Helped by goals from Pádraig Brehony and Jonathan Glynn Galway booked a place in the Walsh Cup final but they were given a decent challenge from a plucky Carlow side before an attendance of 500 at Network Cullen Park yesterday.

Galway were down to 14 men in the seventh minute when centre forward Andrew Smith was given a straight red.

Carlow, meanwhile, depended to a great extent on the accuracy from placed balls by right full forward Marty Kavanagh.

The visitors had edged 0-9 to 0-8 ahead in the 35th minute when a short puck-out by Carlow went horribly wrong. The ball was turned over by Galway and eventually Brehony crashed the sliotar to the net from close range.

Galway recorded the opening two points of the second half and their superior strength and hurling craft began to manifest itself.

They dominated the later stages of the game but entering the final five minutes Carlow trailed by only four points. Then a high ball from midfield saw Jonathan Glynn outwit two Carlow defenders before drilling the ball to the net.