Galway got their Leinster SHC campaign up and running with an impressive 2-25 to 1-14 win over an outclassed Offaly side in Tullamore.
There had been expectations that Galway fans might give this one a miss after their dismal showing in their first-round loss to Kilkenny, but those were well wide of the mark.
Instead, over 10,000 attended, creating a great atmosphere and giving a big boost to the town of Tullamore, with O'Connor Park also hosting the Leinster SFC semi-final between Louth and Kildare on Sunday.
With both sides having lost their openers, the stakes were huge, with a second defeat stacking the odds against a final place as well as bringing relegation onto the table.
With Offaly away to Kilkenny next in Nowlan Park, staying up is now very much the summit of their ambitions, while Galway have their fate in their own hands and will be targeting a provincial final.
The visitors played very well here, with their pace and incisive passing regularly splitting Offaly wide open.
Cathal Mannion was sensational for them as he scored 2-08, 1-05 from play – even though his second goal from a '65 was arguably an own goal as it took a wicked deflection to the net off the hurl of Donal Shirley.
Colm Molloy and TJ Brennan were also superb for Galway, who had several players who performed at a high level.
It was one of those days for Offaly, who could get little going and contributed to their own problems with some poor play but just came up against a vastly superior force.
Galway played the entire second half with 14 men after full-back Daithi Burke was sent off at the start for his part in a dust up just after the half-time whistle – Cathal Mannion was also yellow carded for this before the ball was thrown in for the second half, while Galway manager Micheal Donoghue was later shown a second yellow card by James Owens as he made his displeasure known at some of the calls that went against him.
By the time he got his second yellow card, protests were a futile exercise as Galway were home and dry.
Offaly made a dream start start, with Killian Sampson scoring an excellent second-minute goal to give them a 1-01 to 0-01 lead and for a brief few minutes, it looked like they would give Galway a real run for their money.
Instead, it unravelled for Offaly as a short Mark Troy puck out was intercepted and Cathal Mannion rattled the net to give Galway a 1-05 to 1-02 lead after eight minutes.
With Molloy on fire and Cathal Mannion running the game, Galway got a run of seven points in a row to lead by 1-13 to 1-05 after 23 minutes. Offaly’s defence was in serious bother with Jason Sampson and Padraig Cantwell replaced.
Offaly settled down again after this, battling hard and three in a row brought the gap down to five by the 31st minute.
Disaster struck them a minute later when Cathal Mannion’s ‘65 ended up in the net and Galway were in complete control with a 2-14 to 1-09 half-time lead.
The loss of Daithi Burke had no impact on the game and there were spells when Galway looked to have the extra man.
The winners were 2-15 to 1-10 ahead when Cillian Kiely blasted a great goal chance wide for Offaly in the 45th minute.
Kiely, a replacement for Jason Sampson, was replaced himself moments later and Galway were able to ease home from here, playing within themselves but keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
Their wide count did creep higher as they hit eight in a 15-minute spell but they had a 2-21 to 1-12 lead when they started and simply could not be caught.
It ended up a very good win for Galway and while they will have bigger tests, it was one they needed after their Nowlan Park horror show.
Galway: Darach Fahy; Fintan Burke, Daithi Burke, Darren Morrissey; Padraic Mannion, Gavin Lee, TJ Brennan (0-3); Cianan Fahy (0-1), David Burke (0-1); John Fleming (0-1), Cathal Mannion (2-8, 1-0 ‘65’, 3f), Tiernan Killeen (0-1); Conor Whelan (0-2), Brian Concannon (0-3), Colm Molloy (0-5). Subs – Tom Monaghan for Killeen (33m), Conor Cooney for Fleming (54m), Donal O’Shea for Molloy (59m), Sean Linnane for David Burke (62m), Ronan Glennon for C Mannion (68m).
Offaly: Mark Troy; Ben Conneely, Ciaran Burke, Padraig Cantwell; Ross Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Jason Sampson; Cathal King, David King; Killian Sampson (1-1), Dan Bourke (Durrow), Oisin Kelly (0-1); Dan Ravenhill (0-2, 1f), Brian Duignan (0-5, 4f), Charlie Mitchell (0-2). Subs – Cillian Kiely for Jason Sampson (21m), James Mahon for Cantwell (24m), Adam Screeney (0-3, 2f) for D King (42m), Eoin Burke for Kiely (47m), Colin Spain for Conneely (61m),
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
