Lar Corbett

Laurence "Lar" Corbett (born 16 March 1981) is an Irish hurler who played as a left corner-forward for the Tipperary senior team from 2000 until 2015.^[1]

Born in Thurles, County Tipperary, Corbett first excelled at hurling during his schooling at Thurles CBS. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of nineteen when he first linked up with the Tipperary senior team before later joining the under-21 side. He made his senior debut during the 2000 South East League. Corbett subsequently became a regular member of the team and has won two All-Ireland medals, six Munster medals and two National Hurling League medals. He has been an All-Ireland runner-up on three occasions.

As a member of the Munster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions Corbett has won two Railway Cup medals. At club level he is a one-time Munster medallist with Thurles Sarsfields. In addition to this he has also won five championship medals.

Corbett's career tally of 29 goals and 80 points ranks him as Tipperary's all-time top goal scorer.^[2]

Throughout his career Corbett has made 61 championship appearances. He announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 6 February 2012, however, he reversed his decision three months later.^[3][4][5]

Corbett is widely regarded as one of the most prolific goal scorers of his era.^[6] He has won three All-Star awards as well as making a clean sweep of the three Hurler of the Year titles in 2010.

Playing career

Club

After much success at underage levels, including minor and under-21 championship medals, Corbett subsequently became a regular member of the Thurles Sarsfields senior team.

Having earned the unwanted distinction of becoming the first team to lose four consecutive championship deciders in 2004, Thurles Sarsfields bounced back to contest the final again in 2005. A 1-17 to 0-15 defeat of a Séamus Butler-inspired Drom-Inch gave Sarsfields their first title in thirty-one years while Corbett also collected a coveted championship medal.^[7]

Both Sarsfields and Drom-Inch renewed their rivalry in the 2009 championship. A disappointingly one-sided contest resulted in a 0-14 to 0-5 victory for Thurles Sarsfields and a second championship medal for Corbett.^[8]

Thurles Sarsfields retained the championship title for the first time in forty-five years in 2010. After taking a 0-6 to no score lead after the first quarter, Sarsfields eventually powered to a 1-16 to 1-7 victory.^[9] It was a third championship medal for Corbett who scored Sarsfields only goal in the game.

Three-in-a-row proved beyond Sarsfields, however, the team lined out in another decider in 2012. Reigning champions Drom-Inch provided the opposition, however, in a game that never hit the heights Corbett was held scoreless as his side triumphed to a 1-21 to 2-15 victory.^[10] It was his fourth championship medal. Corbett later claimed a Munster medal following a thrilling 1-21 to 1-16 defeat of De La Salle in one of the games of the year.^[11]

After surrendering their titles the following year, Thurles Sarsfields were back in the final again in 2014. A slow start had a detrimental effect on opponents Loughmore-Castleiney, as "Sars" powered to a 2-22 to 3-11 victory.^[12]

Inter-county

Early success

Corbett, having never played minor hurling for Tipperary, arrived on the inter-county scene in 2000 when he lined out against Clare in the South East League.^[13] He played no further part for the senior hurlers that year, however, he was included on the Tipperary under-21 team.

In 2001 Corbett became a regular member of the starting fifteen as Tipperary made it all the way to the league final. Clare provided the opposition and were left to rue five missed goal opportunities as Tipperary claimed a 1-19 to 0-17 victory.^[14] It was Corbett's first National Hurling League medal. He made his championship debut on 3 June 2001 in a narrow 0-15 to 0-14 Munster semi-final defeat of Clare. Corbett subsequently won his first Munster medal as Tipperary defeated Limerick by 2-16 to 1-17 to take their first provincial title in eight years.^[15] On 9 September 2001 Corbett lined out in his first All-Ireland decider as Tipperary faced Galway. The westerners put it up to Tipp, however, two goals by Mark O'Leary gave the Munster men the threshold to withstand a Galway comeback. With nine minutes to go Galway were only a point in arrears, however, Tipperary outscored Galway by five to three in those closing minutes. At the final whistle Tipperary were the winners by 2-18 to 2-15 with Corbett collecting his first All-Ireland medal.^[16]

Stagnant period

Tipperary surrendered their Munster crown to Waterford in 2002, before later exiting the championship with a defeat by Kilkenny at the semi-final stage.^[17] Corbett's season was hindered by hamstring injuries and he started just two of Tipperary's six championship games.

Tipperary's fortunes took a downturn over the next few years, with Corbett continuously suffering from injuries. He managed just a single seventy-minute championship stint under Michael Doyle in 2003, while he started just two championship games during Ken Hogan's tenure as manager, finishing neither.

