Vintage Corcoran is still the driving force

TWICE hurler-of-the-year, once as a corner-back, once as the defensive pivot, he returned last year in a new guise at full-forward to cement his reputation as one of the finest hurlers to come out of Cork in many a long day.

And still the doubters were there, questioning whether Brian Corcoran had another championship season in him. After yesterday, in Thurles, that should be that: no more questions. Subdued in a first-half in which very little quality ball came his way, the quiet man of Glounthaune was simply majestic after the change of ends, led from the front as Cork overcame a five point deficit to win by two.

“He proved again what an amazing player he is,” said Joe Deane, who helped himself to 1-3 in the first-half. “Before the break, there was very little ball went into him, he was out of the game. We went in at half-time, and said we’d have to give him more of the ball - it was then he proved what a fantastic player he is. His goal was a huge turning-point, as was his point afterwards over by the stand, an amazing score. Even when things aren’t going well for him, he’ll still fight for the ball, encourage those around him. He’s a great leader to have, a big man, he’s been around. He’s a legend in Cork, everyone in the team looks up to him.”

Well they might, because after a two-year complete break from the game, Corcoran has gone from being a defender of the highest quality to being an attacker of real and constant menace. His goal, Cork’s first score of the second half, at a stage where they had just gone five points behind, was pure class, a totally individual effort that came from nowhere.

The strength and determination of which Deane spoke won him a ball wide on the right that he had no right to win, his pace, still there 14 years after his senior debut, took him clear of Fergal Hartley, his instinct, his vision, saw that the goal was on, his skill saw him pick the ball on the run, pick his spot for the shot from a tight angle, again on the run.

Pivotal score, even if the man himself, modest as ever, denied it. “I just got it up on the hurley, headed for goal, a tight angle, but lucky enough it just got into the corner. They were five points up at the time, so it was a good time to get a goal, but even if that hadn’t gone in we still had enough time to come back, you can have two goals in the blink of an eye. Waterford showed in the first-half, a six-point lead is nothing in hurling; we knew if we stuck to our game-plan, we’d be okay, grind them down. The game isn’t over ‘til the end.”

The Cork game-plan. Even if it won an All-Ireland for Cork last year, a lot of hurling people still aren’t sold on the Cork possession game, their short-passing strategy. Too often yesterday it was overdone, a pass too many after the time and space for a longer delivery had been created. Passes went astray, leading to unnecessary turnovers.

That has to be frustrating for the big man inside, part of the reason he was starved of possession the opening half. Nevertheless, patience, preaches Corcoran, have patience. This new game is here to stay. “It’s not orthodox, but ultimately it doesn’t matter how the scores come, or who they come from, as long as we get the win. Sometimes you just have to work the ball in, create the space, and it keeps the opposition defence guessing. But if all the scores come from outfield, if Ben and Jerry get ten points apiece and we win by two, I’m happy. It’s a totally different game now to when I started, in 1991, the days of the big long ball down on top of the half-back line are gone, well gone. It’s a running game now, all about pace, and the speed of the first 20 minutes out there was incredible. Jerry O’Connor is a phenomenal athlete, as is Tom Kenny, and, in fairness to Eoin Kelly, he showed tremendous talent as well, a fantastic first half. The days when midfield was crowded with big, strong, slow players is long gone. Now it’s a place for athletes who can run up and down the field all day.

“The fitness levels are incredible, we’re certainly glad to have fellas like that on our team. I think it’s a very good spectacle now, everyone seems to be enjoying it a bit more, a lot of scoring, keep the crowd entertained. I can’t understand those who claim the game is gone back in terms of skill levels - it isn’t, it’s much faster now and the skill levels are still up there.”

The Munster championship also, even in these diluted days of backdoor entry to the All-Ireland series? “I think so. Both teams knew today that no matter what happened they were still in the championship, but nobody was holding back, both teams tried right to the end, there was no let-up at any stage. The Munster final, whether it’s Tipp or Clare, will still have a lot of pride at stake. Either way, it will be a hell of a final, I’m looking forward to it.”

Doubtful, however, that anyone will be looking forward to marking this new version of the vintage Brian Corcoran.