Alan Connolly hits another hat-trick as Cork hurlers blitz Wexford
Wexford players Simon Donohoe, left, Eoin Ryan and Conor Foley look on as Alan Connolly of Cork scores his side's second goal. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
A BLISTERING start saw Cork get the better of Wexford in their Allianz Hurling League Division 1 clash at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Overall Cork were by far the better side as Wexford never really recovered from this and the Rebels never looked back. Despite winning three games in a row, Pat Ryan's side missed out on the league semi-finals by virtue of Kilkenny's win over Waterford. The new Division 1A next year will be Clare, Kilkenny, Cork, Wexford, Limerick, Tipperary and Galway though, with Clare v Tipperary and Limerick v Kilkenny this season's semis.
Once again the goal-poaching instincts of Alan Connolly played a major say in their win, with his two first-half green flags helping them to a 14-point lead by half-time.
Defensively Cork were rock solid as well with Sean O’Donoghue leading by example and alongside him in the full-back line Damien Cahalane and Eoin Downey were rock solid. Ger Milerick, Ciaran Joyce, and Robert Downey didn’t give Wexford an inch and it would be no great surprise to see that six starting in the Munster championship in a few weeks.
The game was less than 15 seconds old when Cork were in front as Joyce split the posts as he picked up the ball from the throw-in.
Their start got even better when Shane Barrett and Patrick Horgan combined to see Connolly raise a green flag from a ball across the goal by the latter.
The Rebels kept their good start going as Horgan got his first of the afternoon from play and he added a second from a free to see Cork lead by 1-3 to no score after five minutes.
Seamus Casey got Wexford off the mark after seven minutes, but they were also guilty of missing several easy scoring chances, with three wides to this point.
The score settled Wexford with Conor Foley setting up Daragh Carley for their second point, with Seamus Harnedy replying at the other end.
Casey was on target again before Connolly had another goal chance, this time his effort going across the goal and narrowly wide.
Another Horgan free increased Cork’s lead, before an inch-perfect pass from Tommy O’Connell set Connolly up to point, making it 1-6 to 0-2 with 20 minutes gone.
A minute later and a superb save from Mark Fanning denied Barrett a goal as Cork were making the most of the slight wind in their favour.
Robert Downey got in on the scoring act before Fanning pointed a free from distance for his side, to make it 1-7 to 0-4 after 25 minutes.
A long ball in from Eoin Downey was picked up by Connolly and he raised his second green flag to put Cork comfortably ahead at that stage.
With the Cork defence dominating Patrick Collins decided to solo out of goal to show the forwards how it’s done with a magnificent point from well inside his own half. O’Connell added another from the restart, and with 32 minutes gone it was 2-10 to 0-5.
Connolly and two more frees from Horgan ensured that Cork had a healthy half-time lead as they led by 2-13 to 0-5 and now turned to face the wind.
Manning got his second from a free to close the gap before a deft touch from Declan Dalton set up Brian Hayes to score.
Wexford had Fanning to thank again, this time saving from Harnedy to deny Cork a third goal, with 40 minutes gone. Connolly was denied a third goal with Simon Donohue saving on the line after Fanning was beaten.
Casey pointed from a free from a free as four of his side’s scores were from placed balls. With 47 minutes gone the width of the post denied Cork another goal, this time Dalton’s kick rebounding out and the danger was cleared.
Casey and Carley pointed for the home side with Horgan replying from a free.
With 57 minutes gone, Fanning pulled off another great save, denying Connolly again as Cork led by 2-16 to 0-10. Horgan and Casey exchanged frees, before the latter was on target again.
Connolly eventually got his hat-trick after Barrett was pulled down by Eoin Ryan, leading to a black card for the defender. Connolly stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake.
Casey got a late goal for Wexford but it was no more than a consolation score for his side. However, the win wasn’t enough for Cork to advance to the knockout stages as Kilkenny beat Waterford.
S Casey 1-9 (0-7 f), M Fanning 0-3 f, D Carley 0-2, C Foley 0-1.
A Connolly 3-2 (1-0 pen), P Horgan 0-8 (0-7 f), B Hayes 0-2, C Joyce, P Collins, T O’Connell, S Harnedy, S Kingston (0-1 f), R Downey, C Lehane, L Meade, S Barrett 0-1 each.
M Fanning; D Carley, C Foley, E Ryan; S Donohue, D Reck, M O’Hanlon; C Hearne, S Reck; C McGuckin, J O’Connor, C Dunbar; K Foley, S Casey, C Byrne.
L Óg McGovern for C McGuckin, M Dwyer for C Dunbar (both h-t), C McDonald for C Byrne (49), T Kinsella for J O’Connor (54), N Murphy for D Carley (68).
P Collins; E Downey, D Cahalane, S O’Donoghue; G Millerick, C Joyce, R Downey; T O’Connell, D Fitzgibbon; D Dalton, S Harnedy, B Hayes; P Horgan, A Connolly, S Barrett.
L Meade for D Fitzgibbon, B Roche for S Harnedy (both 49), C Lehane for D Dalton (55), S Kingston for P Horgan (59), T O’Mahony for R Downey (66).
Liam Gordon (Galway).
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