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Galway have it easy

ALL-IRELAND MHC QUARTER-FINAL Galway 8-26 Antrim 0-12: MATTIE MURPHY has perfected the art of preparing Galway minor hurling…

Mon Jul 25 2011 - 01:00

ALL-IRELAND MHC QUARTER-FINAL Galway 8-26 Antrim 0-12:MATTIE MURPHY has perfected the art of preparing Galway minor hurling teams for battle and this emphatic 38-point success over Antrim showcased the latest crop of promising youngsters.

Murphy has steered Galway to five All-Ireland titles at this grade and the maroons look to be well -placed to make a bold bid for national honours again.

Trounced last year by Kilkenny at the semi-final stage, Murphy acknowledged that Galway don’t lack motivation. “We have 13 from last year, 11 of them started against Antrim and they are hurting a bit from last year so we have plenty of incentive, there is no doubt about that,” he said.

Galway pounced for three goals inside 16 minutes. Shane Maloney struck in the 10th minute with an opportunistic goal. The impressive Jonathan Glynn then goaled in the 15th minute as Murphys charges controlled affairs.

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Seconds later the pacy Billy Lane rattled the Antrim net and Galway eventually went in 3-14 to 0-8 ahead at the interval.

It was a similar story after the restart as Galway added five further goals including a hat-trick from substitute Jack Carr.

GALWAY: S Mannion; P Mannion, P Killeen, C Diviney; J Hansberry, S Sweeney, D Burke; D Higgins (0-1), P Flaherty (0-1); J Flynn (1-2), J Glynn (1-1), A Tuohy (0-5); B Lane (1-2), S Maloney (1-4, one free, one 65), K Cullinane (0-6). Subs: O Teagle for Burke (29 mins), M Mullins (0-1) for Glynn, J Carr (3-2) for Maloney (both 31 mins), S Caufield (1-0) for Flaherty (45 mins), B Keane (0-1) for Lane (48 mins).

ANTRIM: P Nugent; S Rooney, F Donnelly, L Peden; A McKinley, Ciarán Johnson, N McFadden; Stephen McAfee, M Bradley (0-1); Seán McAfee, J McGreevey (0-1), C Jennings; D McKernan, D McCloskey (0-6, five frees), Conor Johnson (0-3). Subs: E Haggerty for Peden (16 mins), D Delargy for McKernan (26 mins), P Blaney for McGinley (37 mins), M Dudley for Jennings, N McKenna (0-1) for Seán McAfee (both 43 mins).

Referee: S Whelan(Wexford).

Next Up . . .Galway will now meet the Munster champions Clare in the All-Ireland semi-final.