Allianz Hurling League: Galway hammer Saffrons 2-35 to 1-13 at Corrigan Park

Jason Flynn fired both Galway goals at Corrigan Park

Galway outclassed Antrim 2-35 to 1-13 in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B game at Corrigan Park.

Antrim got off to a terrible start as Jason Flynn fired to the net in the opening seconds after intercepting a short Tiernan Smyth puckout.

Despite playing against a stiff breeze, Galway moved 1-8 to 0-4 ahead before Joseph McLaughlin hit Antrim's goal.

But Galway led 1-16 to 1-7 by half-time and Flynn fired their second goal as Evan Niland finished with 0-13.

Tom Monaghan hit five points from play for the Tribesmen with Conor Cooney contributing 0-4.

Galway finished the game with 13 men as Padraig Mannion and Sean Linnane were both forced off by injury after Henry Shefflin had already used his allotted substitutes.

Saffrons suffer second league thumping

But if was far too late for Darren Gleeson's side to make any impression as they suffered their second hammering in three games after the opening 1-36 to 1-9 defeat by Limerick.

Antrim looked as though they were going to register a home win against Dublin two weeks ago but keeper Smyth's mistake saw the Saffrons concede a last-ditch goal as Michael O'Donoghue's side earned a 1-20 to 1-19 goal.

Manager Gleeson vowed to keep faith with Smyth for the Galway game but the keeper suffered more immediate misfortune when his short attempted puckout to Phelim Duffin was poached by Flynn, who fired to the net.

Antrim initially responded well as Rian McMullan and captain Eoghan Campbell both pointed, but two Niland frees and a Cooney point put the Tribesmen four up after 10 minutes.

With Linnane and Monaghan among those on target, Galway extended their lead to 1-8 to 0-4 as the Saffrons' tactic of employing too sweepers - despite playing with the wind - didn't prove effective.

Joseph McLaughlin hit Antrim's goal and went close to notching another in the second half

A long ball approach bore more dividends for the home side as McLaughlin superbly finished to the net to cut Galway's lead to four.

But Shefflin's side remained unruffled and Niland fired their next five scores as they moved into a 1-13 to 1-5 lead with a Conal Cunning point Antrim's only response.

With Galway 1-16 to 1-7 up at half-time and the wind advantage to follow, there was going to be no road back for Antrim.

So it proved as Flynn fired in his second goal shortly after the restart and the second half was largely about shooting practice for the visitors as free-taker Niland continue to rack up the points.

McLaughlin did go close to notching his second goal as he fired against a post.

A further blow for Antrim was skipper Campbell being forced out by injury in the third quarter while the only downside for Galway were the late knocks which forced off Mannion and Linnane.