Rory O'Connor, Wexford, and Brian Roche, Cork, in Allianz Hurling League action. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division One
Cork 2-21 Wexford 0-12
By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park
Beaten All-Ireland finalists Cork launched their Allianz NHL Division 1A campaign with Saturday’s resounding victory over Wexford at rain-sodden Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Cork boss Pat Ryan had the pleasure of fielding nine of last July’s line-up from the McCarthy Cup decider against Clare.
Wexford manager Keith Rossiter, in contrast, had to plan without retirees Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Liam Óg McGovern and Matthew O’Hanlon together with a clutch of wounded soldiers and the travelling Lee Chin.
Consequently Cork ruled the roost, with Pádraig Power and Declan Dalton (penalty) goaling in either half as the visitors built upon a 1-12 to 0-5 interval advantage.
Cork host Limerick next Saturday, while Wexford will be hoping to welcome Conor McDonald, Damien Reck, Jack O’Connor and Liam Ryan back from the treatment-room as they head to Tipperary on Sunday.
Brian Hayes was doing everything in his powers to light the fuse for Cork in this opener, but the Rebels fluffed their attacking lines all too often in the early stages.
Indeed, they struck as many wides as scores while compiling a 0-4 to 0-1 lead inside 12 minutes through Hayes, Declan Dalton, Pádraig Power and Darragh Fitzgibbon (free).
Wexford sought to curb the visitors by deploying Kevin Foley as an extra defender while facing the strong wind, and Cian Byrne pegged back a pointed free.
However, with Dalton finding his mojo, Cork extended clear by 0-9 to 0-1, with a line-ball conversion from an acute angle by Dalton being the highlight.
And Dalton had a hand in Cork’s 29th minute goal when his long delivery was touched on by Hayes for Pádraig Power to rifle a 1-10 to 0-3 advantage, a gap which was maintained at the change-of-ends (1-12 to 0-5).
And Dalton drove a further dagger through Wexford hearts when earning a penalty which he netted in the 42nd minute for a 2-12 to 0-6 advantage after being downed by Conor Foley, who was sin-binned as a result.
And red cards were dished out by referee Michael Kennedy in the 50th minute following an altercation between Cork star Dalton and Wexford captain Rory O’Connor.
Wexford then welcomed Conor Foley back from the sin-bin, and as they tried to salvage something, Cork ‘keeper Patrick Collins broke Seamus Casey’s heart with a masterful intervention after Casey was put through by Richie Lawlor, with Cork heading home victorious and lifted by the man of the match showing by Brian Hayes.
Scorers for Cork: Declan Dalton 1-5 (1-0 penalty, 2fs, 1 sideline), Pádraig Power 1-4, Brian Hayes, Darragh Fitzgibbon (2fs) 0-4 each, Ethan Twomey 0-2, Shane Kingston, Seamus Harnedy 0-1 each.
Scorers for Wexford: Cian Byrne 0-7 (7fs), Cathal Dunbar, Rory O’Connor, David Codd, Charlie McGuckin, Jack Redmond 0-1 each.
Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Ger Mellerick, Seán O’Donoghue; Tim O’Mahony, Robert Downey, Cormac O’Brien; Luke Meade, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett, Brian Roche; Brian Hayes, Pádraig Power, Shane Kingston.
Subs: Damien Cahalane for O’Donoghue (33), Ethan Twomey for Downey (48), Seamus Harnedy for Roche (56), Robbie Cotter for Barrett (65), Conor Lehane for Kingston (69).
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Eoin Ryan, Simon Donohoe, Niall Murphy; Conor Foley, Cathal Dunbar, Charlie McGuckin; Conor Hearne, David Codd; Darragh Carley, Rory O’Connor, Corey Byrne-Dunbar; Cian Byrne, Seamus Casey, Kevin Foley.
Subs: Richie Lawlor for C Foley (temp. 6-9), Lawlor for Dunbar (temp. 19-22), Seán Rowley for Carley (22), Lawlor for K Foley (35), Jack Redmond for Rowley, inj. (35+3), Tomás Kinsella for Byrne-Dunbar (55), Connal Flood for Casey (67).
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).
