A WINNING START JUST TICKET FOR CHAMPIONS

alway for long stages of the opening period, and only for Joseph Cooney’s goal just before the break, that inefficiency would not have been as severe.

After seven minutes Galway were 1-2 to 0-1 ahead, the goal was a touch fortunate considering that Conor Cooney’s shot rattled the post but was deflected into the net by Championship debutant Concannon.

Concannon also pointed from play straight after the goal, but the Offaly full-back line and Tom Spain and Ben Conneely in particular soon got to grips with their men.

A couple of Canning frees stretched Galway’s lead after the restart before a moment of brilliance from Conor Whelan looked to have given Galway a canter to the finish line.

Whelan produced the catch of the game to claim David Burke’s long ball, and then spotted Concannon at the back post and he rattled the net for his second goal.

That goal put Galway nine points up, but when Joe Bergin converted a ground stroke to the net d Dan Currams followed it up with a point Offaly were back to within five points.

But three points from Canning (above) placed balls soon cancelled out that Offaly goal, and when Whelan first-timed Cathal Mannon’s pass to the net 10 minutes from time the victory was secured.

J Skehill; A Tuohey, Daithi Burke, J Hanbury; P Mannion, G Mcinerney, A Harte (R Burke 65); J Coen (S Loftus 58 (0-1)), David Burke (c); J Canning (0-8, 6f, 1’65) (J Glynn 67), C Mannion (0-1) (N Burke 63), J Cooney (1-4); C Whelan (1-1), C Cooney (0-2) (J Flynn 58 (1-0)), B Concannon (2-1).

E Cahill (0-1, 1f); T Spain (T Rigney 68), S Gardiner, B Conneely; D Egan, P Camon, B Murphy (S Ryan 58); D King (0-2), S Kinsella (0-1); C Mahon (C Kiely 52), D Currams (0-1) (T Geraghty 62), C Egan (P Murphy 62); O Kelly, J Bergin (1-1), S Dooley (1-9, 8f).

Johnny Murphy (Limerick).