Galway will face Dublin the Walsh Cup final following a hard-earned victory over Offaly at O'Connor Park yesterday.

Galway 1-22
Offaly 2-16

John McIntyre's side raced into an early 0-6 to 0-0 lead thanks to points from Joe Gantley, Aonghus Callanan, David Burke and Ger Farragher, but Offaly fought back to restore parity by the 22nd minute. The Tribesmen were leading 0-7 to 0-4 when Offaly full forward Ger Healion netted for the second week in-a-row to bring the home side onto level terms.

But despite this setback, Galway responded with three quick points and a 30th minute Gantley goal helped them to a 1-11 to 1-6 interval lead.

With Farragher and Gantley scoring 1-16 between them, Galway remained firmly in the driving seat in the third quarter and had moved eight points clear before Shane Dooley's 61st minute goal brought the Faithful County back into it.

Offaly narrowed the gap to three points and might have equalised in the closing stages, but goalkeeper Eoin Kelly's 20-metre free flew over the bar instead of under and Cyril Donnellan replied with the insurance point for the visitors.

Scorers - Galway: G Farragher 0-10 (0-7f, 2 '65, 1 sideline); J Gantley 1-6; D Burke 0-3; A Callanan, A Harte, C Donnellan 0-1 each. Offaly: S Dooley 1-7 (0-5f); G Healion 1-2; R Hanniffy, K Brady 0-2 each; G Oakley, C Mahon, E Kelly (0-1f) 0-1 each.

Galway: J Skehill; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, P Holland; D Barry, T Og Regan, K Hynes; G Farragher, N Cahalan; A Callanan, C Donnellan, D Burke; A Harte, J Gantley, N Hayes. Subs: R Cummins for Hayes (62), I Tannian for Harte (62), A Coen for Hynes (70), K Kilkenny for Barry (70).

Offaly: E Kelly; J Rigney, E Murphy, S Wynne; P Cleary, D Horan, D Morkan; J Keane, R Hanniffy; J Brady, G Oakley, S Kelly; C Parlon, G Healion, S Dooley. Subs: B Carroll for Brady (36), D Hayden for Murphy (36), K Brady for Keane (42), C Mahon for Kelly (50), M Verney for Oakley (65).

Referee: J Owens (Wexford). Tweet

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