Carlow 0-15 Galway 2-18
Padraig Brehony and Jonathan Glynn hit the crucial goals at Netwatch Cullen Park as Galway secured their place in the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup final.
But it was far from pretty for the hot favourites who were reduced to 14 early on and made to battle for the win.
Experienced Andy Smith was shown a straight red for an off-the-ball incident five minutes in and Galway struggled for some time to get on top.
But Brehony's goal before half-time and Glynn's 68th minute strike ultimately secured the win and a final place at Croke Park next Saturday.
Glynn and Brehony contributed 2-3 between them though Cunningham will demand a general improvement before they face Dublin next weekend.
They were fortunate that Carlow's ace free-taker Martin Kavanagh, who shot 0-8 in all, wasted a penalty opportunity 20 minutes from time that would have drawn them level.
Galway punished Carlow for the miss with a strong finish and 1-3 in the closing minutes including Glynn's goal to progress.
Galway surprisingly didn't take the lead until the 27th minute of the game when Dean Higgins converted his second free of the day.
That was partly due to Smith's exit after referee Gavin Quilty consulted with his umpire following an incident that left Richard Coady floored.
Carlow played with an extra man in defence and for the next 20 minutes or so won the battle around the middle third.
Midfielder Diarmuid Byrne rifled over two long-range points, while his partner Craig Wall nailed a beauty from distance too.
Carlow led 0-6 to 0-4 after 17 minutes, but four Galway points in a row including three from Higgins turned the game.
And when Brehony fired 1-1 in the minutes just before half-time they took a 1-9 to 0-9 lead into the interval.
Brehony's 35th-minute goal owed more to industry than style.
James Regan initially won the turnover and though Jonathan Glynn wasted the first goal chance, he managed to recycle the ball out to Brehony to fire in from close range.
Carlow were weakened before throw-in with the loss of Edward Coady. He was replaced by his Mount Leinster Rangers club mate Hugh Patrick O'Byrne.
They battled well though and aside from the two midfielders, their half-forwards were lively with corner-forward Kavanagh asking plenty of questions too.
As for Galway, they were without Joe Canning due to a hand injury while the Gort players are preparing for the AIB All-Ireland club semi-final.
The Tribesmen pulled five clear with points after the restart from Higgins and Brian Molloy.
But they couldn't push on and Carlow hauled themselves back into a dour game with three Kavanagh pointed frees.
Trailing by three, they had the opportunity to draw level in the 51st minute, but Kavanagh blazed a penalty wide of the left upright.
And they were ultimately made to pay as Galway finally surged clear with those late scores.
Galway: C Callanan, R Burke, F Moore, P Mannion, C Flynn, D Collins, G McInerney, J Cooney (0-02), J Coen (0-01, 1f), P Brehony (1-02), J Glynn (1-01), D Higgins (0-06, 4f), J Regan (0-01), A Smith, B Molloy (0-01, 1f).
Subs: J Flynn (0-02, 2f) for Flynn, E Burke (0-01) for Molloy, P Killeen for McInerney, G Kelly (0-01) for Cooney.
Carlow: K Kehoe, E Nolan, M Ryan, A Corcoran, R Coady, J Rogers, G Coady, C Wall (0-01), D Byrne (0-02), HP O'Byrne, JM Nolan (0-02), S Murphy (0-01), M Kavanagh (0-09, 7f, 1 65), D O'Neill, E Doyle.
Subs: P Coady for Nolan, S Murphy for O'Neill, M Brennan for Doyle.
Referee: G Quilty (Kilkenny).
