GALWAY 0-22
CORK 0-17

Joe Canning's 11-point contribution fired Galway into this year's All-Ireland SHC decider at the expense of Cork in today's semi-final at Croke Park.

Anthony Cunningham's men failed to replicate the high standards they set in their Leinster SHC final win over Kilkenny but there could be no disputing the final result.

The game was delicately balanced at the break with both teams level on 0-11 apiece but Galway upped the tempo considerably in the second half and ran out deserving winners by a five-point margin.

Canning's finger prints were all over most of Galway's best attacking moments and his eleven point haul was made up of six frees and two 65s.

The Galway starting 15 showed one change with James Regan coming into the half-forward line in place of Cyril Donnellan who had to be content with a place on the bench following his recent injury trouble.

First blood went to the Westerners with Damien Hayes pointing after just 30 seconds when capitalising on some hesitancy in the Cork defence but Pa Horgan had Cork back on level terms a minute later with a pointed free.

Galway won the toss but elected to shoot against the breeze in the first half and Jamie Coughlan and Cian McCarthy made it three points to one in Cork's favour by the 6th minute.

Canning opened his personal account via a placed ball in the 7th minute and Cork 'keeper Anthony Nash denied the Galway talisman with a double save four minutes later.

At the other end of the field, Paudie O'Sullivan extended the Rebel County's lead to 0-4 to 0-2 before Canning converted a 50m free.

The sides were level when James Regan found the target but Cork hit two points without reply through captain Horgan, one from a free.

It was 0-7 apiece after 25 minutes after two points from Canning cancelled out a second white flag for O'Sullivan.

Horgan restored Cork's slender lead with a free and O'Sullivan bagged his third point of the contest in the 29th minute.

David Burke and Canning cancelled out Cork's lead before the latter gave the Leinster champions the lead. Jimmy Barry-Murphy's men replied almost instantly through Luke O'Farrell.

David Burke and Horgan (free) traded the last scores of the opening 35 minutes and the sides went in level on 0-11 apiece at the break.

Horgan sent Cork back into the lead with his sixth point a minute after the resumption after O'Sullivan was fouled by Johnny Coen but Canning's eight point, from a free, in the 39th minute brought the sides level for the seventh time.

Cork midfielder Pa Cronin, meanwhile, was lucky to escape censure following an off-the-ball altercation which left Iarla Tannian requiring treatment.

Damien Hayes put Galway's nose in front and they found themselves three points to the good on the 45th minute mark thanks to points from Canning and Niall Burke.

Horgan reeled Galway back with a point from play but Niall Burke responded with his second point of the game shortly after and Galway were 0-16 to 0-13 ahead with 20 minutes to go.

Cork netminder Anthony Nash enhanced his growing reputation with a terrific point blank save to deny Burke a goal in the 52 minute while Canning sent the resulting 65 over the Cork crossbar.

Cork substitute Darren Sweetnam cut the deficit to three with a point in the 54th minute but Damien Hayes reaffirmed Galway's second half superiority.

Cronin got on the end of a Nash clearance in the 56th minute and shot over the Galway bar from close range Half-time Cork substitute Cathal Naughton then cut the deficit to two points.

James Regan showed the Cork defence a clean pair of heels before pointing to leave the scoreboard reading Galway 0-19, Cork 0-16 with ten minutes left on the clock.

Goalkeeper Nash pointed a long range free but midfielder Andy Smith restored Galway's three point cushion in the 63rd minute.

Joe Canning sustained a knock in a challenge with Paudie O'Sullivan but recovered to send over the free for Galway's insurance point in the 70th minute.

Damien Hayes tagged on a point for good measure in the second minute of add-on time and Galway's thoughts now turn to the Liam McCarthy Cup decider.

Galway - J Skehill; D Collins, K Hynes, F Moore; N Donoghue, T Óg Regan, J Coen; I Tannian, A Smith (0-1); D Burke (0-2), N Burke (0-2), J Regan (0-2); C Cooney, J Canning (0-11, 6fs, 2 65s), D Hayes (0-4). Subs - D Glennon for Cooney (54 mins), C Donnellan for J Regan (62 mins), J Glynn for N Burke (67 mins), J Cooney for D Burke (71 mins)

Cork - A Nash (0-1, f); S O'Neill, S McDonnell, B Murphy; T Kenny, E Cadogan, S Óg Ó hAilpín; P Cronin (0-1), L McLoughlin; C Lehane, C McCarthy (0-1), J Coughlan (0-1); P O'Sullivan (0-3), L O'Farrell (0-1), P Horgan (0-7, 6fs). Sub - C Naughton (0-1) for McCarthy (half-time), D Sweetnam (0-1) for Lehane (45 mins), S Moylan for O'Farrell (50 mins), N McCarthy for Coughlan (55 mins), D Kearney for McLoughlin (69 mins)

Referee - B Gavin (Offaly). Tweet

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