Galway make short work of Antrim

Galway 3-29 Antrim 0-10

Galway galloped into the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals on the back of a comprehensive, if flattering, defeat of Antrim in Salthill this afternoon.

Conor Hayes' side ran out comfortable 3-29 to 0-10 winners over the Ulster champions, setting themselves up for a Group A qualifier decider against Limerick but failing to truly hit the heights.

Just as he had done against Laois last time out, lynchpin attacker Ger Farragher fired a handsome tally to put a gloss on the scoreline.

Farragher notched 0-12 (0-8f, 1 '65) this afternoon for a Galway side still without the services of Athenry star Eugene Cloonan (back).

Farragher's four early frees helped the home side race push into a 1-7 to 0-5 lead by the 24th-minute. Niall Healy managed to beat Saffrons' stopper DD Quinn with a kicked goal on 11 minutes.

Antrim kept in touch with points from Ciaran Herron, Johnny Campbell (0-2), the returning Adrian Delargy and Tony Scullion but it mattered little at the end of a disjointed affair.

Farragher chalked up his eighth point by the finish of the first half, which ended 2-13 to 0-7 in Galway's favour - Antrim's Quinn allowed a David Tierney shot trickle into his net on 32 minutes for the Tribesmen's second goal.

Tierney goaled again just three minutes into the second half when firing home a shot that was once more deflected in by the unfortunate Quinn.

Antrim, who began with skipper and usual midfielder Jim Connolly at full-forward, had little in response as they shipped a glut of points over the first ten minutes of the half.

Farragher banged over three beauties from play, Kevin Hayes and Damien Hayes also finished well to leave Galway 3-25 to 0-9 in front with seven minutes remaining.

Substitute Andy Smith rounded off the Galway victory with an injury-time point which leaves Conor Hayes' men level on four points with Limerick at the top of Group A, but with a better scoring difference - +39 to +34 - ahead of the table-toppers' tussle at the Gaelic Grounds next Saturday.