Cork 2-13 Wexford 0-9: Páirc Uí Rinn's floodlights were the most illuminating aspect of Saturday's Allianz NHL encounter between Cork and Wexford. A fixture with a storied past, given evocative context by this week's 25th anniversary of the death of Christy Ring, the match never sparked in the chill night air at the Wizard of Cloyne's eponymous venue.

Any worries that floodlights might prove difficult for hurling were universally dismissed and the only thing lost in their powerful glow was Wexford.

The visitors could point out that on the two occasions that they got the game in order and threatened to be competitive, Cork got crucial goals that killed the contest's momentum.

There were complaints about the goal in first-half injury time.Goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry protested that he had been fouled under Michael Byrne's dropping ball, which Brendan Lombard eventually dispatched to the net. But in fairness to Cork, the goal simply ensured that their superiority over the first 35 minutes was reflected on the scoreboard.

In the minutes that followed the interval, Wexford played with renewed urgency and shaved two points off the 0-5 to 1-7 deficit. But 12 minutes into the second period the game was on the coroner's slab. Another cutting run by the energetic Timmy McCarthy ended with his shot being blocked and deflected into Lombard's path and he applied the finishing touch for his second goal. At 2-9 to 0-7, Cork were on the home strait.

Cork manager Donal O'Grady was reasonably satisfied at the performance of his largely experimental team, which may well give him the bench options that didn't appear to be to hand last season. He was dismissive of a question about missing players, such as the injured Joe Deane and the Newtownshandrum players who are preparing for the All-Ireland club final.

"Some players are unavailable to us but this is our Cork team. This is the team that's training and this is the team that's playing. It gives people who were on the fringes last year a chance. Because of the make-up of the league we're nearly out every Sunday and with the early championship start in Munster it's done away with any challenge matches."

The newcomers slotted into the team well and their enthusiasm was one factor that distinguished them from Wexford. But the big performances still came from established players. Seán Ó hAilpín played a stormer, untroubled in defence and the springboard for several attacks. Tom Kenny governed centrefield with a performance that gives O'Grady a further option to consider.

Wexford, outside of their brief moments of parity, were awful. Manager John Conran initially accepted as much. "We were totally outclassed on the evening.We'd no excuses, just didn't hurl well enough."

But, as if unhappy with the unadorned simplicity of this explanation, Conran unveiled a few issues of his own. "I thought at stages when we were coming back into the game there was a goal that Cork got that I believe was a free out. I thought the refereeing this evening was disgraceful to be honest. We seemed to be bottled in and fouled time and time again and weren't getting frees and they seemed to be getting frees at the other side."

Neutrals will be taken aback by the vehemence of Conran's feelings on the matter. Referee Pat Aherne's only serious intervention was to red card Declan Ruth for an obvious stamping offence when the game was over as a contest, in the 57th minute.

Although he is currently missing some of his most experienced players - Adrian Fenlon on honeymoon, Larry Murphy with a groin strain and Rory McCarthy who cried off on Saturday with a bug - the most pressing problem for the Wexford manager is that his team continue to lack presence up front.

The talents of the Jacob brothers - Michael hit four points and no wides at the weekend - need a solid platform and Murphy who supplied that in last August's classic semi-final between the counties was obviously missed. But the service to the forwards on Saturday was daft. Too many high balls rained in on their Lilliputian attack, hardly a sensible tactic against the defensive core of Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Ronan Curran.

There was unanimity on one point though - the performance of the lights. "It was the same as a daylight match but there seemed to be a good atmosphere - possibly better than you might get on a cold Sunday afternoon," said O'Grady. "Wexford have played a couple of matches under lights and so have we and the feedback from the players is that it makes no difference."

"None at all," echoed Conran. "I think it's a great facility to be able to have lights and be able to play out there. It had absolutely nothing to do with how we played."

CORK: D Cusack; A Fitzpatrick, D O'Sullivan, W Sherlock; G Callinan, R Curran, S Ó hAilpín; T Kenny (0-2), A Coughlan (0-1, free); J O'Callaghan (0-4, two frees), M Byrne 0-1, T McCarthy (0-2); S McGrath (0-1), B Lombard (2-1), E Fitzgerald. Subs: N McCarthy (0-1) for McGrath (50 mins); E Collins for E Fitzgerald (51 mins); P Tierney for Kenny (63 mins); K Hartnett for Ó hAilpín (69 mins); C O'Connor for Sherlock (70 mins).

WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; K Rossiter, D Ryan, M Travers; D Stamp, D Ruth (0-1), M O'Leary; T Mahon, P Codd (0-4, three frees); M Jordan, J O'Connor, M Jacob (0-4); B Lambert, R Codd, R Jacob. Subs: P Carley for Mahon (29 mins); D Berry for Jordan (half-time), B Goff for R Codd (50 mins); D O'Connor for J O'Connor (52 mins); MJ Furlong for Lambert (72 mins).

Referee: P Aherne (Carlow).