GALWAY set up an All-Ireland quarter-final showdown with champions Kilkenny . . .but only after recovering from a disastrous start when it seemed Antrim were about to produce the result of the season.

Ger Loughnane's men looked to be in serious trouble when they trailed by 1-4 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter. Antrim were first to every ball and should have been further ahead but they lacked a ruthless streak in front of goal.

Nevertheless, Antrim were well worth their two-goal lead at the end of the first quarter.

But that was as good as it got for Antrim and as quickly as the challenge was built, it collapsed.

The sending-off of goalscorer Kieran Kelly after 24 minutes changed the complexion of the game and took the wind out of Antrim's sails.

Kelly got a straight red after lashing out at Galway fullback Ger Mahon as three or four tussles broke out throughout the field.

Antrim were good value for their their six-points lead after 17 minutes, built after Kelly pounced on a mistake by Greg Kennedy when he fumbled a long delivery from Brendan Herron.

But Galway used the extra man and the wind to great effect. Damian Hayes blazed through for a goal and in the lead-in to the interval Ger Loughnane's men outscored Antrim by seven points to one to lead by 1-10 to 1-5 at the break.

The ruthless streak which Loughnane has craved all year became apparent in the second-half. Alan Kerins shot eight points from play, four in either half and Iarla Tannian and Niall Healy picked off four each.

Kerrill Wade landed 11 points, seven of them from placed balls as the Galway attack went ballistic. "Last week they could hardly muster a score between them, today they couldn't miss, " said Loughnane after the game. "Antrim losing a man seriously weakened them but we needed to step up to it.

"What pleased me most was when we went behind early in the game we never panicked, even when we were shooting wides. But we will be blown away if we give Kilkenny that sort of headstart."

Only three Antrim players managed to score and they could only muster one point from play over the hour despite all their first-half possession.

Kevin Broderick got Galway's second goal seven minutes from time but by then all thoughts had turned to an All-Ireland quarter-final showdown with champions Kilkenny.

"That game will tell us just how far we have progressed.

We won't be long finding out, " added Loughnane.

GALWAY C Callanan; G Kennedy, G Mahon, F Moore; D Hardiman, J Lee, D Tierney; D Collins, D Hayes (1-0); A Kerins (0-8), M Kerins, I Tannian (0-4); N Healy (0-4), K Broderick (1-2), K Wade (0-11, 0-6 frees, 0-1 65) Subs F Healy (0-1) for Tierney, 28 mins; S Kavanagh for Tierney, 41 mins; A Callana (0-1) for M Kerins, 44 mins; K Burke for Hayes, 52 mins; R Murray for A Kerins, 62 mins
ANTRIM R McGarry; A Grif"n, M Kettle, S Delargy; M McCambridge, J Campbell, C Herron; K McKeegan (0-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65), B Herron; P McGill (0-3, 0-2 frees), N McManus, M Herron; K Stewart, K Kelly (1-0), P Shields Subs S McCrory for B Herron, 48 mins; B McFall for C Herron, 55 mins; B Delargy for McGill, 59 mins.

Referee D Richardson (Limerick)