The Dubs' 0-26 to 2-14 victory owed much to the accurate shooting of free-taker Treacy, who top scored with 0-10, and the impressive Schutte (0-5), while fellow wing forward Danny Sutcliffe chipped in with 0-4 from play.

Ger Cunningham's men were 2-9 to 0-13 behind at half-time - Cathal Mannion and Joe Canning both found the net for Galway - and there was real concern that a third Division 1A loss would leave them in a relegation play-off with Kilkenny.

However, the hosts found another gear in the second half as they outscored Galway by 0-13 to 0-5 to make certain of their top flight status for 2016 and book a quarter-final date with Limerick next weekend. Galway are through themselves, facing Waterford in the league's last-eight.

The result does give the Dubs something of a psychological edge over Galway ahead of the sides' Leinster Senior Hurling Championship clash at Croke Park on May 31.

Sutcliffe and Treacy were two of three late changes made by Cunningham, who brought Ross O'Carroll into midfield as well, with Peter Kelly making the move from centre back to full-back.

Although David 'Dotsy' O'Callaghan pointed Dublin in front with two early efforts, Galway were soon ahead thanks to Mannion's fourth-minute goal. he slotted home on the rebound after his initial shot had been blocked by goalkeeper Alan Nolan.

The sides went score for score with Andy Smith and Sutcliffe landing some of the best of them in the first half and while Galway's early three-point lead was erased by Dublin on two occasions, the Tribesmen were ahead again thanks to Canning's 29th-minute goal.

Having shot three earlier wides, Canning redeemed himself with a neat dummy to create enough space for him to lash the ball into the root of the net and his side were two to the good at the interval.

It was obvious that there was more on the line for Dublin as they blasted their way out of the blocks on the restart, scoring six of the next seven points. Substitutes Ryan O'Dwyer and John McCaffrey made immediate impacts, lofting over a couple of rousing points.

Galway were struggling to keep up as Cunningham's charges cantered four points clear. Much of the damage was done by Treacy who kept the scoreboard moving in the right direction for the home side.

At the opposite end, Galway's scoring really dried up with only Canning on target during the closing 35 minutes - the Portumna ace added five more points to his tally, four of which were placed balls.

The visitors needed goals to reel Dublin back in and Canning went closest for them, firing wide from a tight angle and then one of his trademark power-packed frees was blocked on the Dublin goal-line.

DUBLIN: A Nolan; C O'Callaghan, P Kelly, P Schutte (0-1); C Keaney, C Crummey, S Durkin; S Lambert, R O'Carroll; D Sutcliffe (0-4), E Dillon, M Schutte (0-5); D O'Callaghan (0-2), L Rushe (0-1), D Treacy (0-10, 0-8f, 0-1 '65').

Subs used: J McCaffrey (0-1) for Lambert, N McMorrow for O'Carroll, R O'Dwyer (0-1) for Dillon, P Ryan (0-1, 0-1f) for O'Callaghan.

GALWAY: A Ryan; J Coen, P Killeen, F Moore; D Collins, G Lally, G McInerney; A Smith (0-2), A Harte (0-1); J Cooney, J Canning (1-7, 0-6f), J Glynn; B Molloy (0-1), N Burke (0-1), C Mannion (1-2).

Subs used: J Flynn for Burke, I Tannian for Harte, J Hanbury for Moore, D Higgins for Molloy, C Flynn for J Flynn.

Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)