The Echo Sport Podcast: Cork hurlers demolish Clare but did they show their hand too early?

The Echo Sport Podcast takes in all the latest GAA action.

This week we break down the Rebel rout of All-Ireland champions Clare on Sunday afternoon. Pat Ryan's side up to target the inside line and the reward was six goals, with Cork finally converting the chances they've been creating throughout the league.

Brian Hayes was the official TG4 Man of the Match but Declan Dalton was also unstoppable and Shane Barrett showed his best All-Star form. Tim O'Mahony, Rob Downey, Seán O'Donoghue and Ethan Twomey brought their physicality to bear, with Brian Roche getting through piles of work and new defenders Micheál Mullins and Cormac O'Brien again putting their hand up for championship.

However, was it a case of going too well, too soon? Did the Rebels show too much? 

The weather and the crowd made it feel like championship but Clare now know exactly what to expect on Easter Sunday in the Munster Championship opener.

At least Cork laid down a marker that they can beat their rivals and win in Ennis.

RED MIST

The other major talking point from the game, and across the hurling weekend, was the flurry of red cards shown. Word was HQ wanted refs to clamp down on dangerous tackles but many of the dismissals were harsh, especially Cormac O'Brien's.

It'll be interesting to see how it pans out in the last round of the league and in the final in early April. 

Cork have a decent chance of making that decider now, provided they beat Galway and Limerick don't overtake their scoring difference against Kilkenny and Wexford. Tipp will be through with a win over Clare, who are as good as relegated now.

On the local front, Fr O'Neills had a fine win in Division 1 over champions Sars while Charleville impressed against Blackrock. 

William Buckley was electric as St Finbarr's defeated Glen Rovers and Colin Walsh landed 0-5 from play for Kanturk against Douglas, while in Division 2, Daire Connery and Kevin Moynihan were superb for Na Piarsaigh in their draw with Ballincollig.

Now in its third season, every week Éamonn Murphy will be joined by The Echo team including Barry O'Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.

You can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcast