Camogie: Cork make statement of intent with resounding victory ...

But, have no doubt about it, this was a big statement of intent from Ger Manley’s side. As well as a magnificent attacking display, defensively they didn’t concede from open play.

With the second and third placed teams in Group 1 and Group 2 battling out for a quarter-final position, Division 1B league champions Dublin, who were making good strides up to this, remain in the hunt with bottom of the table Down to come in the last round.

Gerry McQuaid though will have a tough job to regroup his squad after this 29-point loss, where it was game-over after quarter of an hour.

Last year’s captain Amy O’Connor led the Cork scoring (2-7) and they had nine different scorers overall.

There were two alterations to the Cork team before throw-in with Orlaith Cahalane (carrying a knock) and Izzy O’Regan (injured) replaced by Cliona Healy and Hannah Looney. Orlaith’s sister Meabh Cahalane is also on the injured list.

Dublin made one change with Hannah O’Dea coming in for Sinead Nolan.

The hosts set out their stall from the off. It was a point apiece when Amy O’Connor billowed the Dublin net in the fourth minute after being put through by Katrina Mackey, and the titleholders went on the rampage after that.

Points followed from Saoirse McCarthy, O’Connor, Cliona Healy and Fiona Keating before Cork struck for a second goal.

The green flag came after another swift move, this time it was the in-running Healy who parted to Mackey. She sold a dummy before making it 2-5 to 0-2 on the quarter hour mark.

Cork kept piling on the scores, outscoring Dublin 1-6 to a point - an injury time goal from O’Connor leaving it 3-11 to 0-3 ahead at the break.

Ashling Maher supplied two of the Dublin points from placed balls.

There was no let up upon the restart, Cork’s treble substitution in the 40th minute not upsetting their momentum in any way. In fact, it was one of these subs - Ciara O’Sullivan - who bagged Cork’s fourth goal three minutes from time.

Scorers for Cork: A O’Connor (2-7, 0-5 frees, 0-1 45), K Mackey (1-5, 0-4 frees), C O’Sullivan (1-0), C Healy and F Keating (0-3 each), S McCarthy, L Hayes, A Thompson and S McCartan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Dublin: A Maher (0-2 frees), N Comerford (’45), A McKearney (free) and S Nolan (free) (0-1 each).

CORK: A Lee; M Murphy, N O’Callaghan, P Mackey; H Looney, L Treacy, L Hayes (V-Capt); A Thompson, A Healy; S McCarthy, F Keating, C Healy; A O’Connor, K Mackey, S McCartan.

Capt: Molly Lynch.

Subs: C Finn for S McCartan, C O’Sullivan for S McCarthy, G Cahalane for L Treacy (all 40), R Harty for A Healy (46), O Cahalane for A O’Connor (50).

DUBLIN: A Gorman; A Ryan, E O’Byrne, L Sharkey; C Gannon, K Finnegan, A McKearney; Á Rafter, N Gannon; A Heffernan, E Jamieson Murphy, G O’Shea; H O’Dea, A Maher (Capt), A Gannon.

Subs: E Flanagan for A Maher (37), S Nolan for A McKearney (39), N Comerford for G O’Shea (41).

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick).