All-Ireland champions Cork romped to their first win of NHL Division 1A as Joe Deane, Conor Cusack and Brian Corcoran goaled in their 3-25 to 0-09 demolition of Down this afternoon.
John Allen’s Rebels were a class apart at Pairc Ui Rinn in the early throw-in. Down’s trip back up north will be a long one – full-forward Paul Braniff’s four-point haul was the sole highlight of their largely forgettable performance.
Killeagh clubman Deane was on top form in the opening 18 minutes, striking over six points. Cork led -05 to no score with Deane, lining out at right corner forward, cracking over three early points and his full-forward line colleagues Cusack and Corcoran also off the mark.
Martin Coulter landed Down’s opening point from a free on 14 minutes, but Deane rifled over consecutive scores on 15, 16 and 18 minutes to power the Rebels clear.
The sides shared out the next six points with Corcoran racing up his first half tally to 0-03, and Andy Savage, Braniff and Coulter (free) raising white flags for the visitors. Erin Own’s Kieran Murphy then struck over to join his namesake Kieran Murphy from the Sarsfields club on the score sheet.
At 0-04 to 0-12 down on the half-hour, the Mourne men should have closed up the gap when they were awarded a penalty on 34 minutes. Braniff stepped to take it but his low shot was parried away by Anthony Nash in the Cork goal. Seconds later, the on-fire Deane ensured a 1-13 to 0-04 half-time lead for his side when flicking home a Neil Ronan delivery.
Deane totalled 1-07 in the first half, including five points from play, a free and a '65.
Wing back Peter Kelly, the aforementioned Murphys (0-02) and centre forward Ciaran McGann of Castlelyons (0-02) pointed in the early stages of the second half to push Cork 1-18 to 0-04 in front.
Midway through, Cloyne attacker Cusack, a younger brother of goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack, who was benched, angled a great shot past Down ‘keeper Graham Clarke.
Cork’s third goal soon followed with Corcoran batting home. Braniff drew the admiration of the home support late on when he landed a brilliant free from the halfway line. However, greedy Cork had the final say in injury-time when Ronan pointed a free to complete the rout.
