Cork will play Galway in the semi-finals of the All-Ireland senior hurling championship after demolishing Offaly in this afternoon’s quarter-final in Thurles.

It finished 6-25 to 2-11 at a sold out Semple Stadium, where Alan Walsh (2) and Brian Hayes netted goals for the Rebels inside the opening 15 minutes.

Shane Barrett’s goal on 27 minutes would make it 4-9 to 0-3 and Hayes hammered in another in the run up to half-time, helping Ben O’Connor’s men to take in an unassailable 5-14 to 0-6 lead at the break.

Hayes completed his hat-trick two minutes in the restart and points from returning skipper Darragh Fitzgibbon (free), Sean O’Donoghue, William Buckley and Robbie O’Flynn helped raise the winners’ tally to 6-20 with 15 minutes remaining.

Oisin Kelly and Adam Screeney pulled goals back for Offaly ahead of Screeney (two frees) and Daniel Bourke rounding off their tally, as the Faithful men exited this year’s championship.

It means that Cork now face the Tribesmen at Croke Park on July 4th for a place in the All-Ireland final, with the other semi-final seeing Munster champions Limerick play neighbours Clare the following day at headquarters after the Banner’s 0-29 to 0-16 win over Dublin yesterday evening.

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