Unfortunately the final scoreline captures the tale with crisp accuracy. Ravenous and ruthless Galway were too slick and streetwise for Antrim as the prodigious Joe Canning ended his championship debut with a 2-6 haul that was as stylish as it was substantial.

Galway have the cut of a serious team with a high sense of mission in their minds. This goal-laden triumph offered evidence of their prowess, with Canning supplying the critical scores when they were required before the break following one brief burst of Antrim enterprise.

The opening period was wild and loose with Galway briskly establishing control. Antrim attempted to flood their defence by dropping Paul Shiels deep but Galway were still locating space. Canning was prominent, clipping four points on the trot early on as the Tribesmen edged into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead after nine minutes. Galway continued to dictate the pace and were a half dozen in front when the Saffrons summoned a courageous rally. Karl McKeegan made a 22nd minute dash into enemy territory and the sliotar spilled kindly for Michael Magill, who lashed past James Skehill.

Buoyed by that goal, Antrim were suddenly in the groove and Donal McNaughton steered over three frees on the spin to restore parity.

The natives were enthused, but Galway remained unperturbed. Any outfit featuring Joe Canning can deal with adversity and appropriately the gifted Portumna youngster returned to centrestage.

Twenty nine minutes had elapsed when Canning was fouled 21 metres from the Antrim posts and subsequently unleashed a blistering goal. Iarlaith Tannian and Fergal Healy nailed further points before Canning grabbed Alan Kerins delivery and netted a second goal. Galway's composure returned and by the time the interval rolled around the deficit stood at eight.

That was stretched to 11 within seconds of the restart and Canning inevitably had a telling role in Damien Hayes's goal. John Lee found Canning and his deft handpass released Hayes, who duly obliged with an equally tidy finish.

Antrim's challenge was evaporating and their cause wasn't aided by the 56th minute dismissal of Michael McCambridge for a crude draw on Eugene Cloonan.

By then the contest was deprived of any suspense and Kerins bagged a 58th minute goal before replacement Kerill Wade added a rapid fire brace on 64 and 65 to embellish the success.

Galway J Skehill; D Joyce (0-1), S Kavanagh, O Canning; F Moore, J Lee, D Forde; A Cullinane (0-2), F Healy (0-2); A Kerins (1-1), C Donnellan (0-2), D Hayes (1-2); I Tannian (0-3), E Cloonan (0-2), J Canning (2-6, 1-2fs) Subs N Healy for Forde (40 mins), A Callanan for Tannian (51 mins), K Wade (2-0) for Cloonan (56 mins), C Callanan for Skehill (60 mins), M Kerins for Donnellan (63 mins)

Antrim R McGarry; M Kettle, J McKeague, A Graffin; C Herron, C Donnelly, J Campbell; K McKeegan (0-2, 1f), E McCloskey; D McNaughton (0-4, 4fs), K Stewart (0-2), M Magill (1-0); M Herron (0-2), P Richmond, P Shiels Subs M McCambridge for Kettle (36 mins), PJ O'Connell for McNaughton (53 mins), S McCrory for Magill (63 mins)

Referee J Ryan (Tipperary)