Galway came into this as heavy favourites to advance with many considering a Bangor Celtic result to be the stuff of giant-killing, based on Galway’s current unflappable First Division season.

However, evidently the Leinster Senior League side hadn’t read the script as with less than two minutes gone, they hit the front, spectacularly.

With the home players dozing idly, Bangor Celtic sliced through the midfield at ease and the ball arrived at Adam Maher’s feet with the defender whipping a wonderful effort in which sailed beyond Brendan Clarke into the top corner to cue delirium in the away dugout.

In at left back, Oisin O’Reilly looked lively for Galway as Killian Brouder went closest to levelling, thumping a header over the top.

But league leaders for a reason, Galway equalised soon enough, Wassim Aouachria tapping in his first Galway goal after silky play and passing from David Hurley made the space for the striker.

That jolted the hosts into further life as Rob Slevin hooked an audacious volley goalwards but Bangor Celtic goalkeeper, Jordan Walker, scampered across to save sharply, much to Ollie Horgan’s touchline frustration!

Hurley was providing the highlights of the half, a brilliant backheel from a clever corner routine on thirty minutes almost yielding the lead but Ronan Manning’s cutback, collected by Aodh Dervin, was well blocked as Bangor Celtic, marshalled impressively by Ryan O’Neill, continued to be comfortable.

The occasion was then clouded as O’Neill departed on a stretcher in a blow for Bangor Celtic.

His steadying influence was missed less than a minute later as Brouder hurled a long throw into the box which was met by Stephen Walsh.  Walker did well to save initially but Walsh reacted quickest to the rebound, gobbling up the loose ball to put Galway 2-1 up.

A flurry of bookings looked likely to conclude the half but five minutes into added time, Walsh doubled his and Galway’s goal tally, slamming home a predatory shot to the corner after Manning made effortless ground down the left and coolly picked out the striker for his brace.

That capped a cruel end to the half for the visitors who went in rather unlucky be trailing by two goals.

In a bizarre occurrence, Bangor Celtic’s substitute goalkeeper, Darren Kehoe O’Neill, got himself a straight red card for arguing with referee, Alan Patchell at the break.

With the pressure now off, Galway began enjoying themselves, Brouder taking just seven minutes of the second half to head home a fourth.

Past the hour mark, even with Walsh replaced, the First Division side went close to a fifth, another bullet Brouder header which again beat Walker but this time, not the crossbar.

Youngster Brian Cunningham was given his Galway debut for the final seventeen minutes which, in truth, rather fizzled out, Galway with the result long since secure against a brave Bangor Celtic side.

Cunningham twice nearly capped his debut with a goal but was denied by Walker’s legs late on and thrashed another effort into the side netting.

It’s back to league duties on Friday for Galway as they host Bray Wanderers seeking to extend their advantage at the top whilst also eagerly awaiting whoever comes out of the draw for their next FAI Cup encounter.