Cork Kicks Off The Season With A Win

Pat Horgan scored 0-9 as Cork began their Allianz GAA National Hurling League Division One campaign with a 1-22 to 1-11 victory over Offaly at Páirc Úi Chaoimh on Sunday.

The result will be a pleasing one for Cork manager Denis Walsh, but the Rebels really only clicked into gear in the second half after going in level with their opponents at 0-9 apiece at half-time.

However, the home side found their form after the break, and Aisake Ó hAilpín was once again the match-winner as he flicked the ball past Offaly goalkeeper Eoin Kelly after John Gardiner's long delivery.

It was a timely intervention from the giant Na Piarsaigh man - who scored two goals in last year's All-Ireland Qualifier clash between the sides - as Shane Dooley had reduced the gap to just two points in the 57th minute when he swept the ball home after Cork goalkeeper Dónal Óg Cusack had batted the ball into his path.   

Thereafter, Cork cruised home aided by a four-point haul from new captain Kieran 'Fraggy' Murphy, while his predecessor, Gardiner, chipped in with five scores, four of which came from long-range frees.

Offaly led 0-3 to 0-2 early on, with Brian Carroll adding a point to two Dooley frees, while Horgan landed two early dead balls for the Rebels.

Horgan and Dooley engaged in something of free-taking duel in a dull first-half as the sides went in level at 0-9 apiece.

The game was held up for a time after the break as Offaly's Conor Mahon was treated for the second time for a head injury, while Cork boss Walsh opted to bring on dual star Eoin Cadogan at full-back in place of the inexperienced David Cunningham.

The Rebels were a different team in the second half and they raced into a 0-15 to 0-10 lead after 51 minutes, with Niall McCarthy grabbing his second point and Gardiner once again showing his accuracy from frees from way out the field.

Dooley took his personal haul to 1-7 and closed the gap to just two points when he pounced on Cusack's error six minutes later, but Cork took over in the final quarter, with Ó hAilpín's goal precipitating a flurry of late points, which gave them an 11-point win.