Corbett happy to share plaudits

LAR CORBETT is standing in the Páirc Uí Chaoimh boardroom, fielding questions after scoring four goals in a Munster final.

That’s one more than his tally in the All-Ireland final last year. After four in this year’s provincial decider, what’ll he get if Tipperary make this year’s All-Ireland final?

“It was great to get the win,” was his opening line.

“It’s all about the team. The supply of ball coming from midfield, half-back – you don’t need me standing here to tell ye the boys are getting the ball in nice and quick.

“That’s a forward’s dream and that was the difference on the day. We all got chances today.”

Was it a specific tactic for Tipp yesterday? Not really, according to Corbett.

“When you look at Kilkenny over the last decade, they’re getting the ball in quick. It’s not a tactic, it’s just about getting it in.

“We’re under no illusions – Waterford weren’t up to the pace and they’d accept that themselves. There’s a huge hole there for Tipp to fall into, to get complacent. We’re in an All-Ireland semi-final but we’re under no illusions, we can’t let minds soften.

“We have to drive on to the next level. If we stay at this level we’ll pay the consequences for it next day.”

After scoring 7-19 you’d wonder if any team could have another level, but the Thurles Sars man disagreed.

“Isn’t that sport, that there’s always another level? If you ever think you’re at the top of anything, it’s the biggest mistake you could make.

“In your jobs you’re being challenged every day, remember that – there’s papers going bust, ask the right questions! “But there’s another level in everyone.

“Thank God we’ve a panel and management there that are prepared to drive on, and to avoid complacency.”

Corbett paid tribute to the management team of Declan Ryan, Michael Gleeson and Tommy Dunne for challenging the players after replacing Liam Sheedy and his selectors after last year’s heroics.

“Team confidence is down to Declan, Michael and Tommy, they picked up where the lads left off last year.

“There’s fierce confidence there, but that comes from somebody, or something, and they’re the ones giving it to us.

“You never know what’s going to happen – all you can do is deal with what’s in front of you. And the boys coming in drove on. One big thing with them was to see if we’d go soft after winning an All-Ireland, that we might take the foot off the gas, but they pushed us on and that’s what it’s about. They brought us on and we had to step up.”

And then he’s gone, back to the dressing-room, dropping the ice-cubes he’d been holding in his hand.

That’s Lar Corbett. Even after four goals he’s so cool ice doesn’t melt in his fingers.