponding fixture last year by nine points after a real battle, the Tribesmen were determined to put the Lake County away early this time around, and they settled into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead early on, with Niall Burke hitting four frees.

Although Galway started without Joe Canning, who was still feeling the effects of a shoulder injury he aggravated in training during the week, there was an edge to their attack, as sub James Regan fired a goal from a tight angle in the 26th minute.

Minor star Niall O’Brien scored three first half frees for the home side, but they were totally overpowered and trailed by 11 points at the break.

David Burke added Galway’s second goal at the start of the second half to end the game as a contest, but Westmeath midfielder Joe Clarke raised a green flag in response and reduced the gap to 2-12 to 1-6.

David Burke and Cyril Donnellan added further Galway goals, with O’Brien pulling one back in between, as Westmeath refused to roll over despite being under intense pressure.

Andy Smith snatched a fifth for Galway and O’Brien hit his second before Brendan Murtagh scored Westmeath’s fourth, reducing the gap to 5-15 to 4-11.

In truth a shock was never really on the cards, but it was a thoroughly entertaining game nonetheless, with Galway moving into a semi-final against Offaly on June 17 with a first championship win of the year under their belts