Galway 1-27
Cork 1-21

New Galway manager Micheal Donoghue led his side to a comfortable victory over Cork in the Salthill sunshine.

The home supporters in the crowd of over 5,000 at Pearse Stadium were treated to a fine performance by the Tribesmen who recovered from the concession of an early goal to take complete control. Joe Canning did as he pleased against a disappointing Cork side for whom only Patrick Horgan, and Bill Cooper and Paudie O'Sullivan to a lesser extent, offered an attacking threat.

On the evidence of this performance, new supremo Kieran Kingston faces a huge challenge to make the Rebels contenders in 2016.

An Anthony Nash free had the sides level on 0-2 apiece in the early stages before the visitors drew first blood when Seamus Harnedy netted in the 10th minute. But the Rebels were dealt a setback moments later when the St. Ita's attacker limped off, with Luke O'Farrell replacing him. Bill Cooper followed up with a point to put three between the sides, 1-4 to 0-4, only for Davy Glennon and David Burke to reply for the Westerners.

Then, in the 17th minute, Niall Burke put the hosts ahead with a well-taken goal. Cooper and Paudie O'Sullivan hit back with points to leave the teams tied on 1-6 each. However, Galway stamped their authority on proceedings with a succession of scores from Joe Canning, Greg Lally (free) and Niall Burke to ease into a 1-12 to 1-7 lead.

Patrick Horgan kept Kieran Kingston's charges in it with a brace of points, while Alan Cadogan was also on the mark, but three-in-a-row from Cathal Mannion, David Burke and Canning gave Galway a six-point cushion at the break, 1-15 to 1-9.

A trio of points (two frees) from Horgan on the restart suggested that Cork were going to make a fight of things, but normal service resumed when Galway hit five-in-a-row per Canning, Conor Whelan, Cathal Mannion and Davy Glennon to open up a 1-20 to 1-12 lead after 47 minutes.

Patrick Horgan, with his seventh point, and Paudie O'Sullivan, replied for the Rebels, but they already looked a beaten docket as the home side upped the ante again with scores from Whelan and Niall Burke.

Cork, to their credit, didn't give up and got back to within five points, 1-18 to 1-23, with three quick points from Luke O'Farrell, Conor Lehane and the returning Lorcan McLoughlin. Galway, though, clicked back into gear when Padraig Brehony fired over after Anthony Nash had saved from Jason Flynn and Canning's ninth point in injury-time wrapped up a routine win.

Galway - J Skehill; J Coen, J Hanbury, P Hoban; P Mannion, G Lally (0-1f), A Harte (0-1); A Tuohy, David Burke (0-3); P Brehony (0-2), C Mannion (0-2), N Burke (1-2); C Whelan (0-3), J Canning (0-9, 7f), D Glennon (0-4). Subs: D Collins for A Tuohy, J Flynn for D Glennon, A Smith for A Harte, F Moore for P Hoban.

Cork - A Nash (0-1f); S O'Neill, C Joyce, S McDonnell; A Walsh, W Egan, D Cahalane (0-1); C Murphy (0-1), L McLoughlin (0-1); B Cooper (0-2), P O'Sullivan (0-2), P Cronin; A Cadogan (0-1), S Harnedy (1-0), P Horgan (0-9, 5f). Subs: L O'Farrell (0-1) for S Harnedy, D Kearney for C Murphy, C Lehane (0-1) for A Cadogan, B Lawton for P O'Sullivan, C McCarthy (0-1) for P Cronin.

Referee - B Kelly.

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