Ryan shocked by Corbett decision

Tipperary manager Declan Ryan says he was shocked at Lar Corbett’s retirement from inter-county hurling but is still hopeful that the 2010 Hurler of the Year will reverse his decision in the coming weeks.

Ryan, who was speaking to RTÉ Radio, insists that Corbett’s announcement that he had called time on his Premier County career was not precipitated by a row.

The Tipperary manager, a team-mate of Corbett on the 2001 All-Ireland winning team, says the door remains open for the three-time All Star to return should his work commitments ease.

Corbett, 30, met with the Tipperary manager on Monday night for over an hour and informed him of his decision to end a hugely successful inter-county career because of work and business commitments.

“I asked him to reconsider and I gave him some time to think about it," Ryan said of the meeting.

“He said he had been thinking about this for some time and he has come to his decision.

“I suppose everyone in Tipperary hopes that he will change his mind over the coming weeks and that we will see him in the Tipperary set-up again."

Ryan was adamant that the meeting was amicable and that there was no falling out between the player and the team management. 

“Absolutely not. We hold Lar in the highest regard and the service he has given to Tipperary over the last 11 years has been phenomenal," Ryan continued.

“I was just saying to the players tonight (Tuesday) that his record over the last three years, any inter-county forward would be glad to have that record for their entire career.

“He had an excellent year for us in 2010 and he had a very good year for us in 2011. He was probably disappointed the way the year finished up no more than any of us.

“Work commitments we all know at the moment are very important.”