Galway 2-22 Wexford 1-14:Galway were comfortable 2-22 to 1-14 winners over Wexford at Nowlan Park to book their place in the Leinster SHC semi-finals.
Ger Farragher was in top form for Galway with a personal tally of 0-13 as they opened up a 1-9 to 0-6 half-time lead. Joe Canning rifled a 21-yard free to the back of the net just before the break.
Wexford reduced the gap to three points after Tomás Waters’ goal in the 55th minute and looked to have all the momentum, with Galway’s Andy Smyth sent-off on a straight red card for a late challenge minutes earlier.
Galway showed their ruthless streak by hitting back immediately as Kevin Hynes, a second half substitute, ghosted in for a crucial second goal in the 58th minute.
The game then unravelled badly for Colm Bonnar’s side in the final ten minutes as they lost David Redmond to a second yellow card, while their top scorer Diarmuid Lyng saw red in injury time.
Galway took control in the final ten minutes as Farragher extended their lead and Aidan Harter pitched in with his first ever Championship score to give them an 11-point winning margin.
Canning had earlier fired a free to the back of the net on the stroke of half-time to take his personal tally to 1-03.
Andy Smyth was shown a red card for a perceived elbow on Colm Farrell. The extra man gave Wexford heart and they were back within three points when Tomás Waters swept the ball home.
Galway quickly stamped out Wexford’s revival as Hynes came in from the wing and hit a fine shot to the back of the net with 12 minutes left.
Wexford’s plight deteriorated when Redmond picked up a second yellow card, while they will have to face into the qualifiers without their captain and talisman Lyng after he was shown a straight red for a frontal charge in the dying minutes.