Saluting Brian Corcoran, a giant of GAA and a true Leeside Legend
Cork's Brian Corcoran shows his determination as he bursts through the Kilkenny defence during the 2004 All-Ireland final. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
They named him Cuchulainn in Caherlag, a very apt description of one of the greatest hurlers that Cork has ever produced.
The legendary Brian Corcoran had few peers in this or any other era.
On Sunday, his club Erin’s Own will be hoping to bounce back to the top tier of Cork Hurling when they clash with Carrigtwohill in the Senior A final.
It is almost 20 years to the day since he helped Erin’s Own defeat Cloyne in the Senior Hurling Championship final that saw him sign off on the big stage in November 2006. It was his second top-tier title with his club and his second time signing off from GAA.
Corcoran hails from Glounthaune and spent many hours as a youngster honing his skills. The promising youngster always had a football or hurley in his hands.
All his practice paid off as he was quickly identified as one to watch, helped by his Dr Harty Cup success with Midleton CBS in 1988 and he first hurled for the Cork minors at the age of 15.
His first major club success arrived when he helped Erin's Own land the East Cork U21 hurling championship when defeating a strong Midleton outfit in 1991.
The year 1992 proved to be one of his greatest at club level when Erin’s Own won their first senior county when they came out on top against Na Piarsaigh, 1-12 to 0-12. Along with another outstanding Erin’s Own player Timmy Kelleher he shattered Na Piarsaigh’s resistance on that historic day.
Across the championship, his haul of 0-44 showed his scoring prowess. That same season, he had been selected as an All-Star and Hurler of the Year at corner-back despite Cork losing the All-Ireland final to Kilkenny.
His inter-county career makes for fascinating reading as he was selected on both Cork teams, excelling in both codes and collecting an All-Ireland minor football medal in 1991 when Cork defeated Mayo. He'd add an U21 title in '94 but at senior level Cork were beaten in the 1993 decider against Derry.
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When the name of Brian Corcoran is brought up in conversation, the words 'burned out' often crops up mainly because people felt he played too much hurling and football at all levels from a young age.
However, Brian put the debate to bed when he previously explained his reason for hanging up his boots.
“At the time, the whole structure of the GAA was mind-boggling as just take 1991 when I played minor hurling and football with Cork and Erin’s Own, U21 hurling and football with Cork and Erin’s Own.
“I was involved with senior hurling with Erin’s Own and Imokilly and also part of the Cork senior football team that brought my total to 13 teams in the one season.
“I was playing all these games week in and week out and other players at the top level were lucky to be playing once a month.
“I am not personally blaming anybody because when I played, I personally enjoyed it but in later years it became a chore, and I knew then it was time to say goodbye.”
While the 1990s delivered a series of setbacks for Corcoran and Cork, he switched his focus to hurling and under Jimmy Barry-Murphy and with an influx of gifted youngsters from the '97-'98 All-Ireland U21 sides, they landed the big prize.
They landed a league in 1998 and September '99 will be long remembered by all hurling fans as Corcoran rose to new heights when Cork shocked Kilkenny to win the All-Ireland final.
There was major disappointment in 2000 when Erin’s Own lost to Newtownshandrum in the county final and after an injury-disrupted campaign, he announced his retirement a year later. Thankfully for his county and club, he'd return in the winter of 2003, delivering a host of brilliant displays, two Munster titles, two All-Irelands, an All-Star and that second county.
His skills on the ball, his ability to pick out his man, some breathtaking strikes from dead balls and his ability to stop would be attackers in their tracks set the Erin’s Own man in a class apart.
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