Cork 1-24 Clare 0-17
Cork bounced back from their opening-day defeat to Kilkenny with a comprehensive ten-point 1-24 to 0-17 victory over Clare in Páirc Uí Rinn.
Luke O'Farrell scored the only goal of the game in the 22nd minute, while Patrick Horgan bagged 14 points for the home side to get their league campaign back on track.
The half-time score was 1-12 to 0-12 with O'Farrell's goal separating the sides. Clare were impressive in the first half but never got going after half-time, registering just five second-half points.
Clare had the better of the opening exchanges and led 0-04 to 0-01 after seven minutes.
Cork soon found their range with Alan Cadogan, Patrick Horgan (2) and Conor Lehane scoring to make it 0-05 apiece after 11 minutes.
Clare could have scored a goal in the 12th minute as Colin Ryan burst through the Cork defence, but the Newmarket-on-Fergus clubman chose to pop the ball over the bar with only Anthony Nash to beat.
Cork's goal came shortly after as Seamus Harnedy ran through on goal and hand-passed to O'Farrell. His shot was blocked by Conor Cleary but when the ball came back to the Midleton man, he buried the ball in the top corner of Patrick Kelly's net.
The goal spurred Cork on with Daniel Kearney, O'Farrell and Cormac Murphy all raising white flags before three Horgan points before half-time left the score 1-12 to 0-12.
Clare needed a big second-half performance having been dominated by the home side in the closing stages of the first-half.
However, it was Cork that came storming out of the blocks with Horgan as accurate as ever and Conor Lehane slotting some impressive scores.
Clare found themselves eight points down with 20 minutes left and went hunting for goals. Colm Galvin forced a great save out of Nash in the 52nd minute. The rebound fell to John Conlon but Nash flicked his shot out for a '65.
Colin Ryan, who finished with 0-08, did his best to inspire Clare but Cork's defence were resolute and their forwards exploited the space in the Clare half to keep a tight grip on the game.
This was Clare's second defeat in as many games and Davy Fitzgerald's charges will go into their next league game against Tipperary in Ennis needing a win to kickstart their season.
Cork: A Nash (0-01, free); D Cahalane, C Joyce, C O’Sullivan; L McLoughlin, M Ellis, C Murphy (0-01); D Kearney (0-01), A Walsh; C Lehane (0-04), S Harnedy (0-01), R O’Shea; A Cadogan (0-01), L O’Farrell (1-01), P Horgan (0-14, 0-09 frees, 0-01 '65).
Subs: S Moylan for O'Shea (59 mins), P Cronin for Walsh (59 mins), A Spillane for Horgan (65 mins).
Clare: P Kelly; D O'Donovan, C Dillon, J Browne; C Cleary, Conor Ryan, P O'Connor (0-01); B Bugler (0-01), Colin Ryan (0-08, 0-05 frees, 0-02 '65); P Donnellan, B Duggan (0-02), C Galvin (0-02); J Conlon (0-03), S O'Donnell, D Reidy.
Subs: S Morey for O'Donovan (34 mins), C McGrath for Reidy (h-t), S Golden for Cleary (52 mins), A Cunningham for Donnellan (52 mins), C O'Connell for Duggan (64 mins).
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary).
