Cork hurlers power past Wexford despite Declan Dalton red card

Wexford 0-12 Cork 2-21

Cork got their Allianz Hurling League campaign off to a winning start at Chadwicks Wexford Park as the weather conditions made it difficult for either side to play any sort of decent hurling.

But the Rebels were well worth their win in what was an impressive team display, led by the likes of Brian Hayes, Niall O’Leary, Padraig Power and Cormac O’Brien. The only downside was the straight red card Declan Dalton got in the second half which now rules him out of the Limerick game next Saturday night.

But this was a powerful display by the Rebels as they laid down an early season marker.

Wexford weren’t helped with the amount of players missing. Liam Óg McGovern, Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Matthew O’Hanlon have all retired and Conor McDonald, Damien Reck, Jack O’Connor and Liam Ryan are all injured. Add in the fact that Oisin Foley is currently travelling and Lee Chin, who was also missing.

But that wasn’t the Rebels worry and they can only play the team in front of them and that they did with style.

Hayes opened the scoring for Cork, with Mark Fanning having a long distance free going just wide, with the home side’s first chance.

Some good play from Cormac O’Brien set up Declan Dalton for Cork’s second point as they were using the strong wind at their backs to their advantage.

A mistake by the Cork defence set up Cathal Dunbar for Wexford’s first score, as the Rebels led 0-2 to 0-1 after 10 minutes.

More good work by Hayes played Power in to increase Cork’s lead, with Darragh Fitzgibbon adding a point from a free to see them 0-4 to 0-1 in front after 14 minutes.

Cian Byrne pulled a point back for Wexford from a free and they should have reduced the deficit further but Corey Byrne Dunbar missed an easy chance to point.

Fitzgibbon extended Cork’s lead, with Hayes on target again, to make it 0-6 to 0-2 after 22 minutes.

Cork were now in control with Declan Dalton landing a long distance free to extend the Rebels' lead further.

Shane Kingston and Dalton were among the scorers as Cork were now starting to run away with it, leading 0-10 to 0-2 after 28 minutes.

A minute later, and a difficult task for Wexford became even harder. A long ball in from Dalton was batted down by Hayes to Power and he blasted to the back of the net.

Rory O’Connor and Byrne responded, with Dalton on target from another free to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Byrne had the last score of the half as Cork were comfortable leaders by 1-12 to 0-5 at half-time.

As expected Wexford came out determined to reduce the deficit with David Codd getting the first score of the second half.

But Cork weathered the early storm another good run by Hayes played Dalton in. He was pulled down by Conor Foley and the referee had no hesitation in awarding Cork a penalty.

It also saw Foley black carded, which didn’t help their cause.

Dalton stepped up to take the penalty and found the top corner, to make it 2-12 to 0-6 after 42 minutes.

Power and Hayes added points, with Fitzgibbon scoring from a free to stretch Cork’s lead further.

Charlie McGuckin and Jack Redmond replied as credit to Wexford they kept battling hard to try and get back in contention.

Ethan Twomey, with his first touch after coming on, made it 2-16 to 0-8 before both sides were down to 14. Dalton and O’Connor received straight red cards for an off-the-ball incident after 52 minutes.

Three frees from Byrne were responded to by points from Fitzgibbon and Hayes, to make it 2-18 to 0-11 with eight minutes left. Harnedy and Hayes were among the late scorers for Cork as they ran out comprehensive winners on the night.

Scorers for Wexford: C Byrne 0-7 f, C Dunbar, R O’Connor, D Codd, C McGuckin, J Redmond 0-1 each.

Cork: D Dalton 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-2 f, 0-1 sl), P Power 1-4, B Hayes, D Fitzgibbon (0-2 f) 0-4 each, E Twomey 0-2, S Kingston, S Harnedy 0-1 each.

WEXFORD: M Fanning; N Murphy, S Donohoe, E Ryan; C McGuckin, C Foley, D Carley; C Hearne, D Codd; C Dunbar, R O’Connor, C Byrne Dunbar; K Foley S Casey, C Byrne.

Subs: S Rowley for D Carley (22), R Lawlor for K Foley (34), J Redmond for S Rowley (35 inj), T Kinsella for C Byrne Dunbar (54), C Flood for S Casey (66).

CORK: P Collins; N O’Leary, G Millerick, S O’Donoghue; T O’Mahony, R Downey, C O’Brien; L Meade, D Fitzgibbon; D Dalton, S Barrett, B Roche; B Hayes, P Power, S Kingston.

Subs: D Cahalane for S O’Donoghue (33 inj), E Twomey for R Downey (47 inj), S Harnedy for B Roche (56), R Cotter for S Barrett (64), C Lehane for S Kingston (68).

Referee: Michael Kennedy, Tipperary.