The Crossmolina forward showed great composure in going around goalkeeper Adrian Faherty to score into an empty net and put Mayo 1-5 to 0-4 ahead at the break.

Galway could not reel them back in the second-half.

Mayo senior goalkeeper Kenneth O'Malley got down to save expertly from Cathal Kenny in the 39th minute, and another Galway chance went abegging when Mark Gotsche was unlucky to watch his effort rebound off the crossbar.

These proved to be costly misses for Galway, and Barry Moran, Tom Parsons, Tom Cunniffe, Aidan Campbell, Adrian McManamon and captain Mark Ronaldson were to the fore as Mayo regained a grip on the game for the closing quarter.

Mayo will now play Roscommon in the Connacht final on Saturday next in McHale Park, Castlebar.

MAYO

K O'Malley; A Joyce, G Cafferkey, D Kilcullen; C Barrett, T Cunniffe, C Boyle; B Moran, T Parsons (0-1); A Campbell (0-4, 2f), P Hanley (0-3), A McManamon (0-2); E Varley, A Hanley, M Ronaldson (0-2) Subs B Benson (1-1) for E Varley, 25 mins; J Burke for D Kilcullen, half-time.

GALWAY

A Faherty; A Glynn, P Gleeson, D Finnegan; G Bradshaw, G Higgins, C Bane; S Mannion, E Hoare (0-1); G O'Donnell, E Concannon (0-1), F Breathnach; G Rogan (04, 3f), C Kenny (0-3), F Burke Subs M Gotsche for F Burke, 39 mins; D Reilly for G O'Donnell, 51 mins; F Burke for D Reilly, 58 mins Referee O Kelly (Roscommon)