CLARE’S RODGERS SHOOTS DOWN CORK

NOT A good weekend for Cork’s flagship teams with the footballers going down to Louth and the hurlers losing their opening game in Division 1’s Group A of the Allianz Hurling League. This away trip to Ennis looked very much to be going in Cork’s favour when they trailed by just a point with a strong wind in their favour in the second half. A third-quarter fade-out though proved hugely costly and allowed Brian Lohan’s side to take the points on a 1-25 to 2-19 scoreline. Clare were 0-9 to 0-3 ahead and cruising early on until they were opened up. Shane Kingston played in Patrick Horgan and Cork’s all-time Championship scorer produced a lovely improvised drop shot to the net. On target: Mark Rodgers A second Cork goal came from Tommy O’Connell after the vision of the returning Robbie O’Flynn set it up and trailing by 0-14 to 2-7 at half-time, they looked in a strong position. Clare lifted things when it mattered though with Mark Rodgers keeping the scoreboard ticking over and finishing with 0-13 to his name, all but two of that coming from placed balls. In the other Division 1 Group A game, a couple of quick goals from Stephen Bennett saw Waterford quickly race away from Offaly in Tullamore. The home side led 0-7 to 0-3 early on before being steamrolled by three goals, Seán Walsh grabbing the other and it finished 3-20 to 0-17 in favour of Davy Fitzgerald’s side. In Group B of Division 1, Limerick started with only four of the team that lined out against Kilkenny in last year’s All-Ireland deciderbut still made light work of beating Antrim. Then again, of those four starters — Dan Morrissey, Diarmaid Byrnes, David Reidy and Gearóid Hegarty — two are former Hurlers of the Year. John Kiely’s side had to give up home advantage and travel to Thurles with the Gaelic Grounds pitch needing some repair work but the strength of their squad was shown in how they dispatched Antrim by 1-36 to 1-9. On this evidence, it’s going to be a testing campaign for Darren Gleeson’s side. In Division 2A, group favourites Laois had seven points to spare against Down while Carlow had an impressive 3-22 to 0-19 win away to Kerry. And Meath dented Kildare’s hopes of promotion with a narrow 2-20 to 3-14 victory at Páirc Tailteann.