Galway eventually flex their muscles to crush Offaly

Galway got their Allianz League campaign off to a winning start at Pearse Stadium as Henry Shefflin's men proved far too strong as they cantered home to a 4-22 to 0-17.

Offaly, managed by his Ballyhale Shamrocks teammate Michael Fennelly, were in trouble when they trailed by 1-12 to 0-8 having played with the wind.

An Offaly comeback never looked like materialising and Galway pulled away to win with ease.

Offaly took wind advantage in the opening half but they were in trouble when they trailed by 1-12 to 0-08 at the interval, with Galway on top in most positions.

Galway could have had three or four goals in that opening half but didn't turn the screw, with Evan Niland shooting a penalty wide after 22 minutes.

But the opening goal was worth waiting for as Galway half-back Gearoid McInerney took off on a 70 metre run before batting the ball to the net from close range just before the interval.

It completed a miserable opening half for Offaly, with McInerney keeping close tabs on Eoghan Cahill who had impressed when the sides clashed in the Walsh Cup last month.

The Tribesmen got on top from the outset and led by 0-04 to 0-01 after ten minutes, with Tom Monaghan, Jack Hastings and Conor Whelan impressing up front.

Offaly managed just four points from play in the opening half and two of them came from wing-backs Jack Screeney and Killian Sampson.

John Murphy and Adrian Cleary also found the range, with Cahill hitting four frees, but they never looked like building a lead with the wind and never actually got in front.

Galway hit eight wides to Offaly’s four in the opening half but still managed to build a lead with Monaghan shooting three from play in the opening 15 minutes, with Whelan picking off three as well in addition to being