Cork got off to a winning start in Division 1 Group A of the Allianz HL as Clare were seen off at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening.
The Rebels – starting with nine of the team that began last August's All-Ireland final loss to Limerick – didn’t lead until Tim O’Mahony’s 26th-minute strike put them 1-10 to 1-09 in front, but nine more unanswered points had Kieran Kingston’s side in a commanding position by half-time and they were never going to be overhauled in the second half.
There were 12 different scorers for Cork, who had the luxury of being able to keep Patrick Horgan in reserve, though the opening quarter suggested that a Clare side without Tony Kelly and John Conlan might make things difficult for their hosts.
Cathal Malone had three points in the first ten minutes and they led on six occasions but Cork kept coming back and new captain Mark Coleman landed a long-range free on 20 minutes to level at 0-09 each.
In the wake of that, Mark Rodgers goaled for Clare – profiting from unselfish play by Shane Meehan – but they wouldn’t score again until five minutes into the second half. Shane Kingston replied immediately for Cork with the second of his nine points and they had the lead for the first time as Conor Lehane and Kingston combined to set up O’Mahony.
The Cork midfield pairing of debutant Ciarán Joyce and Darragh Fitzgibbon were both on target in the closing stages of the first half – they would score seven points between them – while Seámus Harnedy and Alan Cadogan also notched scores to ensure a 1-19 to 1-09 half-time lead.
Kingston and Fitzgibbon put 12 between the sides on the resumption as Clare missed some scoreable chances and, though their drought did end with frees in quick succession from David Reidy and Rodgers, Cork’s grip wasn’t loosened.
They moved 1-30 to 1-15 in front after Kingston’s final point on 65 minutes, though Clare did outscore them by 1-06 to 1-00 from there, with young sub Patrick Crotty scoring twice.
Luke Meade had the second Cork goal on 69 minutes, set up by fellow sub Robbie O’Flynn, while Clare replacement Domhnall McMahon netted at the very end.
Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Ger Millerick, Seán O’Donoghue; Tim O’Mahony (1-00), Mark Coleman (0-05, 0-03f), Robert Downey (0-01); Ciarán Joyce (0-03), Darragh Fitzgibbon (0-04); Conor Lehane (0-01), Séamus Harnedy (0-02), Seán Twomey; Shane Kingston (0-09, 0-05, 0-01 65), Alan Cadogan (0-01), Shane Barrett (0-03).
Subs: Conor Cahalane for Twomey (43), Jack O’Connor for Lehane (52), Pádraig Power (0-01) for Cadogan (56), Luke Meade (1-00) for Harnedy (60), Robbie O’Flynn for Barrett (65), Seán O’Leary Hayes for O’Leary (68, temporary).
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Aaron Fitzgerald, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan; Diarmuid Ryan (0-02), Jack Browne, Rory Hayes; David McInerney, Robyn Mounsey; Aron Shanagher, Cathal Malone (0-05), Ryan Taylor (0-02); Mark Rodgers (1-05, 0-02f), Shane Meehan (0-01), David Reidy (0-03f).
Subs: Patrick Crotty (0-02) for Mounsey (40), Domhnall McMahon (1-00) for Shanagher, David Fitzgerald for Reidy, Paddy Donnellan (0-01) for McInerney (all 56). Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).
