Lar Corbett

Lar Corbett

Personal information
Irish name	Labhras Ó Coirbín
Sport	Hurling
Position	Left corner-forward
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Nickname	Byrnsie
Occupation	Electrician
Club(s)
Years	Club
1999-present	Thurles Sarsfields
Club titles
Tipperary titles	2
Inter-county(ies)*
Years	County	Apps (scores)
2001-present	Tipperary	43 (19-48)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	3
All-Irelands	2
NHL	2
All Stars	2
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 5 September 2010.

Lar Corbett (born 16 March 1981 in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland) is an Irish sportsman. He plays hurling with his local club Thurles Sarsfields and has been a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team since 2001.

Playing career

Club

Corbett plays his club hurling with the famous Thurles Sarsfield's club in his home town and has enjoyed some success. He first came to prominence as a member of the club's minor hurling team in the late 1990s and captured a minor county title in 1999.

Corbett subsequently joined the club's under-21 team where he enjoyed further success. In 2002 he added a county under-21 winners' medal to his collection as Thurles Sarsfield's triumphed in the championship decider.

By this stage Corbett had already joined the club's senior hurling team, however, even though Thurles Sarsfield's topped the county title roll of honour the club had fallen on hard times. They hadn't won the senior championship since 1974, however, Corbett was a new addition when 'Sar's' played Toomevara in the county final of 2000. The game was a close one, however, Toomevara's goal-scoring ability was the deciding factor. At the final whistle Corbett's side were defeated by 2-10 to 0-11.

In 2001 Thurles Sarsfields were back in the county championship decider once again. For the second year in-a-row Toomevara provided the opposition and were hoping to capture a fourth title in succession. On this occasion, however, Corbett's side were well beaten by 1-22 to 1-13.

A third county final in succession beckoned for Corbett's side in 2002, this time with Mullinahone providing the opposition. A close encounter followed and at the full-time whistle both sides finished level with 0-14 apiece. The replay was also a close affair, however, Corbett's side faced a heartbreaking 2-10 to 1-11 defeat.

For the fourth year in-a-row Thurles Sarsfield's qualified for the county championship decider. For the third time in those four appearances Toomevara provided the opposition. A high-scoring game developed, however, at the full-time whistle Toomevara were the champions by 3-19 to 3-14. This was a fourth consecutive county final defeat for Thurles Sarsfield's and for Corbett.

After an absence of one year, Thurles Sarsfield's reached a fifth county final in six years. Drom-Inch were the opponents, however, on this occasion Corbett's side made no mistake. A great performance by Ger O'Grady saw Thurles Sarsfield's bridge a 31-year gap and claim the county senior championship.

2008 saw Corbett line out in a sixth county championship final during his short career. Toomevara, a side that had put Sarsfield's to the sword on so many occasion in the past. Toomevara's Eoin Brislane, however, had the game of his life. He finished the day with 1-5 from play and was a large factor in 'Toome's' narrow 2-14 to 0-17 victory and yet another defeat for Corbett's side.

Thurles Sarsfield's regrouped in 2009 and reached the county final for the seventh time in ten years. Drom-Inch provided the opposition, however, the game was far from a classic. Sarsfield's were much too strong for the opposition and powered to a 0-14 to 0-5 victory. It was Corbett's second county championship triumph.

Inter-county

Surprisingly Corbett never played at minor level with Tipperary. This is unusual as most players nearly always play on either one team or the other before playing on the senior team. He made his senior inter-county debut against Clare in the 2000 South East Hurling League playing at corner-forward.

In 2001 Corbett made his senior championship debut. He also enjoyed his best season with the Tipperary hurlers. The team booked their place in a third successive National League final at the start of the year. Clare were the opponents in that game, however, the great Clare team of the 1990s was now heading over-the-hill. Tipperary were the victors by 1-19 to 0-17, giving Corbett a coveted National League winners' medal. Tipperary later built on this success by qualifying for the Munster final against Limerick. In a close game Cornett's side broke back and won the game by 2-16 to 1-17. It was his first Munster winners’ medal and the premier county’s first provincial championship in eight years. Tipperary’s great run of success nearly came to an abrupt end in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final when they were held to a draw by Wexford. Tipp easily won the replay, setting up an All-Ireland final meeting with Galway. Mark O'Leary scored two goals to give Tipperary a reasonably comfortable cushion, just enough to withstand a Galway comeback. Fergal Healy hit the post twice, however, his goal, Galway’s second, cut the deficit to one point with just nine minutes left in the game. Tipp outscored Galway during that period to secure a 2-18 to 2-15 victory. It was Corbett's first All-Ireland winners’ medal and Tipp’s first in a decade.

2002 proved to be a disappointment for Corbett after the highs of the previous year. Tipperary’s hurlers lined out against Waterford in the Munster hurling final and looked set for victory. The Decies hadn’t won a provincial title since 1963 while Tipp were the All-Ireland champions. Things didn’t pan out that way as Tipp failed to score for the last twenty minutes. Waterford powered to a memorable 2-23 to 3-12 victory and a place in the history books. After overcoming Antrim the Tipp hurlers booked a place against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final. At the final whistle only four points separated the sides; however, ‘the Cats’ took the spoils and brought an end to a disappointing season for Corbett.

