Holders Galway cruised to a 3-21 to 1-13 victory over Andy Moran's Leitrim in Friday evening's Connacht FBD opener at the Air Dome in Bekan.
Galway full-forward Rob Finnerty did much of the damage, scoring 2-8 over the 70 minutes with Ian Burke also making a welcome return to the Tribesmen attack after. a two-year absence.
Keith Beirne was Leitrim's top scorer on the night supplying 0-10 but scores from general play proved hard to come by.
UCD scholarship student Barry McNulty, introduced as a substitute at half-time, found the Galway net in the second half.
Galway now face Mayo in the semi-final next Saturday.
The evening before, Tony McEntee's Sligo will take on Roscommon in the Air Dome at 7pm
Leitrim team
N O’Donnell, A Reynolds, D Casey, C Reynolds; S Quinn, C Farrell, R O’Rourke, P Keaney, D Wrynn (capt), A Flynn, J Heslin, D Rooney, O McLoughlin, K Beirne, E Sweeney. Subs: C McGloin for Farrell, B McNulty for McLoughlin (HT), D Flynn for Quinn (HT), T Quinn for A Reynolds (46), McGloin for Farrell (46), M McKiernan for Sweeney (55), S McLoughlin for C Reynolds (67).
Friday's Connacht FBD result
Galway 3-21 Leitrim 1-13
Semi-finals
Sligo v Roscommon (Friday, Jan 13th, 7pm)
Mayo v Galway (Saturday, Jan 14th, 7pm)
Final
Friday, Jan 20th
