Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

CORK 0-21 CLARE 1-11

By Denis Hurley at Páirc Uí Rinn

While Cork had won the pre-season Co-Op Superstores.ie Munster Hurling League, nobody in the Rebel County was going overboard, especially in the wake of such a disappointing 2016 campaign.

The visit of Allianz Hurling League champions Clare would provide a firmer test of Kieran Kingston’s side’s credentials, it was felt, but if that was the case then Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night illustrated that the road ahead may be bright.

Cork never trailed in this game and can feel aggrieved not to have led by more than two points, 0-8 to 1-3, at half-time, after Podge Collins goaled for Clare shortly before half-time. Up until then, poor shooting had hampered the Banner while Cork shone, led by stand-in captain Alan Cadogan, who shot four first-half points.

And yet, for all the dominance, Cork could have fallen behind when Collins was fouled by Colm Spillane for a penalty early in the second half, but Anthony Nash repelled Tony Kelly’s effort and Aaron Shanagher’s rebound.

Cork reeled off five of the next six points, with the excellent Daniel Kearney getting two of those and though Clare continued to threaten goals, good defending by Spillane and David Griffin denied Collins and Shane O’Donnell respectively.

From there, Cork pushed on, with manager Kingston’s son Shane bringing his tally to four while fellow debutants Luke Meade and Darragh Fitzgibbon made their mark too.

Having not won at all in their regular schedule last year, Cork will look to make it two wins in a row at home to Dublin next Saturday while Clare will look for a response when Kilkenny visit.

**Scorers for Cork: **Patrick Horgan 0-5 (0-4 frees), Shane Kingston, Alan Cadogan 0-4 each, Daniel Kearney, Luke Meade 0-2 each, Séamus Harnedy, Bill Cooper, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Dean Brosnan 0-1 each.

**Scorers for Clare: **Tony Kelly 0-6, Podge Collins 1-1, David Reidy 0-2f, Aaron Shanagher, John Conlon 0-1 each.

**CORK: **Anthony Nash (Kanturk); Killian Burke (Midleton), Colm Spillane (Castlelyons), David Griffin (Carrigaline); Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh), Mark Ellis (Millstreet), Mark Coleman (Blarney); Bill Cooper (Youghal), Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields); Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), Séamus Harnedy (St Ita’s), Shane Kingston (Douglas); Alan Cadogan (Douglas), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Luke Meade (Newcestown). **Subs: **Chris O’Leary (Valley Rovers) for Ellis (59), Robbie O’Flynn (Erin’s Own) for Fitzgibbon (62), Lorcán McLoughlin (Kanturk) for Cooper (68), Paul Haughney (Midleton) for Kearney (68), Dean Brosnan (Glen Rovers) for Kingston (70)

CLARE: Donal Tuohy (Crusheen); Séadna Morey (Sixmilebridge), Cian Dillon (Crusheen), Jack Browne (Ballyea); Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge), Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Milltown), Brendan Bugler (Whitegate); Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge), Tony Kelly (Ballyea); John Conlon (Clonlara), Podge Collins (Cratloe), Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge); Aaron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones), Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg Inis), David Reidy (Éire Óg Inis). Subs: Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Reidy (half-time), David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Golden (46), Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones) for Conlon (62)

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow).