Cork got their national hurling league campaign up and running with a 1-24 to 0-17 victory over Clare at Pairc Ui Rinn tonight.

Having lost their openers last weekend, both sides went into this game needing a win and, with 7,084 spectators looking on, it was the hosts who prevailed with a very impressive display of energy and power.

It took the winners a while to settle into their stride, but once they found their rhythm, the 2013 All-Ireland champions had no answer.

The Rebels led this all-Munster contest by 1-12 to 0-12 at the short whistle, thanks to Luke O'Farrell's 21st-minute major. It could have been worse for the visitors who were kept in contention by a series of fine saves from Patrick Kelly. The Banner men led by 0-9 to 0-6 before O'Farrell found the net at the second attempt and momentarily moved back ahead through John Conlon's inspirational point.

But Jimmy Barry Murphy's charges then took control of the match with five unanswered points, with Daniel Kearney, O'Farrell, Cormac Murphy and Patrick Horgan (2) all finding the range. Horgan finished the first 35 minutes with seven points to his credit, while Banner free-taker Colin Ryan was on target five times before the interval.

Clare goalkeeper Patrick Kelly saves a shot from Patrick Horgan of Cork. ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.

Horgan doubled his tally after the restart, finishing the game with an impressive 0-14 in brackets after his name.

Clare led by 0-4 to 0-1 after six minutes, Ryan clipping over a '65' after Horgan had opened the scoring from a free and Clare replied through Ryan (free), Bobby Duggan and John Conlon. A run of Cork points from Conor Lehane, Horgan (free) and Alan Cadogan had the Rebels level after Horgan and Colm Galvin traded scores.

Ryan pointed a brace either side of a Horgan point and Brendan Bugler and Conlon's scores made it 0-9 to 0-6 before O'Farrell drilled the ball to the roof of the net after seeing his initial shot blocked.

Leading by three at the break, the winners started the second half superbly with a Horgan brace and the Glen Rovers man cancelled out a third Conlon point. Duggan closed the gap to four but Horgan and Lehane provided three further points apiece and Anthony Nash made a great double save as JBM's men roared into a commanding 1-20 to 0-15 lead.

In the end, Clare could only sit back and admire as Nash (free) and Seamus Harnedy also got their names on the scoresheet late on. The result means that the Rebels temporarily join Kilkenny, Galway and Dublin at the top of the table, while Clare - again shorn of key men Tony Kelly and David McInerney - remain rooted to the bottom with just three rounds of games left.

Cork - A Nash (0-1f); D Cahalane, C Joyce, C O'Sullivan; L McLoughlin, M Ellis, C Murphy (0-1); D Kearney (0-1), Aidan Walsh; C Lehane (0-4), S Harnedy (0-1), R O'Shea; A Cadogan (0-1), L O'Farrell (1-1), P Horgan (0-14, 9f, 1'65). Subs: S Moylan for R O'Shea, P Cronin for A Walsh, A Spillane for P Horgan.

Clare - P Kelly; D O'Donovan, C Dillon, J Browne; C Cleary, Conor Ryan, P O'Connor (0-1); B Bugler (0-1), C Galvin (0-2); P Donnellan, B Duggan (0-2), Colin Ryan (0-8, 5f, 2'65); J Conlon (0-3), S O'Donnell, D Reidy. Subs: S Morey for D O'Donovan, C McGrath for D Reidy, S Golden for C Cleary, A Cunningham for P Donnellan, C O'Connell for B Duggan.

Referee - J Ryan.

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