Cathal Mannion led the way with a haul of 0-17 as Galway saw off Wexford with an impressive display in this Leinster SHC clash at Pearse Stadium.
Six of Mannion's points came from play as the Tribesmen laid down a marker against a Wexford now in serious peril after falling to their second loss in three games.
Galway got on top in the second quarter and were good value for their 0-15 to 0-11 interval having played against the breeze in the opening half on a pristine surface at Pearse Stadium.
Cathal Mannion, playing his 60th championship game for Galway along with his brother Padraic, once again led the way for the Tribesmen and landed eight points, three of them from play, in that opening half with centre-back Gavin Lee going forward to shoot a couple of excellent points from deep.
Lee Chin, yet again, led the Wexford challenge but Keith Rossiter’s men did not make use of the wind and delivered very little ball directly.
They recovered well after Brian Concannon and Mannion gave Galway an ideal start and struck the next four points to lead by 0-04 to 0-02 after seven minutes.
Galway, with captain Conor Whelan winning enormous possession in the half-forward line, hit back and after drawing level they opened up a three points lead by the end of the opening quarter before Wexford responded with efforts from Kevin Foley, Chin and Conor Hearne drawing them level after 21 minutes.
But Galway got on top after that and outscored Wexford by seven points to three from there to the break to turn around leading by 0-15 to 0-11.
Tom Monaghan and Rory O’Connor exchanged points after the restart before O’Connor raced from deep through the Galway defence and set up Cathal Dunbar for a goal which cut the gap to 0-16 to 1-12 after 42 minutes.
57min: Galway 0-22 Wexford 2-14
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 10, 2025
It's a two-point game with ten minutes or so left to play thanks to a second Wexford goal from Cian Byrne.
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Cathal Mannion wiped out that goal in just over three minutes with a fine effort from halfway either side of two more pointed frees, while at the other end Darren Morrissey did well to deflect a goal effort from Rory O’Connor.
But Wexford got a second goal when Cian Byrne finished off a good move involving Chin, Rory O’Connor and Richie Lawlor to cut the gap to two points at 0-22 to 2-14 after 58 minutes.
Galway 1-27 Wexford 2-16
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 10, 2025
Is this going to cap it off for Galway? Conor Cooney gets their first goal of the afternoon on the rebound.
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Galway didn’t panic and continued to pick off points with Mannion leading the way before they wrapped up the win when Conor Cooney finished a rebound to the net after Mark Fanning did well to deny Keviin Cooney on a day when the Tribesmen laid down a championship marker.
Galway: Darach Fahy; Padraic Mannion, Fintan Burke, Darren Morrissey; Cianan Fahy (0-02), Gavin Lee (0-02), TJ Brennan; David Burke, Tom Monaghan (0-02); John Fleming (0-02), Cathal Mannion (0-17, 0-11f), Conor Whelan; Tiernan Killeen, Brian Concannon (0-02), Colm Molloy (0-1).
Subs: Anthony Burns for Molloy (55), Kevin Cooney for Killeen (55), Seán Linnane (0-01) for Fleming (60), Conor Cooney (1-00) for Concannon (66), Ronan Glennon (Mullagh) for Burke (69).
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Conor Foley, Liam Ryan, Eoin Ryan; Richie Lawlor, Damien Reck, Charlie McGuckin; Simon Donohoe, Conor Hearne (0-01); Jack O’Connor (0-01), Seamus Casey, Cathal Dunbar (1-00); Kevin Foley (0-01), Lee Chin (0-12, 0-9f, 0-1 65), Rory O’Connor (0-01).
Subs: Conor McDonald for Casey (50), Cian Byrne (1-00) for J O’Connor (53), Jack Redmond for Lawlor (58), Cian Molloy for McGuckin (67).
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).
