Galway 3-28
Laois 1-14
GALWAY COASTED INTO the Leinster Senior Hurling championship final as they made light work of Laois at O’Connor Park.
The Tribesmen dominated for large periods of this semi-final contest and, with a strong wind at their back during the first-half, pulled clear to take complete control of proceedings.
Laois staged a recovery of sorts after the interval but Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett’s side had left themselves with too much to do. In the end, the margin of victory was an emphatic 20 points.
Stephen Maher’s goal added gloss to the scoreline but it was merely a consolation as Galway booked their place in the decider against either Kilkenny or Wexford on 5 July.
Anthony Cunnigham’s side showed no mercy as they racked up another big score to provide another reminder of their championship credentials as they go in pursuit of a second provincial crown.
The game was preceded by a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for the six Irish students who lost their lives in Berkeley, California earlier this week.
When the action got underway, Johnny Coen’s fortuitous goal in the 17th minute opened the floodgates after Laois had made a bright start by nullifying the threat of Galway’s potent forward line.
After receiving a short puck-out, Coen launched a long ball towards the Laois square and Eoin Reilly was unable to deal with it as the sliotar sailed over his head on the bounce.
Galway wasted little time in stretching their advantage thereafter as David Burke, Cyril Donnellan, Cathal Mannion and Joe Canning all made hay.
Man-of-the-match Canning finished with 1-15 to his name as the 26-year-old found acres of space between the lines to pull the strings. In the space of 20 minutes, Galway scored 1-16 without reply.
Laois, to their credit, put up more of a fight in the second period but Galway were able to pick off their opponents at will.
Canning held off three defenders after collecting a long ball to fire home and then Davy Glennon powered through the defence to get his name on the scoreboard.
It was a job well done for Galway as they head to HQ for another Leinster final. For Laois, the qualifiers lie ahead.
Scorers for Galway: J Canning 1-15 (0-9fs, 2 65s); D Glennon 1-2; J Coen 1-0; David Burke, A Smith, N Healy, P Mannion 0-2 each; J Hanbury, C Mannion, P Brehony 0-1 each.
Scorers for Laois: Z Keenan 0-5(3fs, 2 65s); S Maher 1-1; P Purcell 0-3; P Whelan 0-2; J Campion, T Fitzgerald, C Dwyer 0-1 each.
Galway
1. Colm Callanan (Kinvara)
2. Johnny Coen (Loughrea)
4. Padraig Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
3. John Hanbury (Rahoon-Newcastle)
5. David Collins (Liam Mellowes)
6. Iarla Tannian (Ardrahan)
7. Daithi Burke (Turloughmore)
8. Andrew Smith (Portumna)
9. Aidan Harte (Gort)
10. David Burke (St Thomas’s)
11. Cyril Donnellan (Padraig Pearses)
12. Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan)
13. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
14. Joe Canning (Portumna)
15. Niall Healy (Craughewell)
Laois
1. Eoin Reilly (St Lazerian’s Abbeyleix)
2. John A Delaney (Clough Ballacolla)
3. Cahir Healy (Portlaoise)
4. Brian Stapleton (Borris-in-Ossory-Kilcotton)
5. Joe Fitzpatrick (Rathdowney-Errill)
6. Matthew Whelan (Borris-in-Ossory-Kilcotton)
7. Tom Delaney (Clough Ballacolla)
8. Joe Campion (Borris-in-Ossory-Kilcotton)
9. Paddy Purcell (Rathdowney-Errill)
10. Tommy Fitzgerald (Portlaoise)
11. Zane Keenan (Camross)
12. Charles Dwyer (Ballinakill)
13. Ben Conroy (Slieve Bloom)
14. Willie Hyland (Clough Ballacolla)
15. PJ Scully (Borris-in-Ossory-Kilcotton)
