Cork 3-25 Down 0-9: Cork made it a league double as the hurlers emulated the footballers' first win of the season with a runaway victory over Down at Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday.
The All-Ireland champions led by 1-13 to 0-4 at half-time after playing with a slight wind. Joe Deane helped himself to 1-7, including a goal on the stroke of the interval, when delightfully flicking Neil Ronan's delivery to the net.
Moments before, rookie goalkeeper Anthony Nash showed his promise with a superb save from a well-struck Paul Braniff penalty after Diarmuid O'Sullivan was adjudged to have fouled Gary Johnstone.
Deane was the dominant figure in the opening period, scoring three times and he and Brian Corcoran opened up an overworked defence at will before a Martin Coulter free gave Down their first score after 14 minutes.
The second half was more of the same, Cork keeping the scoreboard ticking along nicely until Conor Cusack, brother of rested goalkeeper Donal Óg, fired home the second goal after 56 minutes, following an impressive high catch and finish.
Corcoran grabbed the third goal seven minutes later, netting from close range after neat approach work.
CORK: A Nash; C O'Connor (0-1), D O'Sullivan, D McSweeney; S O'Neill, R Curran, P Kelly (0-1); J Gardiner (0-1, free), K Murphy (Sarsfield's, 0-2); K Murphy (Erin's Own, 0-3), C McGann (0-3), N Ronan (0-2, one free); J Deane (1-7, two frees, one 65), B Corcoran (1-3), C Cusack (1-1). Subs: W Sherlock for O'Sullivan, R Conway (0-1) for Deane (both 53 mins), G Callanan for Gardiner (61 mins).
DOWN: G Clarke; L Clarke, S Murray (0-1), P Hughes; G Clarke, C Courteney, G Savage; A Savage (0-1), C Coulter; G Johnstone, B McGourty (0-1), E Clarke; M Coulter (0-2, frees), P Braniff (0-4, two frees), E McGuinness. Subs: S Roddy for Hughes (45 mins), A Dynos for McGuinness (50 mins), R McGrattan for C Coulter (60 mins).
Referee: D Connolly (Kilkenny).
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