Galway 1-27
Wexford 0-17

Galway reached their fifth Leinster senior hurling championship final in six years by comfortably dethroning Wexford of their provincial crown tonight at Croke Park.

Brian Concannon’s opportunist goal in the 29th minute helped the Tribesmen cruise to victory in this one as they booked a decider date against Brian Cody's Kilkenny side in a fortnight’s time.

The game’s only goal saw Shane O’Neill’s charges go on to lead by six points at the interval and they’d move through the gears in the second-half, with Joe Canning’s frees punishing the Model men throughout.

As for Wexford, they were simply second best throughout to a side which brought large portions of their ‘A Game’ upon their return to Croker here.

Concannon (1-4) opened Galway’s account with a point a minute into this provincial semi-final clash and Sean Loftus had them two up prior to Rory O’Connor landing a superb score at the other end from along the sideline.

Joe Canning (free) and Conor Whelan made it 0-4 to 0-1 as the Tribesmen looked to get purring early on at headquarters, but they were fortunate not to concede an Aidan Nolan goal after some last ditch defending kept the sliotar from hitting their net.

Instead points from Mark Fanning (free) and Lee Chin (2 frees) flew over to draw the match level and Canning and Chin kept it level until the Portumna man edged Galway 0-7 to 0-6 ahead.

Chin and Paul Morris cancelled out two more from Canning prior to Whelan burning past Paudie Foley to float over a wonderful score for the men in maroon.

Galway's Conor Whelan is tackled by Joe O’Connor of Wexford. ©INPHO/Bryan Keane.

Points from Concannon and Canning (free) saw the holders drift three points behind and they did well to keep out a goal effort from the latter, whom instead converted the resultant ‘65’ to make it 0-12 to 0-8 with 27 minutes on the clock.

Two minutes later and disaster struck for the Model men when a long-range effort from Canning dropped short and Concannon was quickest to the loose ball, rifling it home for all three points.

Paudie Foley struck over his own long-range effort in response for Wexford and they could have had a goal of their own shortly afterwards had Eanna Murphy not pulled off a fantastic save on captain Matthew O’Hanlon.

Instead Galway would have a 1-13 to 0-10 lead to work with at the start of the second-half.

Chin cut the margin down to five with a free early in the resumption but it was Galway that enjoyed the better start to the second period, as Canning (free), Jason Flynn and Whelan all raised white flags.

Kevin Foley’s fine score from along the flank was erased by Johnny Coen a minute later prior to Chin grabbing another from play, making it 1-19 to 0-14.

Captain Padraic Mannion landed Galway’s 20th point of the night as they simply weren’t going to be caught on this occasion, with Shane Cooney firing another for them ahead of Canning adding a sideline to his impressive tally.

Liam Ryan looked to have sniff at goal for Wexford but was dragged down instead on the 21-metre line and it brought Mark Fanning up to have a pop at goal, but the keeper’s effort was saved on the line by his opposing number one Murphy.

Two more Canning frees outweighed a Rory O’Connor effort at the other end to increase the Galway lead, as Whelan and Foley (65) exchanged scores entering into injury-time as a 13-point margin separated the sides at the finish.

Galway - E Murphy; S Loftus (0-2), F Burke (0-1), S Cooney (0-1); G McInerney, J Cooney, A Harte; P Mannion (0-2), J Coen (0-1); C Mannion (0-2), J Canning (0-9, 7f, 1'65, 1sl), C Cooney; J Flynn (0-1), C Whelan (0-4), B Concannon (1-4). Subs: N Burke for J Flynn, S Linnane for C Cooney, A Tuohy for A Harte, E Niland for B Concannon, TJ Brennan for S Cooney.

Wexford - M Fanning (0-1f); S Donohoe, L Ryan, Joe O’Connor; K Foley (0-1), M O’Hanlon, S Murphy; P Foley (0-2, 1'65), D O’Keeffe; A Nolan (0-1), L Og McGovern, L Chin (0-8, 5f); P Morris (0-1); R O’Connor (0-3), C McDonald. Subs: Jack O’Connor for L Og McGovern, D Dunne for D O’Keeffe, D Reck for A Nolan, M Dwyer for P Morris.

Referee - C Lyons.

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