Galway crush Rebels in Limerick

Galway 2-23 Cork 1-14:Galway answered their critics in emphatic fashion this afternoon, ending the Cork hurlers' championship in July with a 12-point win at the Gaelic Grounds that secured them a place in the quarter-finals.

The Tribesmen had to respond to an early setback when Paudie O’Sullivan hit the net within 30 seconds and then pointed twice.

Andy Smith, after 11 minutes, and then Joe Canning got them underway, but the latter endured a mixed day when missing a 23rd minute penalty and seeing a goal disallowed.

However, he took some fine points and the 65 his penalty forced from Eoin Cadogan brought Galway to within two of the Rebels.

Damien Hayes narrowed the gap further with his first point soon afterwards and John McIntyre’s men leapt into the lead when the captain and Canning pointed in quick succession.

Hayes then rounded Donal Og Cusack to score Galway’s first goal.

By that stage, Galway’s halfback line was in firm control and the returning Iarla Tannian further forward was paying dividends, as he won the free for Canning to inflict a five-point deficit at the break.

Cian McCarthy did his best to drag Cork back into contention with two early second half points, but Galway were scoring from everywhere, through Hayes, Canning, Tannian, David Burke and Ger Farragher.

The win was all but sealed when substitute Cyril Donnellan came on and found the net, minutes after a Canning goal was called back for a foul on the forward, who obliged with a point but would have preferred his goal.

A cheeky blind handpass from Canning for Burke for Galway’s last was a fitting finale to a fine performance and suddenly the west was awake.