Galway withstood a second-half Down fightback as they moved into the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-finals with a 2-26 to 3-21 win at Pairc Esler.
Leading by 10 at the break, a Shane Walsh-inspired Galway seemed well on their way, but Down gave it a real go and it took Tomo Culhane’s late goal to give the Tribesmen breathing space.
Certainly, Down could be proud of their efforts but will reflect on the final nine minutes of the opening half when they were outscored by 0-9 to 0-0 as Walsh hit six and Matthew Thompson three as the period when the game got away from them.
But they were within two when Culhane beat Ronan Burns, while a late Down goal from Ryan Magill came too close to the hooter.
It was an even start with points from John McGeough and Odhran Murdock edging Down into a lead, but Galway began to find their rhythm with Robert Finnerty on song early, hitting the game’s first two-pointer to give Galway a 0-6 to 0-2 lead.
Down’s response was excellent and a sweeping move resulted in McGeough thumping home to bring the home crowd to life before Murdock levelled soon after.
But after Cillian McDaid edged Galway back in front, enter Shane Walsh. The Tribe talisman got on the end of a Matthew Thompson delivery to thump home and beat Ronan Burns who had previously made a couple of great stops from Finnerty and Cian Hernon.
The home side were a little vexed as from a Galway free in their defence that initiated the move, Down’s Patrick McCarthy was down with a facial injury which required him to be temporarily replaced, yet play continued with the corner-back on the ground.
Still, Down replied with two super Danny Magill scores and another from blood sub Eugene Branagan to reduce the gap to one with 26 minutes played.
But it was all Galway in the run to the break as Walsh in particular took over, hitting the next six points including two two-pointers from play and a free.
Matthew Thompson would get in on the act with a two-pointer and a single of his own as Galway went in at the break with a 1-16 to 1-6 lead.
