Galway 2-22

Antrim 0-9

Galway opened their defence of the Irish Press Cup with a facile win over Antrim in today's All-Ireland MHC quarter-final at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Fielding 10 of last year's All-Ireland winning squad, the Tribesmen dominated from start to finish against the Ulster champions, who tried to limit the damage by playing two extra players in defence. Evan Niland top-scored for the winners with 1-7, while Cian Salmon also raised a green flag in the first half to help Galway to a commanding 1-14 to 0-4 interval lead.

The writing was on the wall for Antrim when Galway reeled off seven unanswered points inside the first 10 minutes. Diarmuid McShane eventually opened the Saffrons' account in the 11th minute, but it continued to be one-way traffic as scores from Ross Malone and Ronan Murphy extended the winners' advantage.

Jack Canning, who posted three early points, set up Salmon for their first goal in the final minute of the opening half. 

Galway merely went through the motions after that, with Niland's goal five minutes from time adding gloss to the scoreline.

Galway - J Forde; S Molloy, J Fitzpatrick, R O'Neill; I O'Shea, C Fahy (0-1), P Foley; J Coyne (0-5, 2f), R Malone (0-1); J Canning (0-3), E Niland (1-7, 0-4f), L Forde; K Cooney (0-1), C Salmon (1-1), R Murphy (0-1). Subs: E Fahy (0-1) for R Murphy, C Caulfield for R O'Neill, M McManus (0-1) for L Forde, O Connolly for K Cooney, D Mannion for E Niland.

Antrim - P Carlin; E McQuillan, L Gillan, C Carson; S Magill, C Boyd, E Smyth; D Black, K Molloy (0-1); P McCallin, G Og Laverty, D McKernan (0-1f); D McShane (0-1), C Doherty Cunning (0-5, 4f), E O'Neill. Subs: E Laverty for D Black, C Kinsella for S Magill, C McDonnell for G Og Laverty, S O'Connor for E McQuillan, S Shannon for D McKernan.

Referee - G McGrath.

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