Cork ... 0-24 Wexford ... 2-12: Cork made it two wins from two games in the league with a well-deserved six-point win over Wexford at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday.
Playing some superb hurling and scoring some exquisite points, Cork were good value for this win with Joe Deane, Wayne Sherlock and Alan Cummins looking very impressive for Cork.
Deane came on for Mark Landers at the break and made a huge difference in attack. He scored five points, two coming from frees, but was a threat every time he touched the ball.
Wexford led at the break by a goal, 1-11 to 0-11, and deservingly so. They started the better and led 0-3 to no score after just four minutes before two Alan Browne points from frees saw Cork settle into the game.
Wexford's Dave O'Brien increased the lead back to two points before Cork enjoyed a 10-minute purple patch which saw them score five points without reply to lead 0-7 to 0-4.
Cork were leading 0-8 to 0-6 when Wexford struck for the opening goal in the 25th minute. Mitch Jordan was the scorer after a long delivery from Larry O'Gorman found him in space and alone at the edge of the square. When Jordan added a further point one minute later Wexford were back in control leading 1-7 to 0-8.
The first half finished with seven points in as many minutes with Wexford coming out with four to Cork's three to lead by Jordan's goal at half-time.
Cork moved Alan Browne to the 40 for the second half, taking off Mark Landers and replacing him with Joe Deane and that move paid immediate dividends with Cork looking a lot stronger in attack.
They were level for the second time by the 40th minute (0-14 to 1-11) with young Niall McCarthy looking very impressive scoring his third point.
Joe Deane gave Cork the lead from a free before Mitch Jordan goaled for the second time in the 50th minute, once again taking advantage of slack marking in the Cork defence. Deane and Ben O'Connor added two quick points for Cork (0-17 to 2-11) to level proceedings for the third time.
The sides then swapped a point each before Cork took over and finished with a flourish as they added six unanswered points to win by six points.
CORK: D Óg Cusack; M Prendergast, D O'Sullivan, W Sherlock; D Barrett, J Browne, F Ryan; A Cummins (0-1), T McCarthy (0-1); N McCarthy (0-3), M Landers, J O'Connor (0-2); B O'Connor (0-3), A Browne (0-7, all frees), S McGrath (0-2). Subs: J Deane (0-5, 2 frees) for Landers (half-time), N Ronan for Browne (inj 43 min), P Mulcahy for Prendergast (65 min).
WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; D O'Connor, D Ryan, R Mallon; K Furlong, E Doyle, D Ruth; D O'Brien (0-2), LGorman (0-1); D Stamp, A Fenlon (0-1), R McCarthy; M Jordan (2-1), L Murphy (0-1), B Lambert (0-6, 5 frees). Subs: G Coleman for Stamp (half time), L Dunne for Furlong (52 min), G Laffan for O'Brien (58 mins), M O'Leary for Doyle (66 min).
Referee: A McSuibhne (Dublin).
