Cork hurling talking points: Ennis woes go on as Patrick Collins impresses

Ennis run continues

Obviously, Cork went to Cusack Park looking for a win to get off to a good start in the league and the result places a bit more pressure on them ahead of Kilkenny’s visit next Saturday.

You have to go back to 2009 – the day the striking hurlers returned – for the last Cork senior win at the venue, with Clare winning the league clash of 2018 and the Munster SHC games of 2019 and 2023.

At the same time, this was on paper the toughest of Cork’s three away games in the league – though Wexford showed with their win away to Kilkenny that the visit to Chadwicks Wexford Park won’t be easy, either.

Points are obviously needed as teams battle for a top-three finish but, if Cork can respond well against Kilkenny and then Waterford, the overall picture will be acceptable.

Goal-making rate falls after interval

Cork never led in this match but they might have hit the front in the opening minutes.

Having fallen behind to Mark Rodgers’ opener, the visitors created a goal chance as Brian Roche played a low ball to Robbie O’Flynn and he bore down on goal. Normally so deadly in such situations, the Erin’s Own man fired wide and Clare pushed on to lead 0-6 to 0-2 and 0-9 to 0-3.

However, Cork got back into the game as Patrick Horgan and Tommy O’Connell both raised green flags and other chances might have materialised too. The goals ensured they were just one down at half-time.

In the second half, though, further goal chances were conspicuous by their absence – Cork didn’t have a shot of any kind from the D inwards. 

With the wind, the propensity might be to take the point option but a goal can be worth the risk.

Collins responds well to competition

With last year’s All-Ireland U20-winning goalkeeper Brion Saunderson added to the panel at the expense of Ger Collins, the latter’s brother, incumbent number 1 Patrick, faces a new challenger for the starting spot.

The step up from U20 to senior is steep but Saunderson is likely to be given at least one chance in the league. Collins gave a good reminder of his strengths with an excellent first-half save to deny Mark Rodgers a goal while another half-chance was prevented from growing into something more substantial as the Ballinhassig man was quick off his line to alleviate danger.

While he was beaten by Séadna Morey late on, it was a shot that Collins could do little about.