Lar Corbett Lays Down Gauntlet To Old Kilkenny Foes With Tipperary Challenge

Lar Corbett's years in a Tipperary jersey are mostly remembered for a series of epic All-Ireland final battles with Kilkenny.

One of the finest forwards of his generation, Corbett played in four deciders against the Cats, from 2009 to 2011 and again in 2014.

Corbett was, of course, the hero of Tipp's sole win in that series, scoring a hat-trick of goals in the 2010 final on his way to winning Hurler of the Year.

The Thurles Sarsfields man has continued to play alongside several members of that iconic 2010 team as part of the Tipperary Masters team.

Tipp contest the Masters hurling championship each year and, along with Eoin Kelly and Shane McGrath, Corbett was part of the team that secured back-to-back All-Ireland crowns with victory over Wexford earlier this year.

However, there is one challenge they have yet to face at Masters level that Lar Corbett is eager to meet - a rematch with the Cats.

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Lar Corbett spoke to RTÉ Radio One from the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan on Wednesday morning, and delivered a brilliant call-out to the Kilkenny legends with whom he shared so many memorable battles in a Tipperary jersey.

"The Masters this year was fantastic," Corbett told Morning Ireland.

Just to let everyone know, Tipperary are going for three-in-a-row next year in the Masters.

Now, look, we've had a small bit of a hand here. Kilkenny don't have a team, Waterford don't have a team, Clare don't have a team.

If there's 15 guys below in Kilkenny, would ye just put a team together? Lads, we'll take it easy on ye the first year!

But we're going for three-in-a-row, just to let ye all know.

It would be a brilliant prospect for the iconic Tipperary and Kilkenny lads to be facing off once again, and would surely bring more eyes to Masters hurling.

Of course, it was a watershed year for Tipp hurling, with not only the Masters and U20 All-Ireland wins, but a sensational senior final bringing Liam MacCarthy back to the county for the first time in six years.

"It was unreal, because no-one saw it coming," Corbett said of Tipp's All-Ireland senior final win.

"Anyone who said they did see it coming, I don't know if they're telling the truth. It was unreal.

"The few weeks leading up to it, the few weeks after it, it really is after giving Tipperary hurling a huge lift.

"You have to give it to Liam Cahill and his players, they were the only guys who really believed.

"You get a small little time to enjoy success. First round of the championship next year - Tipp and Cork down in Thurles."

There's another massive year ahead for Tipperary hurling in 2025. If we can get a Tipp v Kilkenny rematch with Lar Corbett and co. togging out, there will be even more intrigue on the cards.