Galway will meet
Kilkenny
in
the All-Ireland quarter-finals for the second successive
year after this comfortable win over Antrim. Ger
Loughnane's charges overcame a shaky start in Salthill
to put the Saffron's to the sword. Antrim, who had hopes
of making the last-eight, burst into a 1-04 to 0-01 lead
with Kieran Kelly goaling. However, Damien Hayes'
20th-minute goal and Kelly's subsequent sending-off had
Galway looking good at half-time at 1-10 to 1-05
ahead. Kevin Broderick's goal then confirmed Galway as
runners-up in qualifier Group 1A, but the day really
belonged to top-scorers Kerril Wade and Alan Kerins who
scored 0-19 of the Tribesmen's points between
them. Despite what ended up being a landslide home
victory, the odds on Antrim beating Galway in the
Championship for the first time shortened considerably
after the opening quarter-hour at Pearse Stadium. Two
Karl McKeegan frees sent the pumped-up visitors into the
lead and then wind-backed Antrim struck for an
eighth-minute goal. Making his first Championship
appearance in five years, Galway corner-back Greg
Kennedy was caught out by a long delivery in from
Brendan Herron and Kelly, who had switched in to
full-forward, snapped onto it to beat Colm Callanan from
close range. Loughnane's side also hit four early wides
as they trailed by 1-02 to 0-00. However, Kelly's
straight red card for a wild pull on Galway full-back
Ger Mahon helped turn the tie in the home side's
favour. Galway used their numerical advantage to blaze
ahead and they outscored the Saffron's by seven points
to one in the lead up to half-time, with Kerins on
target four times and young Wade knocking over five
first half points. The second half was effectively
one-way traffic as former All-Star nominee Kerins showed
his class by landing points from some stunning
angles. Antrim simply had no answer, as only McKeegan and
wing forward Paddy McGill could get a white flag for the
Ulster side. Disappointingly, the visitors could only
manage one point from play, scored by McGill, throughout
the entire match. Galway's Iarliath Tannian and Niall
Healy both impressed as they took their tallies to four
points apiece during a one-sided second half. Seven
minutes from the finish, Broderick cut through to belt
home Galway's second goal and tee up another meeting
with the reigning Leinster and All-Ireland
champions. Counting 2005's epic semi-final, next
weekend's clash will be the counties' third Championship
meeting in as many seasons.
Scorers: Karl Wade 0.11, Alan Kerins 0.08, Kevin
Broderick 1.02, Iarliath Tannian 0.04,Niall Healy 0.04,
Damien Hayes 1.00, Fergal Healy 0.01, Aonghus Callanan
0.01,
Galway
Lineout: Colm Callanan Kinvara, Greg Kennedy
Loughrea, Ger Mahon Kinvara, Fergal Moore Turloughmore,
Derek Hardiman Mullagh, J Lee Liam Mellows, David
Tierney Kilnadeema/Leitrim,
David Collins Liam Mellows, Damien Hayes Portumna, I
Tannian Ardrahan, Mark Kerins Clarenbridge, A Kerins
Clarenbridge, Karl Wade Sarsfields, Kevin
Broderick Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry, Niall Healy
Craughwell.
Subs used: Fergal Healy Craughwell, Shane Kavanagh
Kinvara, Aonghus Callanan Liam Mellows, Kenneth Burke St
Thomas, Richie Murray St Thomas.