Return to success

The appointment of Liam Sheedy as Tipperary's new manager saw Corbett take on a more prominent role as a goal-scoring forward. Tipperary remained undefeated during their 2008 league campaign and qualified for the decider against Galway. A Corbett goal proved decisive in the 3-18 to 3-16 victory.^[18] It was his second league medal. Corbett later collected a second Munster medal as Tipperary continued their winning streak with a 2-21 to 0-19 defeat of a resurgent Clare.^[19]

Tipperary retained their provincial crown in 2009, with Corbett collecting a third Munster medal following a 4-14 to 2-16 defeat of Waterford.^[20] On 6 September 2009 Tipperary faced four-in-a-row hopefuls Kilkenny in the All-Ireland decider. For long periods Tipperary looked the likely winners, however, late goals from Henry Shefflin and substitute Martin Comerford finally killed off their efforts to secure a 2-22 to 0-23 victory.^[21] In spite of this defeat Corbett was later presented with his first All-Star.^[22]

Three successive Munster titles proved beyond Tipperary, however, in spite of a shock defeat by Cork in the provincial quarter-final, Tipperary used the qualifiers to good effect and qualified for the All-Ireland decider on 5 September 2010. Kilkenny were the opponents once again as they sought a fifth successive All-Ireland crown title. "The Cats" lost talisman Henry Shefflin early in the game due to injury, while Corbett ran riot and scored a hat-trick of goals before Noel McGrath added a fourth. The 4-17 to 1-18 victory gave Corbett, who was named man of the match, his second All-Ireland medal.^[23] He later won a second successive All-Star while he also made a clean sweep of the three Hurler of the Year awards.^[24][25]

Tipperary reclaimed the provincial crown in 2011 following a huge 7-19 to 0-19 drubbing of Waterford in the decider.^[26] Corbett, who scored 4-4 in that game, collected his fourth Munster medal. Tipperary subsequently faced Kilkenny in a third successive All-Ireland decider on 4 September 2011. Goals by Michael Fennelly and Richie Hogan in either half gave Kilkenny, who many viewed as the underdogs going into the game, a 2-17 to 1-16 victory.^[27] Corbett was marked by Jackie Tyrell who held him scoreless throughout the game, however despite his lack of influence in the final, he later collected a third successive All-Star award.^[28]

Retirement and return

On 6 February 2012 Corbett announced that he was leaving the Tipperary team due to work commitments. He subsequently reversed his decision and rejoined the panel in time for the championship campaign.^[29][30] Tipperary won their fourth Munster crown in five years in 2012 as they easily retained the title.^[31] The 2-17 to 0-16 defeat of Waterford gave Corbett a fifth provincial winners' medal. In the subsequent All Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny, Corbett was assigned the role of man marking Kilkenny defender Tommy Walsh around the pitch, with Kilkenny assigning Jackie Tyrrell to mark Corbett. The marking battle between the players developed into a sideshow and nullified Corbett's own game as he remained scoreless during the game which Kilkenny won by 4–24 to 1–15. Various analysts and reporters heavily criticised the tactic after the game.^{[32][33] [34][35][36]}

After a poor start to their 2014 championship campaign, Tipperary reached the All-Ireland final on 7 September 2014. Corbett started the game at left corner-forward in what some consider to be the greatest game of all-time. John O'Dwyer had the chance to win the game, however, his late free drifted wide resulting in a draw.^[37] The replay on 27 September 2014 was also a close affair. Goals from brothers Richie and John Power inspired Kilkenny to a 2-17 to 2-14 victory.^[38]

A knee injury ruled Corbett out of much of Tipperary's league campaign, however, he returned to training on 15 April 2015.^[39] He later won a sixth Munster medal when he was introduced as a substitute in Tipperary's 0-21 to 0-16 provincial decider defeat of Waterford.

On 18 November 2015, Corbett announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.^[40][41][42]

Inter-provincial

In 2007 Corbett was first picked for the Munster inter-provincial team. He was at left corner-forward that year when he won his first Railway Cup medal following a 2–22 to 2–19 defeat of Connacht.^[43]

After playing for Munster again in 2008 Corbett was absent from the team until 2013 when he was included on the starting fifteen for the final against Connacht. The game faded out in the final quarter, however, Munster claimed a comprehensive 1-22 to 0-15 victory, with Corbett collecting a second winners' medal.^[44]

Personal life

Born in Thurles, County Tipperary, Corbett was educated at the local national school and later attended Thurles CBS. After completing his Leaving Cert he qualified as an electrician. The economic downturn led to unemployment for Corbett after ten years as an electrician with the same company. In 2011 he opened his own pub in Thurles.

On 15 December 2012 Corbett married long-term girlfriend Elaine Gleeson.^[45]

Honours

Team

Thurles Sarsfields

• Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship (1): 2012
• Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship (7): 2005, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016
• Tipperary Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2002
• Tipperary Minor Hurling Championship (1): 1999

Tipperary

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2001, 2010
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (6): 2001, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015
• National Hurling League (2): 2001, 2008

Munster

• Railway Cup (2): 2007, 2013

Individual

Awards

• Texaco Hurler of the Year (1): 2010
• All Stars Hurler of the Year (1): 2010
• GPA Hurler of the Year (1): 2010
• All Stars (3): 2009, 2010, 2011
• ·All-Ireland Hurling Final Man of the Match (1): 2010

External links

• Lar Corbett on Twitter
  

References