Beaten All-Ireland SHC finalists Cork ravaged an understrength Wexford in Saturday's opening Allianz NHL Division 1A clash at a frosty and rain-swept Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Starting with nine of last July’s line-up from the epic Liam MacCarthy Cup decider against Clare, Pat Ryan’s charges made a decisive start against a Wexford side shorn of an array of talent.
Indeed, Model County supremo Keith Rossiter had lost Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Matthew O’Hanlon and Liam Óg McGovern through retirement, while injuries also robbed him of Liam Ryan, Conor McDonald, Damien Reck and Jack O’Connor, with talisman Lee Chin away on his travels.
That left Wexford to field just five of their 2019 Leinster champions – Mark Fanning, Simon Donohoe, Cathal Dunbar, Rory O’Connor and Kevin Foley – as Rossiter lent upon several of those who were Under-20 provincial final runners-up under his charge in 2022 and 2023, including Senior debutant David Codd.
The strong Cork selection revelled in the circumstances, posting a 1-12 to 0-05 lead at half-time before consolidating their position with an early second-half goaled penalty by Declan Dalton.
Despite Brian Hayes excelling from the outset, poor finishing plagued Cork’s early endeavours, although they crafted a 0-04 to 0-01 lead after the first quarter courtesy of Hayes, Declan Dalton, Pádraig Power and Darragh Fitzgibbon (free).
Wexford deployed Kevin Foley as a sweeper while facing the strong wind.
But despite Cian Byrne pegging back a pointed free, Cork’s underlying superiority was reflected in them stretching 0-09 to 0-02 ahead with the aid of a crowning line-ball conversion by Declan Dalton.
The Fr O’Neills man was really hitting his stride and contributed to a 29th minute goal, when his long delivery was broken down by Brian Hayes for Pádraig Power to slam home (1-10 to 0-03), moments before Power blazed over another promising goaling effort.
Cork broke with a 1-12 to 0-05 advantage and just as the surface was doused in another torrential downpour.
But there was nothing to dampen Cork’s flame, with Dalton earning a penalty which he duly netted in the 42nd minute as Conor Foley earned a black card for the infringement.
Referee Michael Kennedy was the centre of attention when issuing straight red cards to Wexford captain Rory O’Connor and Cork inspiration Dalton after an altercation in the 50th minute, just as Wexford welcomed Conor Foley back from the sin-bin.
Cork 'keeper Patrick Collins distinguished himself with a 63rd-minute intervention to deny Seamus Casey after the full-forward was put through by Richie Lawlor as Wexford tried to summon a fightback.
But Cork weren’t tolerating that as they eased out of the league blocks.
Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Ger Mellerick, Seán O’Donoghue; Tim O’Mahony, Robert Downey, Cormac O’Brien; Luke Meade, Darragh Fitzgibbon (0-04, 2 frees); Declan Dalton (1-05, 0-2 frees, 0-1 line-ball, 1-00 penalty), Shane Barrett, Brian Roche; Brian Hayes (0-04), Pádraig Power (1-04), Shane Kingston (0-01).
Subs: Damien Cahalane for O’Donoghue (33), Ethan Twomey (0-2) for Downey (48), Seamus Harnedy (0-1) 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 (0-01), Charlie McGuckin (0-01); Conor Hearne, David Codd (0-01); Darragh Carley, Rory O’Connor (0-01), Corey Byrne-Dunbar; Cian Byrne (0-07 frees), 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 (0-01) for Rowley (35+3), Tomás Kinsella for Byrne-Dunbar (55), Connal Flood for Casey (67).
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).
