Kieran Kingston's Cork made a flying start to their Allianz Hurling League Division 1 campaign this evening when defeating Clare 2-30 to 2-21 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

The Division 1A opener which marked the Rebels' first competitive outing of the 2022 season, after they bypassed the Munster Cup, was ultimately decided by a devastating scoring blitz either side of the break.

Clare were looking good for the first 20 minutes or so, with an opening goal from Mark Rodgers nudging them 0-9 to 1-9 ahead.

However, Cork subsequently outscored their shell-shocked opponents by 1-12 to 0-0 over the next 20 minutes, Tim O'Mahony's goal gave the Rebels a lead they wouldn't relinquish and they were effectively home and dry at half-time, 1-19 to 1-9.

The game was well out of sight by the time substitute Luke Meade raised Cork's second green flag in the 34th minute.

Shane Kingston top scored with nine points (six frees) for Cork, as captain Mark Coleman (0-5) and Darragh Fitzgibbon (0-4) also impressed.

Rodgers showed up well for Clare, with 1-5 to his name, but not even a late goal from Domhnall McMahon could take the shine off a resounding Cork win.

There was one other game in the top tier, in Division 1B, at MW Hire O'Moore Park, where Tipperary were made to work hard by 14-man Laois as Colm Bonnar's men ground out a 0-21 to 1-14 win.

The miserable conditions made life difficult for both sides as Tipp took a 0-11 to 0-7 half-time lead into the dressing-rooms.

Jason Forde amassed 0-11 (six frees, one penalty) for the winners and the Silvermines clubman was ably assisted by Mark Kehoe (0-4) and Jake Morris (0-3) in the scoring stakes.

Laois played most of the second-half with 14 men due to Paddy Purcell's dismissal for an off-the-ball strike on Craig Morgan but battled gamely throughout.

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