O'Connor-inspired Wexford win phoney war against Cork

Rory O'Connor maintained his sensational form as he delivered 1-12 to help Wexford leapfrog Cork in the Group A rankings following this absorbing closing-round Allianz Hurling League clash in Wexford town.

With both sides already certain of qualification, only the matter of placings mattered, and Wexford’s flying start propelled them clear by 1-13 to 0-08 at the interval before withstanding an improved Cork challenge en route to landing a semi-final against neighbours Waterford, while Cork face Kilkenny.

Wexford’s feverish start belied the dead-rubber nature of the fixture as they shot clear by 1-03 to no score inside five minutes.

Rory O’Connor’s goal crowned their bright opening, as he gathered a long Damien Reck delivery ahead of Niall O’Leary and kicked to the empty net as 'keeper Ger Collins dashed out in a vain effort to thwart the hot attacker.

Cork rested a chunk of players, but still fielded four of last year’s All-Ireland Senior finalists and five All-Ireland Under-20 winners.

Shane Kingston steadied Cork with a couple of pointed frees, and after Diarmuid O’Keeffe responded, the Rebels twice went dangerously close with goal opportunities.

Firstly, full-forward Alan Connolly fed Conor Lehane, who was denied at the expense of a fruitless ‘65, before Kingston saw his angled effort fly across the face of goal in the ninth minute.

Despite cries from Cork supporters for their charges to "wake up", Wexford reasserted their lead by 1-10 to 0-04 after 19 minutes with O’Connor (3), teenager Corey Byrne-Dunbar, Conor McDonald and Oisín Foley prospering.

But a chain of four Wexford wides offered Cork some hope as Conor Lehane (2), defender Robert Downey and Kingston (free) narrowed the margin to 1-13 to 0-08 at half-time.

The Cork