Cooney and Burke goals seal Galway win

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Galway 2-26

Offaly 1-18

At Pearse Stadium

THOUGH it was a few notches down on the levels that dispatched Kilkenny a week earlier, Galway maintained their 100 percent start to the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship with an 11-point win over Offaly in Salthill this afternoon.

Late goals from Conor Cooney and Rory Burke were the defining moments as the hosts finally shrugged off their neighbours in front of an attendance of 6,557. The in-form Conor Whelan scored five points for the Tribesmen in a terrific display, while Aaron Niland raised nine white flags.

Whelan shot four of his overall tally before Galway retired to their dressing-room with a 0-13 to 0-10 advantage despite playing into the wind. They would have been further in front but for the shot-stopping excellence of Offaly 'keeper Liam Hoare who denied Rory Burke (twice) and Jason Rabbitte from point-blank range.

The winners extended their lead when hitting seven of the new half's opening nine points. Niland continued to punish Offaly from frees and play, while the Mannion brothers, Cathal and Padraic, also tallied along with a fifth from the in-form Whelan.

Offaly were in danger of being cut adrift but their hopes of a first championship win over Galway since 1994 grew when Oisín Kelly netted from a narrow angle in the 55th minute.

However, Galway responded with authority and points from Jason Rabbitte, Cathal Mannion and the Burkes, Daithí and Rory, followed with result-clinching goals in the 63rd and 65th minute from Conor Cooney and Rory Burke to ensure victory.

GALWAY: Darach Fahy; Darren Morrissey (captain), Cillian Trayers, Ronan Glennon; Gavin Lee (0-1), Padraic Mannion (0-1), Daithí Burke (0-1); Cian Daniels, Cathal Mannion (0-4, 0-3 frees); John Fleming, Darragh Neary (0-1), Rory Burke (1-2); Jason Rabbitte (0-2), Conor Whelan (0-5), Aaron Niland (0-9, 0-7 frees). Subs: Conor Cooney (1-0), for Niland, 54 mins; Tom Monaghan, for Neary, 59 mins; Colm Molloy, for Fleming, 65 mins; Kieran Hanrahan, for Trayers, 67 mins; Shane Morgan, for Daithí Burke, 67 mins.

OFFALY: Liam Hoare (0-1, free); Patrick Taaffe, Sam Bourke, Ben Conneely; Ross Ravenhill (0-1), Killian Sampson, Ter Guinan; Ciaran Burke, Jack Clancy (0-1); Shane Rigney (0-2), Dan Bourke (0-1), Conor Doyle (0-2); Charlie Mitchell (captain, 0-1), Brian Duignan (0-1), Adam Screeney (0-8, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65). Subs: Ruairí Kelly, for Sam Bourke, half-time; Ben Miller, for Clancy, 46 mins; Oisín Kelly (1-0), for Dan Bourke, 54 mins; Eoghan Cahill, for Doyle, 67 mins; Ciaran Cleary, for Ravenhill, 70 mins.

REFEREE: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin).