Galway cruise past Westmeath - but Joe Canning takes a blow

By Paul Keane

Galway 3-27 Westmeath 0-19

Talisman Joe Canning left the field in a daze as Galway cruised past Westmeath and through to the Leinster senior hurling championship semi-finals.

Micheal Donoghue's first Championship game in charge of the Tribesmen resulted in a comfortable 17-point win to secure a June 19 clash with Offaly.

But there was frustration for Canning who was grounded in a 39th minute incident that led to Westmeath defender Shane Power being handed a straight red card.

Canning had scored eight points and was an influential figure though appeared to take a blow to the neck and walked gingerly back to the sideline where he was replaced.

It was the only downside for Galway on a day when they shook off the disappointment of their Allianz league relegation to get their summer campaign up and running.

Canning top scored while Jason Flynn, Conor Whelan and Joseph grabbed the goals in a comprehensive victory in Mullingar.

There was a strong cameo too from Conor Cooney who replaced Canning and scored four points, all from play.

Galway opened the game with four points in a row from Cathal Mannion, Canning and Davy Glennon to signal their intent for the afternoon.

All of their players from midfield up, aside from Joseph Cooney, got on the score sheet in the first-half and they led 0-17 to 0-5 at half-time.

Westmeath were buoyed by a strong qualifier series campaign that yielded three wins and their U-21s recently defeated Kilkenny at Cusack Park.

But they relied principally on Niall O'Brien for inspiration and the free-taker score 12 of their points.

They were better after the break, adding on 14 points, though Galway continued to find scores much easier to come by and registered goals in the 44th, 49th and 67th minutes to keep the Lake County well in their slipstream.

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Scorers for Galway: J. Canning (0-8, 3 frees, 1 65, 1 s/l); J. Flynn (1-3, 1 free), C. Whelan (1-1), C. Cooney (0-4), J. Cooney (1-0); David Burke, D. Glennon (0-3), C. Mannion (0-2); S. Moloney, N. Burke, P. Brehony (0-1)

Scorers for Westmeath: N. O'Brien (0-12, 8 frees); A. Devine, B. Murtagh (1 free), N. Mitchell (0-2); K. Doyle (0-1).

Galway: C. Callanan; J. Coen, J. Hanbury, F. Moore; P. Mannion, D. Burke, A. Harte; D. Burke (c), D. Glennon; S. Moloney, J. Cooney, J. Canning; C. Whelan, C. Mannion, J. Flynn.

Subs: C. Cooney for Canning (40); A. Tuohy for P Mannion (52); K. Hussey for Moore (52); N. Burke for Flynn (56); P Brehony for Coen (63).

Westmeath: P. Maloney; T. Gallagher, T. Doyle, S. Power; A. Craig, A. Clarke (c), G. Greville; C. Boyle, R. Greville; E. Price, N. O'Brien, L. Varley; A. Devine, D. McNicholas, D. Egerton.

Subs: B. Murtagh for Egerton (h/t); N. Mitchell for Boyle (51); A. McGrath for Varley (56); K. Doyle for Price (59); D. Clinton for McNicholas (62).

Referee: D. Kirwan (Cork).