Galway are Leinster intermediate hurling champions at the first attempt after a 1-20 to 0-11 victory over Wexford at O'Moore Park.

The victors, who defeated Kilkenny at the semi-final stage, were on top from start to finish and never really looked like losing.

They led by nine at the break, 1-9 to 0-3, and the Model County's task became much more difficult when John Lacey was dismissed three minutes into the second half. Seamus Murphy's 14 men did make a fight of it around the middle of the second period but there was no way back.

Considering that this is Galway's first season to contest this competition, Anthony Cunningham's charges will be delighted to have taken the provincial title. Victory has also secured them an All-Ireland final meeting with Cork on August 8th.

Brian Molloy (1-4) delivered the only goal of the game after being picked out by Shane Moloney (0-4) at the end of a great Galway team move, also involving Darragh Burke, who was on the receiving end of Lacey's high challenge early in the second half.

Paul Flaherty and Tadhg Haran shared five points for the winners, who were captained to victory by goalkeeper James Skehill.

Galway - J Skehill; C Flynn, D O'Donoghue, A Tuohy; S Cooney, D Burke, P Flaherty (0-3); K McHugo, D Higgins (0-1); E Burke (0-1), T Haran (0-2), E Brannigan; B Molloy (1-4), C Whelan (0-2), S Moloney (0-4). Subs: D Nevin (0-1) for K McHugo, R O'Meara (0-2) for E Burke, J Kennedy for E Brannigan, E Mahony for S Cooney, B Keane for D O'Donoghue.

Wexford - D Flynn; B Mulligan, J Breen, J Tonks; P Kenny, M O'Regan, P Nolan; T Dwyer (0-1), M Moloney; J Lacey, B Carton, J Kelly (0-8, 6f); T O'Leary, M O'Hanlon (0-1), J Berry (0-1). Subs: T Waters for M O'Regan, T Mahon for M Moloney, J Rack for B Carton, W Furlong for T O'Leary, J Dwyer for J Kelly.

Referee - P Burke.

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