Cork were in ruthless form early on as they saw off Limerick by 2-19 to 1-13 at the TUS Gaelic Grounds this evening for their third straight win in Division 1 Group A of the Allianz Hurling League.

In what was a repeat of last August’s All-Ireland decider, Shane Kingston netted goals in 19th and 34th minutes that saw the Rebels carry in a commanding 2-13 to 0-5 lead at the break against their lacklustre opponents.

The visitors could even afford to have their goal-scorer red-carded before half-time, while Limerick also saw Seamus Flanagan receiving his marching orders in the closing stages of the first-half, as the Leesiders' lead proved unassailable.

Patrick Horgan pointed early in the restart for Cork and another from Mark Coleman would have the Rebels leading 2-8 to 0-9 after 14 minutes of the second-half.

The All-Ireland champions pulled back points and got a goal through Cathal O’Neill with 17 minutes remaining but, all in all, were very much out of sorts as they slumped to the third defeat of their campaign.

Wexford's James Lawlor with Adrian Tuohey of Galway ©INPHO/Tommy Grealy

In Salthill, Wexford made their goals count in a 2-15 to 0-15 victory over Henry Shefflin’s Galway side.

Darragh Egan’s men recorded their third win of the campaign thanks to goals from Cathal Dunbar and Oisin Pepper in either half, while Rory O’Connor (0-5) was in superb form over the 70 minutes at Pearse Stadium.

Dunbar’s goal was part of an unanswered 1-4 from the Slaneysiders in the run up to half-time that saw them leading 1-9 to 0-7 when the teams went in.

Galway did narrow the deficit down to one after the turnaround with Conor Cooney (5) to the fore and they’d be level through Joseph Cooney on 51 minutes.

However, Diarmuid O’Keeffe pointed the Model men back in front and once Pepper lashed into the Tribesmen’s net with 15 minutes remaining they’d see out the victory.

In Tullamore, Clare showed no mercy down the home stretch in handing Offaly a 4-20 to 0-16 defeat.

Tony Kelly landed an impressive 2-12 to once again inspire the Banner men as they secured their first points of the campaign.

Kelly’s three points towards the end of the first-half saw the sides level at half-time in 0-9 apiece and Ryan Taylor’s goal in the 43rd minute would put the first bit of daylight between the teams.

Eoghan Cahill helped Offaly narrow the difference back down to one but Kelly hammered to their net in the 59th minute and converted a penalty just four minutes later to sink the hosts’ hopes of a first win in the campaign.

Four more points from Clare were backed up by a goal from Shane Meehan in injury-time to put an exclamation mark on the Munster men’s win.

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