Alan Connolly sank back-to-back hat-tricks as Cork closed out Division 1 Group A of the Allianz Hurling League with Saturday's walloping of Wexford at rain-soaked Chadwicks Wexford Park.
The Rebels could have registered a handsome goals tally but for the class of Wexford stopper Mark Fanning, who distinguished himself with a series of interventions.
The sobering result ends Wexford’s unbeaten run under new boss Keith Rossiter in his eighth competitive outing, and will focus minds before they host Dublin in the Leinster Championship opener on 21 April.
And while Kilkenny ultimately denied Cork passage to the league semi-finals, Pat Ryan’s charges seems to be in ruder health, with a third straight victory ahead of their Munster Championship duel with Waterford.
Despite deplorable conditions, Cork made clear their intent when scoring a goal after a mere 94 seconds, full-forward Alan Connolly, fresh from his hat-trick against Offaly, touching home a low cross after Patrick Horgan darted in past his marker from the right end-line.
That headlined a blistering start by the Rebels, who fired 1-03 without reply inside the first five minutes, centre-back Ciarán Joyce and Horgan (two) also on target.
Wexford were minus talismanic captain Lee Chin for the second game running, but clawed into contention as Seamus Casey (two) and Darragh Carley cut the gap to 1-04 to 0-03 after 16 minutes.
Cork remained vibrant, and Connolly’s cheeky attempt on goal shaved the woodwork on its way wide, while Shane Barrett forced a save in between points from Horgan (free), Connolly and defender Robert Downey.
Connolly eventually swelled his goals tally on 26 minutes to generate a 2-08 to 0-04 margin after a long delivery from corner-back Eoin Downey was broken down by Horgan.
Wexford were beavering away, but the tide was very much against them, and Cork goalie Patrick Collins even drove a point from play almost the length of the field.
The margin was out to 2-13 to 0-05 at half-time, and the purposeful Rebels crafted another gilt-edged goal chance on 38 minutes, when Seamus Harnedy got inside to force a solid intervention by the Wexford custodian.
Wexford had resumed with a couple of personnel changes – Liam Óg McGovern and Mikie Dwyer being drafted in – but Cork continued to be most potent, and it demanded a flick off the line by Simon Donohoe to prevent Connolly on 43 minutes.
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 had 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 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.
Cork: Patrick Collins (0-01); Eoin Downey, Damien Cahalane, Seán O Donoghue; Ger Mellerick, Ciarán Joyce (0-01), Robert Downey (0-01); Tommy O’Connell (0-01), Darragh Fitzgibbon; Declan Dalton, Seamus Harnedy (0-01), Brian Hayes (0-02); Patrick Horgan (0-08, 7 frees), Alan Connolly (3-02, 1-00 penalty), Shane Barrett (0-01).
Subs: Luke Meade (0-01) for Fitzgibbon (49), Brian Roche for Harnedy (49), Conor Lehane (0-01) for Dalton (54), Shane Kingston (0-01 free) for Horgan (59), Tim O’Mahony for R. Downey (66).
Wexford: Mark Fanning (0-03 frees); Eoin Ryan, Conor Foley (0-01), Simon Donohoe; Darragh Carley (0-02), Damien Reck, Matthew O’Hanlon; Conor Hearne; Charlie McGuckin, Kevin Foley, Joe O’Connor; Cian Byrne, Seamus Casey (1-09, 0-07 frees), 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).
