Galway...5-19 Down...1-14: The scoreline does not tell the full story of Saturday's All-Ireland hurling qualifier at Ballycran as a Eugene Cloonan scoring spree took Conor Hayes' men to victory over a northern side who were well in the game until the final quarter.

The winners had more class in key positions - none more so than Cloonan at full forward who finished with a personal scoring tally of 4-7.

A tremendous first-half performance left Down just two points adrift at the break, 1-8 to 0-9, after they played with a very strong wind.

The goal arrived when half forward Alan Kerins crossed to Cloonan in front of the posts and from eight yards the big target man slammed the ball to the net.

Cloonan was on fire and his three goals after the break would make all the difference, his final goal arriving five minutes from time.

GALWAY: L Donoghue; D Joyce, D Cloonan, O Canning; D Hardiman, D Collins, F Moore; F Healy, David Hayes; A Kerins (1-2), D Forde (0-3), D Tierney (0-2, one free); Damien Hayes (0-2), E Cloonan (4-7, 1-4 frees), K Broderick (0-2). Subs: M Kerins (0-1) for Broderick (42 mins); T O'Regan for Collins (52); R Gantley for David Hayes (65); S Kavanagh for Hardiman (68); J Conway for Healy (70).

DOWN: Graham Clarke; M Braniff, E Dorrian, A Bell; L Clarke, G Savage, Gabriel Clarke; G Adair, A Savage (0-2); G McGrattan (0-1), J Convery, B McGourty (0-2); M Coulter (1-2, one free), G Johnson (0-2, one free), S Clarke (0-5, four frees). Subs: R Conlon for Braniff (68 mins).

Referee: P Horan (Offaly).