‘Shell-shocked’ Hogan hopes Corbett will return

Lar Corbett’s former manager Ken Hogan and team-mate Declan Fanning believe the player could return to Tipperary colours if he is given time to consider his decision to withdraw from the panel.

Hogan admits he is still “shell-shocked” by the 2010 Hurler of the Year’s decision on Monday to quit less than four months after picking up his third consecutive All Star.

Corbett has cited work commitments with his bar in Thurles as the reasoning for leaving Declan Ryan’s set-up.

However, Hogan reckons the 30-year-old needs some time out to re-evaluate where he stands.

“We’re all surprised by something that happened so suddenly. I’m still coming to terms with it. We’re shell-shocked,’’ Hogan said.

“Every player goes through a phase and hopefully this is one of them. They have difficult lifestyles. Lar has big commitments work-wise but when things settle down he might consider returning.

“It happens in all different sports, players taking time out from things. Hopefully, he will in time reconsider his decision. All players are human and Lar needs time to reflect. He’s been there for 12 years. He now needs to be allowed the space to think about his hurling.”

Hogan, Tipperary’s 2010 U21 All-Ireland winning manager, who leads Coolderry in Saturday’s All-Ireland club semi-final against Gort, feels Corbett would have no problem making up for lost time were he to come back later in the season.

The door remains open for the Thurles Sarsfields man and Hogan can see Corbett taking up where he left off should he have a change of heart at some stage.

“Lar has gone through a lot. During my time he was hit with two chronic hamstring injuries. He had huge problems with them but overcame them to become hurler of the year.

“He’s put in a huge amount to Tipperary and he can still give a lot. Lar is a guy who is in fantastic shape physically. He doesn’t carry condition or injuries anymore.

“His pace and his lightning fast brain are his biggest strengths and they’re not going to go on him overnight. He’s a major loss to the game never mind Tipperary.”

Corbett’s 2010 All-Ireland winning team-mate Declan Fanning defended the player’s course of action but feels he could make a U-turn.

“Nowadays work comes first and the most important thing to do now is to give him time. He’s not under contract with the county or anything like that.

“It just goes to show he has to make a day’s living as well. If people just give him a chance to reflect on it you never know things down the line might change.”

Fanning retired from inter-county hurling after the 2010 season at the age of 31, citing family and work commitments. He fully appreciates why Corbett has made the decision.

“Even though it’s an amateur sport, there are no maybes about people training professionally — they actually are training professionally. Five or six nights a week.

“You get to your late 20s and early 30s and other things start coming into your life. You have to start prioritising them.

“Lar deserves to be left alone for awhile now. Being so professional in an amateur sport, it’s what he should be entitled to.”

As Tipperary comes to terms with the loss of their most electric forward, county chairman Seán Nugent attempted to sound a more optimistic note.

Hogan hopes Corbett will return

Another former team-mate of Corbett’s, Eamon Corcoran, doesn’t believe he walked away from inter-county hurling for anything other than business reasons.

“I haven’t spoken to him but he’s texted the players and feels that he can’t give it 100%.[ I’m sure the door is left wide open though and if he’s away for 12 months, he might miss it because I think there’s another three or four years in him if he can get the pub up and running.

“And it’s tough on the management because people are posing questions. But I’ve been talking to people on the county board and players and there’s no issue there whatsoever.

“Larry got on well with the management and it seems this is abusiness decision.”