Cork's ability to find the net on four occasions saw the Rebels overcome Galway in the final round of this year’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Pat Ryan’s in-form side will have an opportunity to bridge a 27-year gap to their last National Hurling League title success when they face Tipperary in the 2025 decider.
Saturday night’s victory over Galway, in front of an attendance of 20,010, saw the Rebels register their fourth league win in six attempts.
In what was a straight shootout for a league final berth, Cork overcame their opponents thanks to Brian Hayes, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Patrick Horgan and Tim O’Mahony goals.
As for Micheál Donoghue’s Galway, a satisfactory league campaign has delivered three wins and three losses ahead of the Tribesmen’s Leinster Championship opener against Kilkenny in UMPC Nowlan Park on 19 April.
A historic point for Patrick Horgan as he breaks Eddie Keher's all-time national league scoring record
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The depth of Cork’s attacking options was apparent Before a sliotar was thrown in. Alan Connolly, Séamus Harnedy and Shane Kingston recovered from various injuries to take their places on the substitutes bench. Galway’s Evan Niland and Brian Concannon were late replacements for Fintan Burke and Conor Cooney.
Amid blustery and windy conditions, it was 0-04 apiece after nine evenly fought minutes. Then, Brian Hayes brilliantly found the net to edge the hosts in front.
Patrick Horgan and Evan Niland exchanged frees before the latter added another placed sliotar to make it 1-05 to 0-06 at the end of the opening quarter.
Cathal Mannion’s second score left the bare minimum in it before Darragh Fitzgibbon collected possession, cut in from the left wing and sent a low shot into the net. Cork’s 2-05 to 0-07 16th minute lead was as hard earned as it was deserved.
A flurry of scores ended a free flowing first half with Evan Niland, Cathal Mannion and Rory Burke’s accuracy keeping the Connacht side in touch.
Cork led 2-12 to 0-12 at the short whistle however, thanks in part to Patrick Horgan, Shane Barrett’s confident shooting.
Evan Niland’s free restarted the second period but Cork’s answer was devastating. Declan Dalton barrelled through the Galway rearguard and setup Patrick Horgan to blast into the back of the net.
Cork start the second half like they did the first as Patrick Horgan fires in their third goal against Galway
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Galway’s attempts to haul in the leaders continually floundered as their search for a goal was repeatedly denied by a tough-tackling full-back line of Niall O’Leary, Damien Cahalane and Seán O’Donoghue.
At the opposite end, Shane Barrett and Cormac O’Brien kept the scoreboard ticking over and the Rebels were full value for their 3-18 to 0-17 lead with quarter of an hour remaining.
Patrick Horgan’s ability to find space and pick off scores preceded a fourth Cork goal as Shane Kingston and Tim O’Mahony combined for the latter to hit the net.
The remaining time saw Cork keep their opponents at arm’s length. Pat Ryan’s charges can look forward to a National League final meeting with old rivals Tipp off the back of another impressive display.
Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Damien Cahalane, Seán O’Donoghue; Ciaran Joyce, Robert Downey (captain), Mark Coleman; Tim O’Mahony (1-01), Darragh Fitzgibbon (1-01); Declan Dalton (0-02, 1f), Shane Barrett (0-04), Ethan Twomey (0-01); Brian Roche (0-01), Brian Hayes (1-00), Patrick Horgan (1-09, 6fs).
Subs: Cormac O’Brien (0-01) for E Downey (39), Seamus Harnedy (0-01) for B Roche (46), Alan Connolly (0-01) for D Dalton (49), Shane Kingston for B Hayes (inj, 54), Diarmuid Healy for P Horgan (64).
Galway: Eanna Murphy; Joshua Ryan, Darren Morrissey, Padraic Mannion; Shane Morgan, Gavin Lee, Cianan Fahy; Seán Linnane, Tom Monaghan (0-01); Cathal Mannion (0-05), Tiernan Killeen (0-01), Rory Burke (0-02); Evan Niland (0-07, 1 65’, 5f), Brian Concannon, Conor Whelan (captain, 0-01).
Subs: Jason Flynn (0-01, 1f) for B Concannon (ht), Conor Cooney (0-3, 1f) for C Whelan (46), Declan McLoughlin (0-01) for E Niland (46), Ronan Glennon for C Mannion (52), TJ Brennan for S Morgan (63).
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).
