WALSH CUP SEMI-FINALS/Galway 1-21 Wexford 4-9:IT'S EARLY days in Leinster but Galway turned in a stirring finish to record their second successive victory as they edged out Wexford in this exciting Walsh Cup senior hurling semi-final at O'Kennedy Park, New Ross, yesterday.

Trailing by three points with 10 minutes remaining, Galway turned in an impressive finish as they struck six unanswered points to earn a three-point victory and a place against Kilkenny in the final next Sunday.

At one stage it looked as if it would take extra-time to separate the sides for they were deadlocked 1-18 to 4-9, with just three minutes remaining.

Given the dreary, dark conditions, and deteriorating underfoot conditions, it was always going to take something special to turn this game around, but once Ger Farragher sent over two points (one free) along with substitute Richie Murray, it was the westerners who edged in front in the crucial closing minutes to secure a victory.

Wexford looked under pressure when Galway struck 1-1 to go in front inside four minutes, but three goals from Rory Jacob, Stephen Banville and Eoin Quigley saw them go into the break just one point in arrears, 1-11 to 3-4.

They opened the second half impressively with points from Banville and Stephen Doyle. However, points from Cyril Donnellan and Eoin Forde had Galway back in front, 1-13 to 3-7, after 42 minutes, but a minute later Quigley had the sides level again. Then in the 45th minute a rising Diarmuid Lyng shot crashed back off the crossbar, while Farragher and Lyng exchanged pointed frees.

Urged on by the home crowd Wexford got a deserved goal when Nicky Kirwan crashed a great ball across goal into the opposite corner, leaving the home side with a 4-8 to 1-14 lead after 51 minutes.

Wexford could manage only one further point from Lyng who pulled the ball over the bar with a gaping goal in front of him.

However, it was Galway who turned in a composed finish. Points from Farragher (two) and Niall Healy had the sides level with seven minutes remaining, while Farragher went on to add two further points, with substitute Richie Murray applying the final touch with a late point.

GALWAY: C Callanan; F Moore, D McClean, A Coen; A Cullinane, S Kavanagh, G Mahon; K Hynes, E Forde (0-1); J Gantley, C Donnellan (0-4), D Tierney (0-2); G Farragher (1-9, 5 frees), N Healy (0-3), A Callanan (0-1). Subs: F Healy for Coren, R Murray (0-1) for Gantley, P Killilea for A Callanan.

WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; B O’Leary, R Kehoe, A O’Connell; M Jacob, D O’Connor, J Tonks; D Redmond, C Farrell; S Doyle (0-1), E Quigley (1-1), D Lyng (0-5, 3 frees); R Jacob (1-1), S Banville (1-1), N Kirwan (1-0). Subs: P Atkinson for R Jacob; M Travers for O’Connell; E Martin for Kirwan.

Referee: E Morris (Dublin).