Galway climbed to top spot in Division 1B as two late goals from Nicky and Padraig Joyce saw them to a 3-11 to 1-11 victory over Down in Tuam.
With Kildare and Laois drawing, Galway claimed first place in the standings to set up a NFL semi-final against Connacht champions Mayo next Sunday.
Relegated Down battled well in the first half and led 1-05 to 0-06 at the break with Benny Coulter netting from a Colin McCrickard pass.
But Michael Meehan's penalty levelled the tie at 1-06 apiece and two rapid-fire goals from the Joyces, with nine minutes left on the clock, gave Galway their fifth league win.
Continuing to show the form that netted them four straight wins in recent weeks, Galway hit the front inside six minutes with points from Padraig Joyce and Joe Bergin.
Packie Downey replied for Down who did well to keep in touch as scores from Ja Fallon and Nicky Joyce propelled Peter Ford's men into a 0-06 to 0-03 lead.
Then Down had a purple patch with Coulter thumping over a '45', Daniel Hughes adding a free and Coulter punching home his goal, which was followed by a point from play from Cormac Bane, as the hosts were suddenly left trailing by 0-5 to 1-6 at half-time.
A Hughes free sent the Mourne men four points clear before a quick Galway point and Meehan's penalty strike, which came after Daniel McCartan was found guilty of handling the ball on the ground, made it all square.
Nicky Joyce, taking a pass from the effective Fallon, notched Galway's second goal in the 61st-minute and barely 40 seconds later, former skipper Padraig Joyce combined with Meehan to raise a third green flag.
Hughes and Padraig Joyce exchanged late points, before James McGovern and Ronan Murtagh sent over points that were largely immaterial.
Coulter also slotted a late penalty wide of the far post as Galway, despite losing their opening two games, qualified for the semi-finals as Division 1B's top side.
