Galway 2-20

Wexford 0-19

By Eanna O’Reilly at O’Moore Park

The Galway minor hurlers booked their place in Saturday’s Leinster final against Kilkenny at O’Moore Park Portlaoise (5.15pm), after overcoming Wexford at the same venue last Sunday afternoon.

Kenneth Burke’s charges produced a very impressive first-half performance to put the Slaney-siders to the sword and wrap up the result in Portlaoise.

Galway took a 14-point lead into the half-time interval, having thoroughly outplayed Wexford in all areas. The Tribesmen’s hurling was on a different level, and they demonstrated superior skill, pace, and athleticism throughout the pitch.

Playing with the wind in the opening half, Galway soon got to the pitch of the contest. Kenneth Burke’s charges raced into a 1-4 to 0-0 lead and had their opponents well on the back foot after eight minutes.

Seán Moran, Cian Hannon, Tadhg MacCárthaigh, and Ronan Cahalan all tallied points, before Cillian Roche fired to the net after a good run and pass from Cahalan set up the score. Darragh Ryan (’65) and Joey Tobin points got Wexford off the mark, but Galway replied with two impressive points from Stephen Keane and MacCárthaigh.

Wexford’s Eoin Kinsella and Jack Sheridan tallied scores at the other end to make it 1-6 to 0-4, before the young Tribesmen upped their game to score an unanswered 1-4. Jack Shaughnessy scored a terrific individual goal, before Cahalan, MacCárthaigh, Shaughnessy, and Gus Lohan added white flags.

Galway were playing with superb pace and quality throughout the pitch. Burke’s charges were finding each other with intelligent and accurate passes, while their physicality and athleticism were also giving them the edge.

At 2-10 to 0-4, Wexford were already chasing the game, but Galway were in no mood to slow down. The Tribesmen outscored the Slaney-siders by 0-4 to 0-2 during the remainder of the first-half.

Shay Brady, Cahalan, Shaughnessy (free), and Robert Burke tallied scores for Galway from a variety of distances and angles. At the other end, Tobin (0-2, one free) kept the scoreboard ticking for a Wexford side which was struggling badly.

Galway took a 2-14 to 0-6 lead into the interval, and extended their lead early in the second-half, with two points (one free) from Roche. With a 16-point lead early in the second period, Burke’s charges had the contest all but wrapped up.

Pictured: Galway’s Ronan Cahalan reacts to this loose ball first despite the close attention of Wexford duo Enan Quinlan and Jack Cullan. Photo: Joe Keane.