Cork beat Tipperary in Munster Championship opener at Semple Stadium, but celebrations turned sour for one young fan who was accidentally struck
It was a day of jubilation for Cork hurlers – but proceedings concluded on a rather unfortunate note for one young Rebel follower in Thurles.
Ben O’Connor’s side mounted an impressive comeback, rattling off eight consecutive points in the second period to overcome reigning All-Ireland champions Tipperary in their Munster Championship curtain-raiser at Semple Stadium.
Having suffered defeat to Tipperary in last year’s All-Ireland final, victory tasted particularly satisfying for Cork and their supporters. The hosts managed just a solitary point from open play in the second half, which didn’t arrive until the 65th minute.
The final whistle triggered scenes of celebration, with predominantly young Cork supporters flooding onto the pitch to acclaim their heroes.
Yet matters took an unexpected turn for one enthusiastic youngster who rushed forward hoping to meet Darragh Fitzgibbon, only to inadvertently take a hurley to the face, reports the Irish Mirror.
The three-time All-Star was locked in an embrace with a team-mate and remained completely oblivious to the young supporter positioned on the opposite side of the duo.
The youngster crumpled to the turf clutching his face, going unnoticed by the celebrating Cork players.
What followed demonstrated genuine class from Tipperary stalwart Noel McGrath, who spotted the injured child. He approached immediately to assess the boy’s condition and made certain he received appropriate attention from ground stewards.
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