There was a great deal of sympathy on show for both sets of players in the Munster minor final when it became clear that a penalty shootout would decide the winners.
Tipperary triumphed 3-0 in the shootout after a thrilling game that had finished 1-22 to Clare's 0-25.
However, legends from across hurling expressed their dismay at teenagers being forced into a shootout rather than having a replay to win or lose as a team.
Banner great Anthony Daly tweeted: "Should be played again Sunday, wrong for U17s."
He later added: "I’m nearly glad all three were missed. We won’t let seniors play U20 and we put 16 year old through that, all wrong.
"Congrats to Tipp, very proud of what the Clare lads have achieved so far."
Similarly, recently-retired Premier legend Padraic Maher said: "Replay it lads. Penalties a cruel way to finish this."
While Offaly icon Brian Whelahan agreed saying: "Disgraceful way to finish any hurling match."
There were some dissenting voices though who felt it was over the top to state that a shootout is a 'cruel' or 'disgraceful' way to settle a GAA match.
One person tweeted: "Is the penalty shootout a big issue? Or are so many lads/outlets trying to monetise hurling that it's made an issue?"
While someone else said: "Penalties aren't cruel at all when teams are well aware in advance that the game could be decided by them and that they've been preparing for them."
With the newly compressed inter-county calendar now ensuring games have to be settled on the day, there no longer seems to be space for replays.
But penalties might not be the only way to find a victor as fans threw out the idea of 'next score wins' being a more in keeping way to end a match rather than copying shootouts from soccer where there is at least a tradition of them in the sport.
One supporter theorised: "Yeah I'd be all for that. At least the game would be won in a match scenario.
"It would make a hero out of someone. There are only villains who are made from these penalty shootouts.
"And the penalty shootout was an anticlimactic finish to an epic game. Golden score = box office."
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
