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Cork 0-22 Tipperary 1-21

Cork’s Munster U20 Hurling Championship campaign began with a narrow defeat to Tipperary, despite a hugely spirited performance in difficult circumstances at FBD Semple Stadium.

The Rebels were reduced to 14 men just before half-time but still managed to take a 0-12 to 0-11 lead into the break. Barry Walsh was central to Cork’s challenge throughout, finishing with an impressive 0-14, including 13 frees, as he kept the scoreboard ticking during a tightly contested opening half.

Cork showed tremendous character after the restart. Despite the numerical disadvantage, they played some of their best hurling, with Walsh continuing his accuracy from placed balls while Johnny Murphy and Zach Biggane added valuable scores from play. That surge saw Cork open up a six-point lead, 0-19 to 0-13, and put them firmly in control entering the final quarter.

However, the turning point came on 42 minutes when Jamie Ormond pounced on a rebound to fire to the net for Tipperary, cutting the deficit and swinging momentum. From there, Cormac Fitzpatrick’s accuracy from frees helped draw the sides level.

Cork continued to battle, with late points from Johnny Murphy and Barry O’Flynn levelling the game, but Tipperary finished stronger, edging ahead through Fitzpatrick before Oisín O’Donoghue added the final score in stoppage time.

While defeat is disappointing, Cork can take real positives from a determined and resilient display.

Scorers for Tipperary: C Fitzpatrick 0-11 (0-8 f), S Tobin 0-6, J Ormond 1-0, O O’Donoghue 0-2, E Doughan, D Costigan 0-1.

Cork: B Walsh 0-14 (0-13 f), Z Biggane, Johnny Murphy 0-2 each, B O’Flynn, F O’Brien, MT Brosnan, John Murphy 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: P McCormack; C O’Reilly, E Morris, S Ryan; D Ryan, E Murray, S Rowan; T Ryan, S Cleary; A Ryan, S Tobin, D Costigan; C Fitzpatrick, O O’Donoghue, J Ormond.

Subs: E Doughan for A Ryan (half-time), P Ryan for S Ryan (45), J Hackett for Cleary (58), J Hayes for Costigan (60).

CORK: O Walsh (Youghal); D Heavin (Russell Rovers), M Barrett (Carrigtwohill), D Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers); MT Brosnan (Glen Rovers), D O’Leary (Ballincollig), Ben Walsh (Killeagh); John Murphy (Mallow), Conor Noonan (Kanturk); Z Biggane (Charleville), Barry Walsh (Killeagh), Jack O’Brien (Douglas); Johnny Murphy (Dromina), B O’Flynn (Sarsfields), F O’Brien (Erin’s Own).

Subs: C Garde (Lisgoold) for Ben Walsh (45), C O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh) for Biggane (48), James O’Brien (Cloyne) for Jack O’Brien (55), C Deane (Killeagh) for Noonan (57).

Referee: N O’Toole (Waterford).