London 0-07 Galway 3-17

The attacking triumvirate of Shane Walsh, Michael Martin and Danny Cummins were on song as Galway overwhelmed London by 3-17 to 0-07 in the Connacht quarter-final in Ruislip.

Martin’s third-minute goal set Galway on their way and Martin, Walsh and Cummins all chipped in with impressive points as the visitors led 1-09 to 0-02 at half-time – London goalkeeper Adrian Faherty pointed two injury-time frees.

London battled admirably into the wind in the second half, but further goals from Walsh and Cummins completed the rout.

Following their memorable 2013 Championship odyssey, there was a greater level of expectation surrounding Paul Coggins’ Exiles as they welcomed the Tribesemen to the Emeralds GAA grounds for this Connacht SFC clash.

The inclusion of six Galway natives in the London team also added extra spice to the occasion, but the scale of the task facing the hosts was intensified inside the opening five minutes of play.

A blistering run by returning wing back Garreth Bradshaw straight from the throw-in provided the foundation for Walsh’s opening-minute point.

Shortly afterwards, some excellent approach work from Cummins and James Kavanagh, who was playing his first championship game in the Galway colours, following his switch from Kildare, set up Martin’s clinical goal finish as he beat Faherty one-on-one.

The concession of these early scores greatly affected the confidence levels of the Londoners and with Martin (0-02), Cummins and electrifying centre forward Walsh all raising white flags, Coggins’ side were struggling to make an impact despite playing with a stiff breeze.

A wayward long distance free from netminder Faherty in the 19th minute was their first meaningful effort on goal.

With Walsh and the always-dangerous Cummins (0-02) adding handsomely to Galway’s tally, London’s prospects were beginning to look decidedly bleak.

They managed to avoid the ignominy of finishing the half without a single score when a brace of late frees by Faherty, who lined out for the visitors in the previous meeting between the sides in 2009, ensured that Galway’s lead was marginally reduced to ten points by the interval.

This only offered brief respite for last year’s beaten Connacht finalists, however, and after Walsh and the aforementioned Faherty had swapped early second-half points, Kilkerrin-Clonberne’s Walsh delivered a thundering strike to the top left hand corner of the net on the 40-minute mark.

With the outcome effectively put beyond doubt at this point, Galway manager Alan Mulholland was presented with an ideal opportunity to utilise his reserves.

Eddie Hoare and Corofin’s Michael Lundy maintained the momentum for Galway, who are aiming to end a five-year provincial drought, with fine points, before London responded with hard-earned scores by substitute Lorcan Mulvey and Tir Chonaill Gaels’ Joe Feeney.

It was a case of damage limitation for the Exiles but in spite of a seventh point from the industrious Mulvey, a final goal from the excellent Cummins with the last kick of a lopsided game capped a fine day’s work for Galway.

LONDON: Adrian Faherty (0-03, 0-03f); Philip Butler, Stephen Curran, Donnacha McCarthy; Seamus Hannon, Tony Gaughan, Michael Walsh; Mark Gottsche, Paul Geraghty; Martin Carroll, Damien Dunleavy, Greg Crowley; Eoin O’Neill, Cathal O’Neill, Joe Feeney (0-01).

Subs used: Brian Collins for Gaughan (32-35 mins, blood sub), Brian Collins for McCarthy (half-time), Lorcan Mulvey (0-03, 0-02f) for C O’Neill (half-time), Marcus Miskelly for E O’Neill (47), Shane Mulligan for Carroll (62), Lloyd Colfer for Feeney (63), Barry Mitchell for Walsh (67).

GALWAY: Manus Breathnach; Donal O’Neill, Finian Hanley, Johnny Duane; Garreth Bradshaw, Gary O’Donnell, Paul Varley; Fiontán Ó Curraoin, Thomas Flynn; Michael Lundy (0-01), Shane Walsh (1-06, 0-01 ’45’, 0-02f), James Kavanagh; Michael Martin (1-03, 0-01f), Eddie Hoare (0-03), Danny Cummins (1-03).

Subs used: Greg Higgins for Ó Curraoin (47 mins), Adrian Varley (0-01) for Martin, Damien Comer for Lundy (both 52), John O’Brien for Flynn (58), Cathal Mulryan for Bradshaw (61), Eoin Concannon for Hoare (68).

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)