victory and gave Gardiner a county senior championship winners' medal. Minor and under-21 Gardiner first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a dual player at minor level with Cork in 2000. That year he lined out in his first Munster hurling final in the under-18 grade. Limerick provided the opposition on that occasion, however, they were no match for 'the Rebels'. A 2–19 to 1–10 trouncing gave Cork the victory and gave Gardiner a Munster medal. In 2001 Gardiner was still a key member of the Cork minor hurling team. They surrendered their Munster title to Tipperary following a conclusive 1–13 to 1–6 defeat. Cork, however, still had a chance to claim the All-Ireland title via the 'back door'. After coming through the All-Ireland series Gardiner's side reached the championship decider. For the second year in succession Galway were the opponents. Gardiner produced a fantastic exhibition of hurling in that game as Cork went on to win by 2–10 to 1–8, giving him an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal. Gardiner later joined the Cork under-21 hurling team, however, he enjoyed little success in this grade. Senior Gardiner's performances in the minor grade brought him to the attentions of the Cork senior selectors. He made his debut in a National Hurling League game against Derry in 2002, and subsequently lined out in the final. Kilkenny were the winners on that occasion on a score line of 2–15 to 2–14. Gardiner later made his championship debut in a one-point defeat of Limerick. While the Cork hurling team should have gone from strength to strength as a result of a solid foundation at minor and under-21 levels the opposite happened. A series of embarrassing defeats saw the Cork hurling team reach rock bottom and call a players' strike just before Christmas in 2002. Had the strike failed it could have meant the end of his and his teammates' careers, however, in the end the county board relented and met the demands. Although still amateur sportsmen the Cork senior hurling team were treated as professional athletes. In 2003 Cork's players were vindicated in taking a stand as the team reached the Munster final for the first time in three years. Waterford provided the opposition on that occasion and one of hurling's modern rivalries began in earnest. An exciting game resulted between the two teams; however, victory went to Cork by 3–16 to