The long road back as Rebels struggle

It was the third inter-county defeat for Cork in 10 days. That didn’t help but it was the manner of it that hurt most: a 15-point defeat that would have been much more, had Tipperary not eased up on seeing the finishing line.

It had been anticipated as the tonic to the disappointment of the seniors on Sunday but offered up more of the same and then some. And yet it was in keeping with the trend of underage woe for Cork, without a Munster U21 title since 2007, and on Wednesday night going in search of just their second provincial final appearance in six years.

For any other Munster county apart from Tipperary, that record wouldn’t be so unpleasant but for expectant Cork, it makes for difficult reading on top of their minor pains.