All Ireland MHC Quarter Finals Galway 4-24 Antrim 2-7 Galway made light work of their northern challengers to get their campaign off to a winning start in the All-Ireland quarter-final at Parnell Park on Saturday.
Little separated the sides on the scoreboard in the opening half but this belied the gulf in class between the teams, which Galway eventually. Full forward Keril Wade caused the most damage to eventually finished up with 1-10.
Ultimately it would be difficult for Galway manager Matt Murphy to take much from the contest although he will have gripes with the opening half hour and the sending off of John Hughes early in the second-half, after a melee. Antrim's Seamus Doherty was also sent to the line, while wing back Randal McDonnell saw red before the finish.
To Antrim's credit, they stayed in touch for the first half with goals from Jim Peoples and Stephen McGarry to trail 3-7 to 2-5 at the interval. Barry Hanley, Kevin Coen and Adrian Murphy found the net for Galway.
From the 40th minute on Galway scored 1-10 without reply,and the margin of victory could have been greater if not for Antrim goalkeeper Paul Shields.
GALWAY: M Herlihy; P Loughane, K O'Donovan, V Flaherty; M Ryan (0-2), J Lee, J Hughes; A Carey (0-1), D Kennedy; K Walsh (0-2), K Hynes, K Coen (1-2); A Murphy (1-0), K Wade (1-10, six frees), E Collins for A Murphy (52 mins), G Mahon for J Lee (59 mins), K Kilkenny (0-1) for K Walsh (60 mins).
ANTRIM: P Shields; M Devlin, N McAuley, B McDermott; L Knocker, C McCauley, R McDonnell; C McFall, C Boyle; S Doherty, P MaGill (0-7, six frees), M Butler; J Peoples (1-0), S McCrory, S McGarry (1-0). Subs: C McConville for M Devlin (half-time), J Meade for N McCauley (45 mins-46 mins), M Ward for M Butler (46 mins), J Meade for C McFall (51 mins), S McNaughton for J Peoples (60 mins).
Referee: F Smith (Meath).
