Cork's standout players in Wexford: Which hurlers caught the eye in league opener

Things couldn’t have gone much better for Cork on Sunday as they opened their Allianz Hurling League campaign with a comprehensive win over Wexford.

From start to finish Cork were the better side and there was never a doubt about who was going to win.

At times both sides were battling the weather conditions as much as they were battling each other, with the driving wind and torrential rain not helping either side. But with the wind in their favour Cork had done enough in the first half to put the result beyond doubt.

Manager Pat Ryan felt after that they had played some good hurling, but was not happy with their start and put that down to rustiness.

No surprise there seeing as we are only in January and it was their first game of the season. This year the pre-season competitions were done away with so this was the first chance players had to really impress Ryan and his fellow selectors.

Some favour those competitions as it gives players a chance to find their feet at inter-county level and make the step up. Others feel there are too many games and too much pressure on the players, between inter-county and club over a season.

That’s for another day but it is sure to be a debate that will go on.

MARKER

However a number of players certainly laid down a marker for the weeks ahead. 

Newtownshandrum’s Cormac O’Brien was one of the stars of the Cork defence and caught some great ball to power forward and set up attacks.

He looked like he had been playing there for some time and is one of several players who can be delighted with his performance.

Niall O’Leary, Luke Meade and Padraig Power were others to shine on the night but had there been a Player of the Game award there can be no doubt who would have won.

Brian Hayes was simply outstanding from start to finish. He scored 0-4 but that was probably the smallest part of his contribution over the 70-plus minutes. From the throw-in, he was all over the Wexford defence and didn’t give them a minute's peace. He was picked at corner forward but played all across the line, popping up at full forward or in the other corner.

Wexford simply couldn’t handle him and on more than one occasion he used his considerable size to win possession against the odds.

He was instrumental in setting up a lot of Cork’s scores and it was his tackling and ability to win the ball back that led to Power’s goal that effectively killed off the game as a competition.

Cork have a long line of outstanding forwards and Hayes is showing the type of form that will soon see his name added to it.

He will face tougher opponents next Saturday night in Limerick but the Barrs man will only relish that challenge and whoever picks him up is going to be in for a tough night.