13.55 – With just over five minutes to the throw-in: Here are your teams.

Galway: James Skehill; Niall Donohue, Kevin Hynes, Fergal Moore (c); Joseph Cooney, Tony Óg Regan, Johnny Coen; Iarla Tannian, Andy Smith; David Burke, Niall Burke, Cyril Donnellan; Damien Hayes, Joe Canning, Conor Cooney.

Offaly: James Dempsey, Derek Morka, David Kenny, David Franks, Diarmuid Horan, Rory Hanniffy, James Rigney, Conor Mahon, Kevin Brady, Joe Bergin, Colin Egan, Brendan Murphy, Shane Dooley, Cathal Parlon, Brian Carroll.

14.02 – We are underway in Portlaoise and, as the sun, tries to make a break-through Joe Canning has already sent a free wide to the left and was denied by a decent hook from James Rigney.

Game, well and truly; on.

14.08 – THREE GOALS: Galway 2-0, Offaly 1- 0

An amazing start to this game as the sides trade early wides for four minutes before Conor Cooney, (twice in the space of 30 seconds) rounded his marker and advanced one-on-one with the ‘keeper.

Straight up the other end and Shane Dooley has hit the perfect reply.

Breathless opening.

14.16 – Galway 3-01 Offaly 1-06

With 13 minutes gone, would it be stating the bleedin’ obvious to sat that the Offaly defence are not coping with the Tribe’s attack?

They’re not, but a couple of long Shane Dooley scores are keeping the Faithful in touch.

Damien Hayes looked  like he would net a fourth for Galway, but the pressure forced him to lose control.

14.21 – 20 mins: Galway 3-05 Offaly 1-06

Donnellan (now with three points from play) and Tannian have issued superb ripostes for Galway. It has been a blistering start, but the movement of the maroon forwards has been mesmerising. And with five wides, they could be clear leaders had they been slightly more accurate.

14.29 – Galway 3-09 Offaly 1-07

There is the problem in a nutshell for Offaly: Donnelan breaks from centre field, and they do well to smother his chance, but Damien hayes is following up and only too eager to pop one over the bar from 40 yards.

As I write, Joe Canning has finally pointed Galway’s first free of the day, and it’s soon followed by a sumptuous pick-up, turn and shoot from Hayes.

Galway can afford to ease off the pedal now, five minutes before half time.

14.39 – HALF TIME: Galway 4-11 Offaly 1-10

Phew! What a half of fluid, open hurling. A little too open from Offaly’s perspective. But with Canning back in harness – despite only having one point from play-Galway’s forward movement and power in contact has been extremely difficult to live with.

14.46 – Let me get teh calculator out…. *tap tap tappity tap tap*…

That has Galway leading by 10 points at the break, a fairly hefty lead in championship terms.

Offaly will need some quick goals to get back into this, but the only blot on Galway’s sheet at the minute was when James Skehill went walkabout when they were leading by two goals to nil.

14.57 –

Galway 4-13 Offaly 1-10

Damien Hayes is back in the groove with the first score of the second half, but there is no blitzkrieg from Galway this time despite the fforts of Canning, the Faithful are defend bravely to deny him and send it behind for a 65.

From there, though, Canning sends it over the bar.

15.01 – There’s talk of a disputed point from Galway, in the flurry of goals I can’t recall which one.

12 points down, Offaly would be well advised to let this one slide.

15.05 – Galway 4-16 Offaly 1-11

Canning has hit three 65s already this half and, just now, a free from around 50.

It must be said, his shooting hasn’t been so hot from play.

Shane Dooley points another free, he’s doing it alone from open play and placed balls.

15.16 – Galway 4-18 Offaly 1-12

Obviously with Galway comfortably leading and Offaly outclassed the game has hit a bit of  a lull in terms of intensity and excitement.

It has reminded our resident Offaly commenter, Paul Ryan, of the not too distant past.

Ryan is stood on the cyber terrace bellowing out the Fields of Athenry and he doesn’t give a damn what Roy Keane thinks about it.

Very well done, sir.

15.22 – GOAL: Galway 4-21 Offaly 3-14 (Dooley ’64)

The corner forward once again manages to find the weak link in Galway’s defence. This time his goal comes from a free, driven low at the feet of defenders.

It should have been stopped, but dribbles through.

15.29 – GOAL: Galway 5-23 Offaly 3-14 (Davy Glennon ’70)

15.39 –

“We’ll be happy any day you get into a Leinster final, but we have work to do.” Galway boss, Anthony Cunningham told RTE.

“I’m happy for the lads – they worked hard and were sharper all over the field.”

15.44 – Well, that’s all from me folks.

Thanks for stopping by to let me keep you up to date on some lovely – but at times mesmeric – hurling action. Be sure to join Paul Fennessy in a few short minutes for Clare v Waterford.