In 2003 Corbett played a key role in helping his team reach the final of the National League. Kilkenny were the opponents and a high-scoring game ensued. Both sides conceded five goals, however, at the full-time whistle only a point stood between Tipp and a draw. Kilkenny won the game by 5-14 to 5-13. Tipperary exited the provincial championship at an early stage, however, by maneuvering through the newly-expanded qualifiers the team reached the All-Ireland semi-final stage for a third consecutive year. Kilkenny were the opponents once again, however, Tipp were now in decline. A twelve-point 3-18 to 0-15 trouncing resulted in a victory for Kilkenny.

After an even more lackluster season in 2004, Tipperary bounced back to each the Munster final in 2005. Corbett, however, played no part in the rest of Tipp's season.

2006 saw the return of Babs Keating as Tipperary manager as Corbett lined out in the Munster final against Cork. The result was the same as the previous year as ‘the Rebels’ defeated their greatest rivals by 2-14 to 1-14. The subsequent All-Ireland quarter-final was a repeat of the provincial semi-final with Waterford providing the opposition. While Tipp won the first outing, Waterford turned the tables for the second installment with a 3-13 to 1-22 defeat of Corbett's side.

2007 was also a write-off as far as Tipperary were concerned, however, Liam Sheedy took over as manager for 2008 and things began to change for the premier county. Tipp began the year well by winning the pre-season Waterford Crystal Cup. The men from the premier county later remained undefeated in their National League campaign before meeting Galway in the final. In an exciting game Tipp emerged victorious by 3-18 to 3-16 and Corbett collected a second National League winners’ medal. He also finished the game with the man of the match award. Tipp later qualified for a Munster final showdown with Clare. The game was far from a classic, however, Tipperary still won by 2-21 to 0-19 giving Cornett only his second Munster winners’ medal. In the build-up to the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final against Waterford there was much discussion about Tipp. After an unbeaten run throughout the whole year many viewed the game as a formality as Tipp were seemingly guaranteed a place in the championship decider. Not for the first time Waterford turned the tables on Tipp in the penultimate stage as the Decies won by 1-20 to 1-18.

At the start of 2009 Tipperary were regarded as the main challengers to Kilkenny’s assault on the four-in-a-row of All-Ireland championship titles. Both sides lined out against each other in the final of the National League. Tipperary, the defending champions, stormed into a decisive lead as they took the game by the scruff of the; however, ‘the Cats’ clawed their way back into the game. At the end of normal time both sides were level. A period of extra-time followed, however, in spite of a 2-26 to 4-17 defeat, Corbett's side were widely lauded for their performance. The subsequent championship campaign saw Tipp reach the Munster final for a second consecutive year. Waterford, the team that had put Tipp to the sword in the All-Ireland semi-final the previous year provided the opposition. Tipp raced into a decisive lead at the interval, however, the Decies fought back to narrow the deficit and maybe cause an upset. In the end Tipp won the game by 4-14 to 2-16, with Corbett chipping in with 2-2 from play. It was his third Munster winners’ medal. This victory allowed Tipperary to advance to an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Limerick in Croke Park, which they won by 24 points. Corbett, in spite of remaining scoreless for fifty minutes, ended the day with a hat-trick of goals. On 6 September 2009, Tipperary and Corbett faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final, but were unlucky to end up losing by 2-22 to 0-23. In September 2009, Corbett was nominated for the All Stars Hurler of the Year and for the 2009 All Star Team.

In 2010 Tipperary were regarded as being the second best team in the country once again. Their first championship assignment was a clash with Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. While Tipp were the favourites going into the game Cork ambushed Corbett's side with a 3-15 to 0-14 defeat. The qualifiers beckoned and, after victories over Wexford, Offaly, Galway and Waterford, Tipperary reached a second consecutive All-Ireland final. Kilkenny, a team chasing an unprecedented fifth successive championship, provided the opposition and a great game was expected. Tipperary got off to a great start as Kilkenny's star forward Henry Shefflin had to leave the field with an injury. A hat-trick of goals by Corbett and a fourth by Noel McGrath denied Kilkenny's drive-for-five and secured a remarkable 4-17 to 1-18 victory. It was Corbett's second All-Ireland winners' medal. He also received the Sunday Game man of the match award. In October 2010, Corbett won his second All Star award and was also named as the Hurler of the Year for 2010.

Inter-provincial

Corbett also had the honour of being called up for duty with the Munster team in the inter-provincial series of games. He first played for his province in 2007 as Munster defeated Leinster to set up an inter-provincial final with Connacht. A disputed goal gave Munster a 2-22 to 2-19 victory over the westerners in the first hurling game to be played under floodlights at Croke Park.

In 2008 Corbett was included on the Munster team once again. Leinster provided the opposition in the final on that occasion, however, Corbett's side fell by 1-15 to 1-12..

Honours

Thurles Sarsfields

• Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (2): 2005, 2009
  • Runner-up (5): 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008
• Tipperary Under-21 Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2002
• Tipperary Minor Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (1): 1999

Tipperary

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (2): 2001, 2010
  • Runner-up (1): 2009
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (3): 2001, 2008, 2009
  • Runner-up (3): 2002, 2005, 2006
• National Hurling League:
  • Winner (2): 2001, 2008
  • Runner-up (2): 2003, 2009

Munster

• Railway Cup:
  • Winner (1): 2007
  • Runner-up (1): 2008