Attention turns to availability of Dingle's Mark O'Connor for All-Ireland final 

Corcoran is indebted to Geelong Cats for how agreeable they have been in making O’Connor available so far.

OVERWHELMED: Mark O'Connor of Dingle after his side's victory. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Another Dingle victory seized at the death, attention again turns to the availability of Mark O’Connor for January 18’s All-Ireland final.

Manager Pádraig Corcoran sure hopes to have his AFL man available again against St Brigid’s or Scotstown in Croke Park in 15 days but he insists it’s out of his and Dingle’s control.

“I don't want to hear anything about him going back,” smiled Corcoran. “But no, we need him. He's a massive player for us. We lost Barry Dan O'Sullivan there this year, which is a huge loss for us. Just delighted that we were able to get Mark coming in.

“It was great to have him for the few games in the county championship. We didn't think we'd have him for Munster and then he stayed back and it was a huge bonus for us. It gave the lads a great lift when he did come in for the game today.” 

Corcoran is indebted to Geelong Cats for how agreeable they have been in making O’Connor available. 

“The story is, and people don't believe me, we don't have any contact with Geelong.

“Mark went back, I think he flew out on the Tuesday after the Munster final and that was it. He was over in pre-season, as he had to be. They'd started on December 1, but I think whatever communication and conversations Mark had with the club, we heard he was coming back and we're just delighted to have him.

“We're just very grateful to Geelong for accommodating him. I'm not sure did they have a break at Christmas, but I suppose they're certainly back in action now in the next week, if they're not back already.” 

Corcoran commended captain Paul Geaney’s eight-point haul after coming on at half-time despite carrying a calf injury. “We didn't expect him to last as long, but then Paul is just one of those guys who will do everything in his power to get himself right.

“He certainly worked very hard over the last few weeks to get himself right and contribute. We're delighted that he was able to. It was so important for us that he was able to stay on the field as well."

Corcoran was naturally on a high after an extraordinary performance saw Dingle turn around a 10-point deficit in the second half of normal time.

“Just a brilliant day. Tough going at the start. It took us a long time to get going. Full credit to Ballyboden because they were excellent in the first half, in particular.

“But huge credit to our players because they just kept going at it. They dug deep with huge resolve and huge mental strength. They showed that in the second half, throughout the game and into the extra-time as well.” 

For Corcoran, it was a personal experience coming up against his former club Ballyboden. “You get a few messages after the Munster final and a few congratulatory messages after the county final saying, 'We might see you down the road' or whatever.

“But yeah, the few lads there that were in contact and they were very magnanimous after the game as well, the few boys that I would know. I wouldn't know any of the players but one or two boys in the management team and the backroom team, and it was just to get on with it, I suppose. Just more people asking you questions about it and connections and so forth."