Galway -3-24 P Joyce 3-3, two points from frees; K Comer 0-4; T Joyce 0-3; J Bergin 0-3; J Fallon 0-2; A Kerins 0-2; K Walsh 0-2; D Savage 02; S De Paor 0-2; T Mannion 0-2; S O Domhnaill 0-1
Leitrim 3-5 S Canning 2-0; A Charles 1-0; P McLoughlin 0-3; J Guckian 0-1; PP Kenny 0-1
REFEREE: E Murtagh (Longford) ATTENDANCE: 9,000 (est)
A hazy afternoon of one-way traffic in Tuam and no evidence of any hex placed on Galway by the county's most celebrated football clan. It was business as usual from the Connacht champions as the absent Donnellan brothers contemplated the Sunday roast out in Dunmore.
It was a shame, in many respects, that the pair weren't around because, as the game lapsed into a sunny stroll for Galway, John O'Mahony reacquainted the home fans with so many of the class of '98. Kevin Walsh, the Fahey brothers and, of course, Ja Fallon were all on show as Galway swept past beleaguered Leitrim in this first-round tie.
Nobody is more adept at gently deflating hype than O'Mahony, and his postmatch overtures hinted that there is good reason for optimism when it comes to what the finest footballer of his generation will be doing this summer.
Without referring directly to the situation, the Galway manager reiterated his glasnost policy, stressing that the camp has always been open to the best players in Galway. If anyone can bring this to a happy resolution, it will be O'Mahony.
There was much about this Galway performance to distract the punters from the obvious talking point. Although Leitrim's Shane Canning fisted home a goal in the second minute to give the visitors their sole and short-lived lead, the match was a classical romp home from the favourites.
"Overall, we played quite well but we did concede three goals and that is something we will have to pick up on," summed up a relaxed O'Mahony afterwards.
If the players were disturbed by the upset of last week, it was not apparent. Padraig Joyce gave an exhibition in fullforward play, crashing home three goals. His first arrived after four minutes when he hared on to a long pass from O Domhnaill and hammered a vicious drive. His next effectively killed the contest.
Galway were leading 1-5 to 1-1 after 23 minutes when Fallon played Lorcan Colleran who threaded a pass for Joyce. The Killererin man turned Leitrim's John McKeon on a five-pence and buried his shot. They added three more points before the break.
Alan Kerins made a respectable debut in trying circumstances. The Clarinbridge dual star chipped two fine points for his efforts and then departed the ground to go off and hurl for his club against Liam Mellows. The hurling purists will say he got a decent warm-up in Tuam.
Joe Bergin owned midfield and hit three wonderful scores from distance and the Galway faithful were greatly heartened by the return of a fit-looking Kevin Walsh, who also curled two pretty scores, albeit at a time when the match had lapsed into home-side target practice.
But, handsome as the victory was, there was a worrying element to the Galway defence. Leitrim's three goals were well worked and they also hit the woodwork twice in the first half. Padraig McLoughlin carried his side's ambition to Galway throughout the game and, in Canning and Johnny Guckian, Joe Reynolds has players to build around.
Padraig Kenny made a noble contribution after his half-time introduction. Gareth Foley covered manfully from half back and distributed the ball well and Fergal Reynolds also soaked up a lot of the incessant Galway pressure.
The visitors' brightest spell came midway through the second half when, trailing by 3-11 to 1-3, they cobbled 2-2 without reply, the goals coming from Canning and Adrian Charles.
Galway's response though, was imperious and they loftily closed the match out by striking 12 points from play to McLoughlin's lone response from Leitrim.
Leitrim are hoping that their sick-list has greatly diminished before their next championship outing. Outclassed though they were here, the defeat was not quite demoralising because the visitors kept on playing. It was honesty in the face of sweeping opposition.
Galway's depth of talent seemed almost indecent in comparison to Leitrim's more spartan cupboard. But the westerners will need it as the stiffer teams come hunting.
Even without the Donnellan brothers, Galway are a formidable sight. And once the scions return, well, this past week will seem like much ado about nothing.
