Galway's unbeaten run in the league was never in danger of ending at Loughgiel yesterday as the visitors eased to victory in driving rain and a bitterly cold, biting wind.

With the wind at their backs, Galway fired over four unanswered points in the opening six minutes, the first after only 20 seconds by Cathal Moore. Eugene Cloonan, scorer of seven points in all, and the Kerins brothers in the full forward line always spelt danger.

By half-time Galway were 0-9 to 0-4 ahead, but home hopes were high that with the aid of the wind and rain, they could mount a stern secondhalf challenge. They did up their game considerably, but a 35th-minute Galway goal all but put paid to their hopes. A weak Antrim clearance was picked up by Moore, who sent the sliotar back into the goal area for Mark Kerins to prod home.

ANTRIM: S Elliott; C McCambridge, E McCloskey, S Mullan; S McMullan (0-1), Gary O'Kane, P McMullan (0-1); C McGuckian, J Close (0-1); S Kelly (0-1), Greg O'Kane (0-2), A Delargy (0-1); M Dallas, J Carson (0-1), A Elliott (0-1). Subs: O Colgan for S McMull (42 mins); C Cunning for McGuckian (48 mins); L Richmond for Kelly (53 mins).

GALWAY: D Howe; P Kelly, B Feeney, P Huban; R Walsh, F Flynn, P Hardiman; P Walsh, N Shaughnessy (0-1); F Healy, C Moore (0- 1), K Broderick; A Kerins (0-2), M Kerins (1-2), E Cloonan (0-7). Subs: N Kenny for P Walsh (45 mins); O Fahy for Healy (51 mi ns).

Referee: E Morris (Dublin).