Focused Corcoran ready for another Tribal battle

In the 2000 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship, Niall Corcoran and Damien Hayes were team-mates as Galway stormed to yet another underage title.

On Sunday last, in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A relegation battle, they were on the same end of the pitch, in opposite corners but also now on opposite sides, Niall having transferred his allegiance to Dublin where he has long lived and worked.

Damien was named to start at right corner-forward for Galway but switched over to the left from the start, Niall immediately went across to the other side, to pick up youngster Davy Glennon, leaving Damien to Ruairi Trainor. In a game that went to extra-time but still ended in stalemate, Damien had a frustrating 90 minutes for Galway.

He had a roving commission but it was one of those games where he was more obvious for his workrate than his legendary finishing, though he did notch two vital points.

Niall though was absolutely outstanding for Dublin from start to finish, and truly heroic in the second period of extra-time, when 13-man Dublin came from two points behind to salvage a draw.

It left him feeling drained, yet energised.

“Looking forward to the next day and a huge battle again,” said Corcoran.

“It looked like they had the game won but our boys won a couple of frees, put them over the bar.

“It was that type of game, ebbed and flowed. We started slowly, a bit nervous, but the second half of extra time lads just put the head down. We had nothing to lose, 13 men, let’s just go for it, and fair play to the boys they really ground out a result.”

It was a game of massive intensity, none of his old teammates sparing Niall and he certainly wasn’t sparing them, a lot of big hits going in — championship intensity, in early April.

“It more or less was, yes, it was a knockout game. I suppose we looked at this as maybe the first round of our championship, if you like — everything to play for.

“No-one wants to be relegated and that’s the way it was. Everyone was just hammer and tongs. Win your own battle, as Dalo said to us, and that’s what we had to do.”

The same Dalo — Dublin manager Anthony Daly — articulated afterwards what many were saying, that the game had been ruined by uneven refereeing. Consistency is all the players are looking for, says Niall.

“There are ferocious hits going in there and the referee lets it go but the frustrating thing is then you get pulled for silly things, pulled for soft frees. If there was consistency, lads would be happy but really you don’t know what a free is now at this stage. Lads are really putting their bodies on the line, and then you get pulled for soft frees. Hurling is a hard game to referee, it’s gone so fast. The referees have a tough job as well but I suppose it needs a bit more consistency.”

Meanwhile, Tipperary captain Paul Curran has been ruled out of next Sunday’s Allianz National Hurling League Division 1 semi-final against Cork through injury after it emerged the Mullinahone clubman is suffering with knee cartilage damage and local sources have indicated the full-back may even be ruled out for up to four weeks.

It is also likely that right corner back Donagh Maher, who has made a huge impact this season, could also miss out.

He is struggling with a hamstring injury sustained in the victory over Cork on April 1.