Larry Tompkins - Managerial Career

Managerial Career

Tompkins became involved in coaching while he was still in his heyday as a player. He managed the Waterford under-21 football team in the early 1990s. Although he didn’t enjoy any success with the team, it was Tompkins’s coaching that helped the county to contest three consecutive Munster under-21 finals between 1993 and 1995.

In late 1996 Tompkins succeeded Billy Morgan as manager of the Cork senior football team. It was a tough act to follow as Morgan had been Cork’s most successful manager of all-time. The first two seasons proved difficult as Cork crashed out of the championship at very early stages. The county board had faith in Tompkins who was attempting to put together a new team following the retirements of some of the great players from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In 1999 Cork were back in the big time. Tompkins began the year by guiding Cork to a National League title following a 0-12 to 1-7 victory over Dublin. Shortly after this victory he steered his adopted county to a Munster football decider against arch-rivals Kerry. In atrocious weather conditions Cork emerged victorious by 2-10 to 2-4. It was Tompkin’s first Munster title as manager and acted as a springboard for further success. In September his charges lined out in the All-Ireland final against Meath. In an exciting game that saw the lead switch hands on several occasions Cork's hopes of doing the double were dashed as Meath won by 1-11 to 1-8. Cork lost their provincial crown for the next few seasons; however, in 2002 Tompkins’s side tasted success once again. Tipperary surprisingly provided the opposition in the provincial final, however, the game ended in a draw. After a thrilling draw Cork trounced Tipp by 1-23 to 0-7 in the subsequent replay. It was the Kildare man’s second Munster title as manager. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final pitted Cork against Kerry. It was an historic occasion as it was the first time that these great rivals had met in Croke Park. Unfortunately, Cork were trounced on a score line of 3-19 to 2-7. The year ended with the Cork hurling team going on strike. In turn, the football team joined in a sympathy strike. The players, who had been seeking better conditions, refused to play or train with the county again until the dispute with the county board was resolved.

Following the strike the fortunes of the Cork football team took a turn for the worse. Embarrassing defeats in 2003 brought Tompkins’s reign as manager to an end.