Cathal Barrett

Barrett first came to prominence as a hurler with Thurles CBS. He played in every grade before eventually joining the senior hurling team. On 26 February 2010, he lined out at right wing-back when Thurles CBS drew 1-12 apiece with Ardscoil Rís from Limerick in the Harty Cup final. Barrett retained his position on the starting fifteen for the replay on 6 March 2010 which resulted in a 4-15 to 2-21 draw. On 11 March 2010, he was at centre-back when Thurles CBS suffered a 3-15 to 0-14 defeat by Ardscoil Rís in a second replay of the final.^[2]

Barrett studied at the Limerick Institute of Technology between 2011 and 2016 and joined the senior hurling team in his second year. He was a regular player in defence in various Fitzgibbon Cup campaigns.^[3]

Barrett joined the Holycross–Ballycahill club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels, enjoying championship success in the minor grade. He eventually joined the club's top adult team.^{[citation needed]}

Barrett was just 16-years-old when he was selected for the Tipperary minor hurling team prior to the start of the 2010 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 5 May 2010 when he lined out at right corner-back in Tipperary's 0-17 to 1-13 defeat by Clare.^[4]

Barrett was again eligible for the Tipperary minor team in 2011, however, his position changed from corner-back to left wing-back. His minor career ended with a 3-13 to 1-13 defeat by Clare on 24 June 2011.^[5]

Barrett was drafted onto the Tipperary under-21 team in advance of the 2012 Munster Championship. He was an unused substitute when Tipperary suffered a 1-16 to 1-11 defeat by Limerick on 18 July 2012.^[6] Barrett was again listed as a substitute win a 1-16 to 1-14 defeat by Clare in the Munster final on 8 August 2012.^[7]

On 31 May 2013, Barrett made his first appearance for the Tipperary under-21 team when he lined out at right corner-forward in a 2-18 to 2-11 defeat of Limerick.^[8] He was switched to left corner-back when Tipperary suffered a 1-17 to 2-10 defeat by Clare in the Munster final on 7 August 2013.^[9]

Barrett was selected for the under-21 team for a third successive season in 2014. He played his last game in the grade on 16 July 2014 when he lined out at right corner-forward in a 5-19 to 1-25 defeat by Clare.^[10]

Barrett was added to the Tipperary senior team in advance of the 2014 National League.^[11] He made his first appearance for the team on 15 February 2014 when he lined out at right corner-back in a 2-13 to 0-16 defeat of Waterford.^[12] On 4 May 2014, Barrett was again at right corner-back when Tipperary suffered a 2-25 to 1-27 defeat by Kilkenny in the National League final.^[13] He made his Munster Championship debut on 1 June 2014 when he played the full 70 minutes in a 2-18 to 2-16 defeat by Limerick.^[14] On 7 September 2014, Barrett played in his first All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. He lined out in his usual position of right corner-back in the 1-28 to 3-22 draw with Kilkenny.^[15] Barrett retained his place on the starting fifteen for the replay on 27 September 2014, however, he ended the game on the losing side following a 2-17 t 2-14 defeat.^[16] He ended the season by being named Young Hurler of the Year.^[17]

On 12 July 2015, Barrett lined out at right corner-back in his first Munster final. He ended the game with his first winners' medal following Tipperary's 0-21 to 0-16 defeat of Waterford.^[18] Barrett ended the season by receiving a second successive All-Star nomination.^[19]

On 10 July 2016, Barrett started the Munster final against Waterford at right corner-back. He collected a second successive winners' medal following the 5-19 to 0-13 victory.^[20] Barrett was again named at right corner-back for the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny on 4 September 2016. He ended the game with an All-Ireland medal following a 2-29 to 2-20 victory.^[21] Barrett ended the season by being named in the right corner-back position on the All-Star team.^[22]

On 23 April 2017, Barrett lined out at right corner-back when Tipperary suffered a 3-21 to 0-14 defeat by Galway in the National League final.^[23] On 30 May 2017, it emerged that he had been dropped from the Tipperary senior hurling panel for an "internal issue".^[24][25] It was later revealed that Barrett had been arrested and charged with assaulting a barman at Hayes' Hotel in Thurles on 27 May 2017, a charge he was later found guilty of.^[26]

In October 2017, it was confirmed that Barrett would return to the Tipperary senior hurling panel for the 2018 season after "clear-the-air" talks with the Tipperary management.^[27] On 8 April 2018, he was introduced as a 45th-minute substitute for Séamus Kennedy when Tipperary suffered a 2-23 to 2-17 defeat by Kilkenny in the National League final.^[28] On 20 September 2018, it emerged that Barrett had been banned from driving for two years after being convicted of being intoxicated while in charge of a car.^[29]

On 18 August 2019, Barrett was selected at right corner-back when Tipperary faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. He became embroiled in one of the major talking points of the game when Richie Hogan was red-carded after a head-high tackle on Barrett.^[30] He ended the game with a second All-Ireland winners' medal following the 3-25 to 0-20 victory.^[31] Barrett ended the season by being named in the left corner-back position on the All-Star team.^[32]

As of match played 18 August 2019.

Tipperary

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2016, 2019
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (2):2015, 2016
• Waterford Crystal Cup: (1): 2014

Individual

• All Stars Young Hurler of the Year: 2014
• All Star Award (2): 2016, 2019
• The Sunday Game Team of the Year (4): 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019

• Cathal Barrett profile at the Tipperary GAA website