Galway 0-22 Cork will face Tipperary in the final of the Allianz Hurling League after they impressively saw off Galway at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night. While this was a winner-take-all tie to determine who would advance to the decider, two first-half goals meant that Cork were almost always in control and they eased clear in the second period with the wind behind them. A crowd of 20,010 saw them win by 12 in the end to set up a first final against Tipp since 1960. Patrick Horgan scored 1-9 as he became the top scorer in national league history, though one potential low note from the evening was an injury that forced Brian Hayes off. With the breeze behind them in the first half, Galway were guilty of some early wastefulness, three wides in as many minutes after the throw-in, though did they lead by 0-3 to 0-2 after Evan Niland’s opening free. The sides were level at 0-4 each when the first goal arrived, and it was the product of a quick transition. Galway looked to be making headway when captain Robert Downey made a perfectly timed intervention, allowing Ethan Twomey to pick up the loose ball and pick out his St Finbarr’s clubmate Hayes, who produced a superb finish. A Patrick Horgan free made it a four-point game but Galway responded well with points from Rory Burke, Niland and the impressive Cathal Mannion. However, a second Cork goal was soon in the offing. From a long Patrick Collins puckout, Brians Roche and Hayes worked hard to ensure that Cork claimed possession before the latter’s handpass set Darragh Fitzgibbon away and his low shot beat Éanna Murphy. Twomey and Mark Coleman combined to set up Tim O’Mahony for a point just after that to leave it 2-6 to 0-7 and the goals were to provide the difference for the remainder of the half. O’Leary and Downey were strong in the defence, but Galway were not without half-chances for goals – when rookie corner-back Joshua Ryan had a point attempt come back off the post, Damien Cahalane got to the loose ball before Brian Concannon, while coming up to half-time Seán O’Donoghue made a good intervention when Conor Whelan tried to put Killeen in. With the wind to come, Cork were in a healthy position as they retired with a 2-12 to 0-12 advantage and, while Niland had the opening score of the second half, they needed a goal and when a green flag did arrive it was another for Cork. Dalton was the provider after a great catch and he unselfishly square to Horgan, who finished well. Barrett was on target twice in the wake of that as Cork eased further clear while Cormac O’Brien – on as a sub after his red card against Clare was rescinded – landed a long-range beauty. At the other end, O’Leary made a superb challenge to deny Declan McLoughlin a goal. The lead had swelled to 11 points, 3-19 to 0-17, by the time the fourth goal arrived on 56 minutes, O’Mahony driving forward and exchanging passes with sub Shane Kingston – on for the injured Hayes – before netting. With both sides emptying their benches, the game petered out from there, with the returning Séamus Harnedy and Alan Connolly among the Cork scores. Scorers for Cork: P Horgan 1-9 (0-6 f), S Barrett 0-4, D Fitzgibbon, T O’Mahony 1-1 each, B Hayes 1-0, D Dalton 0-2 (0-1 f), E Twomey, B Roche, C O’Brien, S Harnedy, A Connolly 0-1 each. Galway: E Niland 0-7 (0-5 f, 0-1 65), C Mannion 0-5, C Cooney 0-3 (0-1 f), R Burke 0-2, T Killeen, T Monaghan, C Whelan, D McLoughlin, J Flynn (0-1 f) 0-1 each. CORK: P Collins; S O’Donoghue, D Cahalane, N O’Leary; C Joyce, R Downey, M Coleman; T O’Mahony, E Twomey; S Barrett, D Fitzgibbon, B Roche; D Dalton, P Horgan, B Hayes. Subs: C O’Brien for Coleman (40), S Harnedy for Roche (46), A Connolly for Dalton (50), S Kingston for Hayes (55, injured), D Healy for Horgan (65). GALWAY: É Murphy; P Mannion, D Morrissey, J Ryan; C Fahy, G Lee, S Morgan; T Monaghan, S Linnane; R Burke, T Killeen, C Mannion; C Whelan, B Concannon, E Niland. Subs: J Flynn for Concannon (half-time), C Cooney for Whelan, D McLoughlin for Niland (both 46), R Glennon for C Mannion (53). Referee: C Mooney (Dublin).