Galway ease past 13-man Wexford

Galway eased into the semi-finals of the Leinster GAA Hurling Championship after a 2-22 to 1-14 defeat of Wexford at Nowlan Park on Saturday evening.

Ger Farragher hit 0-13 for the Tribesmen, who led by 1-9 to 0-6 at half-time after Joe Canning had rifled a 21-yard free to the back of the net just before the break.

Wexford reduced the gap to three points after Tomás Waters' goal in the 55th minute and looked to have all the momentum, with Galway's Andy Smyth sent off on a straight red card for a late challenge minutes earlier.

However, Galway showed their ruthless streak by hitting back immediately, as Kevin Hynes, a second half substitute, ghosted in for a crucial second goal in the 58th minute.

The game then unravelled badly for Colm Bonnar's side in the final ten minutes as they lost David Redmond to a second yellow card, while their top scorer Diarmuid Lyng saw red in injury time.

Galway took complete control in the final ten minutes as Farragher extended their lead and Aidan Harter pitched in with his first ever Championship score to give them an 11-point winning margin.

Farragher scored seven points for the Tribesmen led by three just before the break. However, the complexion of the game was utterly changed when Joe Canning fired a free to the back of the net on the stroke of half-time.

It was an advantage John McIntyre's side scarcely deserved after a moderate first half performance, but the tempo from both sides increased significantly after the break and the game really burst into life after a slow start.

Lyng kept Wexford in the game as the Model County captain and Farragher continued their free-taking shootout in the opening stages of the second half.

Joe Canning, who finsihed with 1-3 but had a quiet game by his standards, nearly added another goal to his tally when he burst through on goal, but he was hooked by Redmond just as he looked to pull the trigger with only the goalkeeper to beat.

In a breathless period of play, Wexford went down the other end and Michael Jacob had a wonderful chance to hit the back of the net, but his shot was brilliantly saved by Colm Callanan, the Galway goalkeeper. Lyng knocked over the resultant '65 and Rory Jacob was also on target to cut the gap to 1-12 to 0-12.

Farragher, Damien Hayes and Joe Canning all hit back for Galway before Portumna man Smyth was shown a red card for a perceived elbow on Colm Farrell.

The extra man gave Wexford heart and they were back within three points when Waters swept the ball home three minutes later. The Wexford sub doubled on a long delivery from Lyng, but the danger should have been averted by Tony Óg Regan, who attempted to catch the high ball when he might have been better advised to bat the ball clear.

Galway quickly stamped out Wexford's revival as Hynes ghosted in from the wing and hit a brilliant shot to the back of the net with 12 minutes left.

Things got worse for the Model men as they lost Redmond to a second yellow card, while they will have to face into the qualifiers without their captain and talisman, Lyng, after he was shown a straight red for a frontal charge in the dying minutes.