Galway 6-23 Offaly 1-12
Galway went on a scoring spree to get their league campaign off to a flying start against a disappointing Offaly side at O’Connor Park in Tullamore.
The game was over as a contest by half-time as Galway built up an interval lead of 4-09 to 1-08 despite playing against the stiff wind and all that remained to be decided was the margin of victory.
Galway continued to dominate with the wind behind them, with Offaly failing to score from play in the second-half.
Offaly needed a big start but found themselves 1-02 to 0-00 adrift after just six minutes after Galway full-forward Jason Flynn blasted home a goal and landed a couple of points.
Sean Cleary got them off the mark after seven minutes and Sean Ryan, Shane Dooley and Cillian Kiely also found the range, but Galway looked dangerous every time they went forward.
Conor Whelan slipped in from the right for an easy goal after 18 minutes and then Flynn, who amassed a tally of 2-07 by half-time, burst through for his second goal of the match.
Cleary had given Offaly some hope with a goal with a low shot from the left but they were chasing the game throughout.
A couple of frees from Dooley gave them some hope but Galway stepped up a few gears again and captain David Burke blasted home their fourth goal to lead by ten points at the interval.
Galway continued to dominate after the restart with Offaly suffering a further blow when interval substitute Dermot Shortt was sent off when he picked up two yellow cards by the 45th minute.
Whelan blasted home his second goal of the match for Galway after being put through by Conor Cooney.
Cooney, back from duty with St Thomas, finished with 0-06, five of which came in the second-half to crown a fine display which also saw him set up several scores.
Brian Molloy completed the rout when he got Galway’s sixth goal after 54 minutes as they coasted home to a 26 points win to get their promotion campaign up and running.
Galway: C Callanan; M Donohoe; J Hanbury, P Killeen; A Harte, A Tuohy (0-01), G McInerney; J Coen (0-01), D Burke (1-01); D Glennon, J Cooney (0-03), P Flaherty; C Whelan (2-00), J Flynn (2-10, 0-08f), C Cooney (0-06, 0-01f).
Subs used: B Molloy (1-00) for Flaherty (28), S Maloney for Whelan (51), M Conneely for Harte (51), N Burke (0-01) for Glennon (51), T Monaghan for Flynn (60).
Offaly: J Dempsey; P Rigney, M Cleary, D Maloney; A Treacy, C Doughan, B Conneely; P Murphy, C Kiely (0-02); S Dooley (0-08, 0-08f), S Gardiner, E Nolan; S Ryan (0-01), O Kelly, S Cleary (1-01).
Subs used: P Camon for Maloney (36), D Shortt for Rigney (36), J Mulrooney for Nolan (36), P Geraghty for Kelly (54), T Carroll for Cleary (59).
Referee: C Lyons (Cork).
