WALSH CUP SEMI-FINALS/Galway 2-19 Laois 0-11:GALWAY QUALIFIED for the final after easily seeing off the challenge of Laois at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe yesterday.

The home side were never in trouble with Joe Canning hitting 1-10 in an accomplished display.

Galway led by 0-9 to 0-5 at the interval, but 25 seconds into the second half James Regan showed a clean pair of heels to the Laois back line and shot past Eoin Reilly for a splendid goal.

A minute later Conor Cooney ran on to Johnny Coen’s pass to tap over and Galway’s lead was suddenly out to eight points.

Conor Cooney pointed well from distance after some great stick work from the Galway forwards found him in space in the 41st minute and Canning hit his second point from play moments later after a pin-point clearance from Tony Óg Regan picked him out.

And then two minutes later Canning ended all hopes of a Laois revival when he blasted to the net with a low finish after Damien Hayes and Regan had done all the hard work.

Canning’s goal shoved Galway 11 points ahead, but they refused to take pity on their opponents as three frees from the Portumna ace and a pair of excellent points from Regan saw Galway canter home and set up a meeting next weekend with Kilkenny in the final.

GALWAY: J Skehill; D Conolly, T Óg Regan, D Collins; B Flaherty, F Moore, K Hynes; A Smith (0-1), J Coen; D Burke (0-1), C Donnellan, C Cooney (0-4, 0-1 65); D Hayes (0-1), J Canning (1-10, 0-8 frees), D Glennon. Subs: J Regan (1-2) for Glennon (25 mins); J Cooney for Donnellan (52 mins); C Burke for Flaherty (67 mins); T Haran for Canning (67 mins).

LAOIS: E Reilly; B Smith, M Whelan, P Mullaney; J Fitzpatrick, S Reilly, B Stapleton; J Walsh, B Dunne; J Brophy, C Murray (0-1), W Hyland (0-8, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65); S Bourke (0-1), N Foyle, S Lowry. Subs: M McEvoy (0-1) for Foyle (46 mins); D O’Mahony for Lowry (51 mins); D Peacock for S Bourke (60 mins).

Referee: T Carroll (Offaly).