Galway 2-23 Cork 1-14:A 10-POINT haul by Joe Canning enabled him become the highest ever Galway scorer in the championship as his side continued their roller coaster recovery following their thrashing by Dublin in the Leinster championship.

Cork got off to a blistering start and when they led 1-3 to nil after 10 minutes it seemed that Galway’s up and down season was about to grind to a halt.

After only 19 seconds Galway goalkeeper James Skehill’s short pass broke to Cork’s best forward, Paudie O’Sullivan, who fired home to the net. O’Sullivan then swept over three unanswered points but that was as good as it got for him.

By the half-hour mark Galway had hauled themselves back to level terms despite having to be content with a point from a 65 by Canning after his penalty was blocked. Cork edged back in front with points by Pat Horgan and Niall McCarthy had another but that was their last score of the half.

Galway lifted their game, once again, with a brace of points by Canning and another by Damian Hayes had them in front for the first time after 31 minutes.

Then came the first of Galway’s goals. Iarla Tannian sent an accurate pass to Canning, who spotted Hayes, who fired home and Galway lead by 1-12 to 1-7 at the end of a most extraordinary half.

Cian McCarthy and Horgan had early second-half points for Cork but the second half belonged to Galway. Twelve minutes into the half they led 1-15 to 1-11 but it took a fabulous save by Skehill to deny O’Sullivan his second goal.

Hayes and the outstanding David Burke added further Galway points. Canning had a goal disallowed when called back by the referee but pointed the subsequent free.

Cyril Donnellan replaced Alan Kerins on the hour and scored a goal with his first touch and from there to the end it was all Galway as the Cork challenged fizzled out.

GALWAY: J Skehill; F Moore, S Kavanagh, D Collins; D Barry, T Óg Regan, A Cullinane; A Smith (0-2), D Burke (0-2), J Gantley (0-1), G Farraher (0-4), I Tannian (0-1); D Hayes (1-3), J Canning (0-10, four frees, one 65), A Kerins. Subs: B Daly for Smith (57 mins), C Donnellan (1-0) for Kerins (61 mins), K Hynes for Tannian (66 mins), J Coen for Gantley, D Joyce for Collins (both 67 mins).

CORK: D Óg Cusack; S McDonnell, E Cadogan, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S ONeill; J OConnor, W Egan; B OConnor, C McCarthy (0-3), N McCarthy (0-2); L OFarrell, P OSullivan (1-3), P Horgan (0-4, two frees). Subs: J Coughlan for O’Farrell (h-t), C Naughton for O’Neill (50mins), L McLoughlin for J O’Connor, B Cooper (0-1) for C McCarthy (both 55 mins), C Lehane (0-1) for N McCarthy (67 mins).

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).