Cork tasted defeat as they lost out to Kilkenny in the final of the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 1 title.
Cork were made to pay for their slow start and ultimately failed to turn around a 10-point deficit against the Noresiders.
And Cork’s Ashling Thompson was left to rue her side’s sloppy approach to the encounter.
“Our first half display was totally off the mark, it was quite embarrassing to be honest,” Thompson told OTB’s Oisin Langan.
“I think we just left them too far ahead into the game and there was too much to fight for in the second half.
“But then again, coming within a point asks a lot of questions about both squads – not just ourselves – we’re fairly happy with the way we fought back in the second half.
“Our first half display was just something we really have to work on.”
"It was quite embarrassing to be honest" - Cork's Aisling Thompson speaking to @oisinlangan on her side's first half display after their loss to Kilkenny in the @OfficialCamogie Leagues Division 1 Final pic.twitter.com/MAEIanHENe
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) April 8, 2018
Despite losing out to their rivals, Thompson was able to take some positives on a day to forget for Cork.
“There’s no excuse to go out on a big day and a big stage and flop it like that,” Thompson added.
“But then again it’s all learning too. We have a few new players on the panel so this is an extremely new experience for them.
“It’s frustrating, it’s extremely frustrating coming off the back of an All-Ireland title. But fair play to Kilkenny, they were really up for the game and were all over us for the first 20 minutes.
“We’re starting to get very familiar with ourselves as well. I don’t think there’s as much tension between the teams as there was.
“I think there’s a good level of respect there between the two squads. Kilkenny are a ferociously hard working team and I think we’re the same.
“I definitely think there’s a certain level of respect between the two teams but obviously a vicious rivalry at the same time.”
Written by James Hopper
