Banner beaming after backing up bright Munster start

After dispatching an out-of-sorts Tipperary last week, the question was, could Clare build on an opening round win in Munster, or would Cork put themselves back in the reckoning?

Many argued during the week that Cork's greater need for the win after Limerick’s latest demolition of the Rebels, the liking of Semple Stadium as a venue after the game had to be moved from Páirc Ui Chaoimh and their recent record against the Banner could shade matters for the men in red.

Brian Lohan’s side didn’t read the script and tore into the contest from the very first whistle. At one stage in the first half they built up a double digit lead and while the Rebels did work their way into the contest, the two-point margin at the end very much flattered the Rebels.

Darragh Fitzgibbon’s injury-time goal put a gloss on the scoreline that failed to reflect the vast majority of the game and centre-back John Conlon was pleased how his team-mates made it two wins from two.

"We backed up last week’s performance," he told RTÉ Sport. "That was our big motto all week. We’d often have a good performance and leave it behind us a week later, maybe not coming out with that intensity.

"That’s the thing we are delighted with today. From when the ball was thrown in, we were at the pitch of the game. A bit like last week, we started really strong.

"The encouraging thing this week was we kept it going throughout. I know Cork had their purple patches at different stage, but to score 28 points any day is a great day."

For manager Lohan, the pleasing aspect was to see the preparation work come to fruition in the red-hot heat of Munster championship.

"We felt we worked hard all year and Thurles is made for displays like that," he said.

"We are really happy with how we