Cork hurling talking points: Rebel display in Wexford leaves them well set for summer

Blistering start: 

Any time you score 1-3 and keep your opponents scoreless in the first five minutes of a tie puts you on a good footing.

Cork’s start couldn’t have been much better and even at that early stage the writing was on the wall for Wexford.

From the throw-in, Cork drove forward and Ciaran Joyce’s point after less than 15 seconds said it all.

There was a determination there to kill off the challenge of the home side early and Cork did that to ensure that by half-time the game was over as a contest.

Wexford hadn’t lost a game in the league to this point but they never looked like winning on this occasion and that superb start for Cork was key to seeing the Rebels take the points and drive on to a deserved win.

But it wasn’t just their forwards that played a part here as defensively Cork were rock solid and laid down a few markers early on to let Wexford know they weren’t going to get in easily.

Sean O’Donoghue was key to this as he played a captain’s role and burst out with the ball to turn defence into attack.

Goal threat: 

Too often it has been said that Cork weren’t capable of getting goals or at least didn’t get enough of them.

In Alan Connolly, they now have a goal-poacher supreme and he likes to score them for fun.

Adding to his tally for the league with a hat-trick against Wexford on Saturday it could easily have been more. Were it not for two great saves from Mark Fanning he could have had five on the day.

He is never afraid to go for a green flag and that is something Cork will need going forward into the Munster championship.

With Pat Horgan beside him, they are not forming a lethal partnership up front and there are plenty of options to join them in that line.

Strength in depth: 

Cork now have probably one of the best panels they have had for several years and there is a serious challenge to get on the match day squad of 26, not to mind the starting 15.

That can only be good for Pat Ryan and his selectors heading into the championship and as one person said training has been lively in the last few weeks.

Players now know that there are only five weeks to their clash with Waterford and they will all be looking to hold up their hand to try and get a starting spot.

Roll on April 21!