Allianz Hurling League Division One Group A
Cork 3-21 Wexford 1-15
By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park
Another hat-trick from goal machine Alan Connolly spurred Cork to ease past Wexford at rain-drenched Chadwicks Wexford Park in Saturday’s Division 1 Group A Allianz hurling league encounter.
While a third straight victory wasn’t enough for 2022 league finalists Cork to make the semi-finals for a third straight year, Pat Ryan’s charges certainly are moving in the right direction ahead of their April 21 Munster opener against Waterford, with 12 different scorers on this occasion.
Wexford are home to Dublin that same day in the Leinster championship, and while this ends a seven match unbeaten run under new manager Keith Rossiter, the purple and gold have already established solid foundations for the summer.
And ‘keeper Mark Fanning most certainly showcased his class after a virtual goalkeeping masterclass to thwart several additional Cork goal threats, principally from ravenous full-forward Connolly, who was fresh of a three goal haul against Offaly.
Cork didn’t let the deplorable conditions hinder their ambitions when collating 1-3 without reply inside the first five minutes.
And Connolly calmly flicked home a low cross from the right by Patrick Horgan in the second minute.
Centre-back Ciarán Joyce had drawn first-blood while Pat Horgan (two) also contributed to the Rebels developing the early six point cushion.
Wexford were toiling hard, and they got it back to 1-4 to 0-3 after 16 minutes through Seamus Casey (two) and Darragh Carley, the latter an Under-20 from last year.
But Cork were bossing matters and went close with a couple of goaling efforts – Connolly’s angled drive going wide off the woodwork, before Shane Barrett drew a save from the Wexford ‘keeper.
Regardless, Horgan (free), Connolly and defender Robert Downey had them on 1-7 to 0-3 after 23 minutes.
And Connolly consolidated their position when stitching a second personal goal on 26 minutes to open-up a 2-8 to 0-4 lead after Patrick Horgan broke down a delivery from corner-back Eoin Downey.
Cork goalie Patrick Collins even drove a point from play almost the length of the field as the red and whites settled into a healthy 2-13 to 0-5 interval lead.
Wexford drafted in Mikie Dwyer and the experienced Liam Óg McGovern on the resumption, but Cork continued to pose serious danger.
Indeed, it demanded a solid save by the Wexford ‘keeper to deny Seamus Harnedy a green-flag in the 38th minute, while Alan Connolly was a clearance off the goal-line by Simon Donohoe from making it a hat-tricks five minutes later.
Conor McDonald was introduced for his seasonal bow on 49 minutes as the purple and gold sought to rustle a fight-back.
But Wexford netminder Fanning further distinguished himself on 57 minutes when keeping out Connolly after Shane Barrett sent him through.
That came shortly after Declan Dalton’s kicked effort rebounded off an upright in a goalmouth scramble.
Wexford lost Eoin Ryan to a black-card for the closing stages after hauling down Shane Barrett at the expense of a penalty, from which Alan Connolly sealed his hat-trick a minute into added-time but only after his shot dribbled past the outstanding Wexford number one.
Wexford gained a consolation goal in response moments later after sub Mikie Dwyer fed Seamus Casey to smash home.
Scorers for Cork: Alan Connolly 3-2 (1-0 penalty), Patrick Horgan 0-8 (7fs), Brian Hayes 0-2, Ciarán Joyce, Seamus Harnedy, Robert Downey, Patrick Collins, Tommy O’Connell, Shane Kingston (free), Conor Lehane, Luke Meade, Shane Barrett 0-1 each
Scorers for Wexford: Seamus Casey 1-9 (7fs), Mark Fanning 0-3 (3fs), Darragh Carley 0-2, Conor Foley 0-1
Cork: Patrick Collins; Eoin Downey, Damien Cahalane, Seán O Donoghue; Ger Mellerick, Ciarán Joyce, Robert Downey; Tommy O’Connell, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Declan Dalton, Seamus Harnedy, Brian Hayes; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Shane Barrett.
Subs: Luke Meade for Fitzgibbon (49), Brian Roche for Harnedy (49), Conor Lehane for Dalton (54), Shane Kingston for Horgan (59), Tim O’Mahony for R. Downey (66).
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Eoin Ryan, Conor Foley, Simon Donohoe; Darragh Carley, Damien Reck, Matthew O’Hanlon; Conor Hearne; Charlie McGuckin, Kevin Foley, Joe O’Connor; Cian Byrne, Seamus Casey, Cathal Dunbar.
Subs: Mikie Dwyer for Dunbar (HT), Liam Óg McGovern for Dunbar (HT), Conor McDonald for Byrne (49), Tomás Kinsella for O’Connor (54), Jack Doran for Foley, temp. (56-61), Niall Murphy for Carley (69).
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).
