Neal Peden’s Antrim almost landed the first major knock-out blow of the season, but the All-Ireland and league champions Galway finally found their form in the closing minutes to take the points at Pearse Stadium.

Joe Canning and Conor Cooney weighed in with 0-18 between them at Croke Park as Galway came good with a storming second-half performance to claim the Leinster SHC title.

No surprises here. Not even the hint of any.

Galway 3-31 Laois 1-11: Galway thrashed Laois by 36 points the last time these sides met in the league back in 2008, and for a good while yesterday it seemed they might even surpass that margin.

Galway 1-19 Laois 0-16: A first-half goal from Joseph Cooney proved crucial as Galway advanced to the semi-finals of the Walsh Cup.

Galway 2-19 Offaly 2-9: It was a day when Galway did all that was required of them and not a lot more to advance to a Leinster final meeting with Kilkenny in a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland decider.

Brian Cody has made four changes to the Kilkenny side for today’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash with Tipperary in Nowlan Park (throw-in 2pm).

NUI Galway 0-16 University of Limerick 0-15: University of Limerick’s Fitzgibbon Cup title defence remains on track despite a narrow defeat to NUIG at Rhebogue in Limerick.

Galway 50 Dublin 47: A second quarter flashpoint enlivened the AIG Fenway Hurling Classic between Dublin and Galway in Boston, the sin bin filling up after a major skirmish in front of the Dublin goal.

Dublin face an uncertain summer after Cathal Mannion's hat-trick of goals in the first 11 minutes effectively sealed this Leinster quarter-final replay.

In the end, it seemed fair that this pair should get a second chance to redeem themselves after a disappointing showing.

Waterford booked their place in the league semi-finals as they weathered a Galway revival in the second half to emerge as eight-point victors.

Tipperary put their Parnell Park woes behind them with a deserving victory here although it was a dubious Seamus Callanan goal that helped them on their way.

Cork IT 0-19 NUI Galway 0-10: Cork IT are just one more win away from a third Fitzgibbon Cup final in four years after they advanced past NUI Galway at the CIT Sports Stadium yesterday.

Eight points from John O’Dwyer helped last year’s beaten finalists Cork IT into the semi-finals of this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup as they saw off NUI Galway this afternoon.

Galway backed up their Walsh Cup success with a dramatic late win at Pearse Stadium when Jason Flynn hit two late points to snatch victory.

Jimmy Barry-Murphy has kept faith with the Cork side that bowed out of last year’s Championship by reinstating all but three of them for tomorrow’s Allianz League opener.

UI Galway 0-21 UCC 0-19: An impressive NUI Galway side shocked UCC in Dangan to keep their Fitzgibbon Cup hopes alive.

Carlow 1-13 NUIG 2-10: Carlow hurlers recovered from a disastrous start to carve out a commendable draw against NUIG in this Walsh Cup first-round tie at Dr Cullen Park yesterday.

Corofin 5-12 St Michael’s 0-9

Galway 1-19 Wexford 1-21

Leitrim 0-9 Galway 0-8

DIT 1-15 NUI Galway 0-17

Clare 1-16 Galway 0-07

Clare 1-16 Galway 0-7

Galway 1-21 Dublin 1-12