Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

Cork 1-26 Galway 0-23

A crowd of 13,063 was present in Páirc Uí Chaoimh to see Cork make it four wins from four in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A, securing a semi-final spot with a game to spare.

Having beaten Clare, Offaly and, most recently, All-Ireland champions Limerick, the Rebels maintained their consistency as they won from pillar to post, with a 27th-minute goal from Patrick Horgan giving them a cushion that Galway were unable to breach. However, beyond the on-field activity, the game lacked the expected intensity of a late-campaign league game as the Tribesmen’s manager Henry Shefflin was absent following the tragic sudden death of his brother Paul.

Cork had the better start, scoring the game’s first three points while Darragh Fitzgibbon tested Éanna Murphy with a goal attempt, though at the other end Jack Hastings should have done better after Conor Whelan had dispossessed Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins.

The visitors did finally get off the mark as midfielder Ronan Glennon got the first of his five points and they were back to within one, 0-8 to 0-7, after a Conor Cooney point on 24 minutes, despite Cork having more of the play.

The Rebels put a fairer reflection on proceedings with the goal, Horgan turning over Daithí Burke and finishing well, and they moved 1-13 to 0-9 in front as half-time approached, with Séamus Harnedy and Robbie O’Flynn doing well in attack while Daire Burke and Damien Cahalane were defensive stand-outs.

Even so, points from Cooney and Gavin Lee left five in it at the break and Cooney cut the gap further on the restart. After a Ger Millerick point, Tom Monaghan got his second – he would finish with four – but Cork never looked like wavering, especially with Horgan so impressive from dead balls as usual.

After two from him sandwiched a point from captain Mark Coleman, it was 1-20 to 0-16 for Cork and only a good Murphy save to deny sub Seán Twomey prevented a ten-point lead being opened up.

Joseph Cooney had two points after coming on as Galway tried to claw their way back but Cork’s firepower ensured that they always had enough to keep them at arm’s length.

They will go to Wexford for the final game on March 20 with both sides already through and top spot up for grabs.

Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 1-13 (0-10 frees, 0-1 65), Séamus Harnedy 0-4, Mark Coleman, Robbie O’Flynn, Shane Barrett 0-2 each, Tim O’Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Ger Millerick 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Conor Cooney 0-6f, Ronan Glennon 0-5, Tom Monaghan 0-4, Gavin Lee, Joseph Cooney 0-2 each, Cathal Mannion, Conor Whelan, Jack Hastings, Tiernan Killeen 0-1 each.

CORK: Patrick Collins; Damien Cahalane, Daire O’Leary, Seán O’Donoghue; Tim O’Mahony, Mark Coleman, Robert Downey; Darragh Fitzgibbon, Ger Millerick; Robbie O’Flynn, Shane Barrett, Jack O’Connor; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Séamus Harnedy.

Subs: Conor Lehane for O’Connor (44), Seán Twomey for Connolly (49), Luke Meade for Downey (53), Conor Cahalane for Barrett (62), Brian Roche for Harnedy (70).

GALWAY: Éanna Murphy; Jack Grealish, Daithí Burke, Adrian Tuohy; Tiernan Killeen, Paul Mannion, Fintan Burke; Johnny Coen, Ronan Glennon; Tom Monaghan, Conor Cooney, Jack Hastings; Cathal Mannion, Conor Whelan, Gavin Lee.

Subs: Joseph Cooney for Hastings (43), Darren Morrissey for Tuohy (45), Seán Loftus for Coen (57), Kevin Cooney for Lee (67), Greg Thomas for Monaghan (70).

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).