Joseph Cooney's brace of goals helped holders Galway to a 2-19 to 0-14 victory over 14-man Offaly at Salthill.

With 5,355 looking on, the losers had Shane Kinsella sent off seven minutes into the second half, shortly after Cooney had bagged his second major to effectively finish the game as a contest.

The holders are now assured of a place in the quarter-finals and will take on Limerick - who likewise hold a 100% record after three rounds - in a promotion shoot-out here in Pearse Stadium on March 4^th.

Despite having played with the breeze, the hosts led by just four points at the break. Damien Egan, Dan Currams, David King and Kinsella points had the Faithful County 0-4 to 0-2 in front but Cooney pounced for his first goal after a Cathal Mannion brace had levelled the scores.

Kevin Martin's men were still level at the midway stage in the first half courtesy of further scores from Kinsella, Egan and Currams but Sean Loftus (2), Paul Flaherty, Mannion and Conor Cooney - scorer of seven points - all registered to give the All-Ireland champions a 1-9 to 0-8 interval edge.

Cooney's second major and Kinsella's dismissal saw the pendulum swing in Galway's favour and home custodian James Skehill saved a Shane Dooley penalty late on.

Galway - J Skehill; A Tuohy, P Mannion, S Bannon; S Cooney, G McInerney, A Harte; J Coen, S Loftus (0-3); J Cooney (2-1), C Mannion (0-5), P Flaherty (0-2); C Whelan, C Cooney (0-7, 4f), D Glennon. Subs: N Burke (0-1) for J Cooney, B Concannon for C Whelan, B Flaherty for A Harte, J Coyne for D Glennon.

Offaly - E Cahill; B Conneely, S Gardiner, T Spain; D O'Toole, P Camon, J Quinn; D King (0-1), P Delaney; C Gath, S Kinsella (0-2), O Kelly; D Egan (0-3f), C Mahon, D Currams (0-3). Subs: D Shortt for J Quinn, T Geraghty (0-3) for P Delaney, C Egan for C Gath, S Dooley (0-2f) for D King, J Bergin for O Kelly.

Referee - C McAllister.

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