Galway 3-28 Westmeath 0-20
Henry Shefflin's Galway got their year off to an impressive start when an understrength side scored a 3-28 to 0-10 win over Westmeath in the Walsh Cup at Ballinasloe.
Galway led by 1-11 to 0-11 at the end of an entertaining opening half where the sides were level half a dozen times.
Hard-working Conor Whelan, the only member of the attack not to score before the break, set up debutant Martin McManus from Loughrea for the opening goal in stoppage time before the interval.
Killian Doyle struck 0-8 for Westmeath in that opening 35 minutes, seven of them from frees, as he continued the form which earned him an All Star nominee last year.
Kinvara man Whelan was involved in setting up several scores, including the goal which edged them ahead at the break when he soloed through and debutant Martin McManus from Loughrea supplied a sublime finish.
Westmeath failed to make a couple of goal chances count, with Galway creating the space to pick off points from play.
The Tribesmen got on top after the restart with Niland continuing to shoot points from placed balls before McManus got in for his second major to open up a 2-16 to 0-13 lead after 46 minutes.
Doyle continued to respond but they never looked like getting the goal they needed to mount a comeback.
And it was Galway who finished strongly with Mark Kennedy getting their third goal three minutes from time to seal an impressive win.
Niland finished with a haul of 0-15, while Doyle landed a dozen points for Westmeath in a game where both Shefflin and his counterpart Joe Fortune will be pleased with this early season workout in wet and cold conditions on a decent surface in the circumstances in Ballinasloe.
Galway: Darach Fahy; Jack Fitzpatrick, Gearoid McInerney (0-01), Eoin Lawless; Shane Ryan, Adrian Tuohey (0-02), TJ Brennan; Ronan Murphy, Sean Linnane (0-01); John Cooney (0-01), Conor Whelan (0-01), Donal O’Shea (0-03); Evan Niland (0-17, 0-14f, 0-02 '65s), Martin McManus (2-01), Declan McLoughlin (0-01).
Substitutes: Tiernan Killeen for Ryan (45), Mark Kennedy (1-00) for Whelan (49), Sean O’Hanlon for Lawless (59),Kevin Hanney for Cooney (61).
Westmeath: Noel Conaty; Darragh Egerton, Conor Shaw, Jack Galvin; Kevin Regan, Shane Clavin, Peadar Scally; Mark Cunningham (0-01), Shane McGovern (0-01); Niall O’Brien (0-02), Killian Doyle (0-12, 0-10f, 0-01 ’65), Joey Boyle (0-01); Shane Williams, Niall Mitchell, David Williams.
Substitutes: Aaron Craig for Scally (half-time), Rian Holding (0-01) for Galvin (46), Eoin Keyes (0-01) for D Williams (47), Peter Clarke for S Williams (49), Plunkett Maxwell for Cunningham (55), Eamon Cuneen for McGovern (60), Eoin Daly for Boyle (60), David Devine for Doyle (63), Conor Gaffney for Egerton (63), Jack Gallagher (0-01) for O’Brien (65)
Elsewhere, Kilkenny began life without Brian Cody by beating Offaly at Callan where goals were critical in a 2-19 to 0-21 triumph for the Cats.
Ian Byrne and Tom Phelan got the majors in Derek Lyng's first game in charge, with Billy Drennan contributing nine points, six of which were from placed balls.
A mistake from Faithful goalkeeper Eamonn Cleary gifted the Cats their first goal and it helped the hosts to push eight clear before the break. But Offaly, also playing a first game under a new manager in Johnny Kelly, battled to close the gap to four points at half time.
The sides were level shortly after the restart and it was a tight contest until Phelan's goal allowed Kilkenny to see off the Offaly challenge.
While Laois secured a morale boosting early season victory over Wexford at Mountrath.
The O'Moore men, playing under Willie Maher for the first time, were 0-20 to 0-18 victors over a Yellowbelly side with nine debutants.
Laois were three clear at the break with James Duggan chipping in four scores, but Wexford did manage to draw level with 10 minutes to go.
From there efforts from Mossy Keyes and Jordan Walshe were enough to see Maher's charges home.
In the Keogh Cup, Carlow were much too strong as they emerged 4-26 to 1-08 winners over Wicklow at Netwatch Cullen Park, while it was also comfortable for Meath who beat Down by 2-24 to 1-16 at the Dunganny Meath GAA Centre of Excellence.
