While Cork’s Fulfil Munster U20HC campaign opened with defeat to Tipperary on Wednesday night in Thurles, manager Noel Furlong was proud of the effort shown.
Despite being down to 14 players for the second half after a red card for John Murphy, Cork increased their one-point interval lead to six before the home side – the reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions – responded well, ultimately winning by 1-21 to 0-22.
Neverthless, Furlong found a lot of positives to take.
“You’re coming up here to the All-Ireland champions in their backyard and you go down to 14 men at half-time – you could have easily thrown in the towel but you’ve seen the way our lads fought and battled.
“Even in the last minute there, we still had a…