LAR CORBETT has attempted to explain the bizarre events that occurred during last August’s All-Ireland semi-final in his newly-released autobiography, entitled All in my Head.

Corbett (31) opens the book by detailing the stream of abuse directed at him following Tipperary’s 18-point defeat to Kilkenny, their biggest losing margin since 1897.

The 2010 hurler of the year gives an entire chapter to the tactical decision that saw Corbett follow Kilkenny defender Tommy Walsh, thereby creating a scenario where both players, and their markers Pa Bourke and Jackie Tyrrell, became peripheral figures in the game.

Corbett admits the decision was taken to avoid a repeat scenario of the 2011 All-Ireland final when Tyrrell’s man-marking performance nullified his impact.

“And let me say straight out that I would rather have gone on the field and played hurling. But I wasn’t going to be let. So we had to try something,” Corbett wrote.

“I just couldn’t handle another 2011 scenario of being scragged and dragged and jostled . . . with no referee, umpire or linesman doing anything about it.”

Corbett met with Tipperary coach Tommy Dunne and team-mates John O’Brien and Eoin Kelly at the Horse and Jockey hotel on August 7th, 12 days before the game, where they formulated the plan to restrict Walsh’s influence. Tipperary manager Declan Ryan, who has since stepped down, was not present.

“We agreed that the idea of me marking Tommy Walsh could upset them.”

He also reveals that most of his team-mates were unaware of the tactic, which was widely condemned in the aftermath, with only Kelly, O’Brien and Noel McGrath informed. However, the ploy was successfully tested 10 days beforehand in a training match with Michael Cahill adopting the Tyrrell role and Tom Stapleton marking Burke despite being followed by Corbett.

Corbett is also critical of the match-day officials and vehemently denies there was a plan to get Walsh sent-off.

At half-time, with Tipperary one point ahead, he said Dunne told him to continue with the plan, while Kelly told him the Kilkenny defence was “rattled”. He also states there was no argument with management and his late arrival on to the pitch for the second half was caused by changing his gear and using the toilet.

Corbett also expresses a desire to feature under new Tipperary manager Eamon O’Shea in 2013.