Brian Corcoran
Encyclopedia
Brian Corcoran is a former Irish
sportsman. He played hurling
and Gaelic football
with Erin's Own
and Cork in the 1990s and 2000s.
, County Cork
in 1973. He was educated at the local primary school, Midleton CBS and Cork Regional Technical College
where he qualified with an honours degree in Computer Applications. He currently works as an IT Manager. In his youth Corcoran showed a natural talent as an all-round sportsman. Naturally he played hurling
and Gaelic football
with his local club, however, he also played soccer with Leeside F.C. as well as being an accomplished snooker
player, golf
er and attained a black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do. Corcoran's talent at Gaelic games quickly reaped rewards, and he won a number of East Cork under-12 and under-14 honours in both codes. It was during his tenure at Midleton
CBS
, however, that his flair for hurling really developed. In 1987 he captained the school hurling side to victory in the Rice Cup, before joining the Cork under-14 hurling team for the Tony Forrestal tournament. More success came in 1988 when Corcoran made the school's Harty Cup team and made it all the way to the final before being beaten by St. Kieran's College from Kilkenny
.
. In 1989 Corcoran's minor hurling adventure was short-lived as Cork lost the first of the Munster Championship. He was later invited onto the Cork minor football team, however, there was no joy for Corcoran as a footballer in 1989 either.
In 1990 Corcoran was now a major fixture on both the minor hurling and football sides. With the footballers he lost the Munster final, however, he won his second Munster minor hurling medal. The All-Ireland final against Kilkenny ended in a draw, however, Corcoran broke his ankle in a Junior B club game the week before the replay which Cork lost. It was around this time that Corcoran was coming under pressure from his local club, Erin's Own
to join the senior panel. However, since he was only 17 years-old he decided to wait another year. When he did join the club's senior team in 1991 Corcoran immediately came to the attention of the Cork senior hurling selectors who invited him to play a challenge game against Dublin
. He was even more impressive in the challenge game and was nearly picked on the Cork team that was to play in the Munster final. However, since Corcoran had only played one senior county game and a challenge match he was left out of the team. Corcoran did win Munster and All-Ireland honours with the minor footballers that year, before rounding off the year with a Munster under-21 hurling title.
games. He impressed the selectors so much during these games that he made his senior championship debut in the Munster Final
that year. His opposite number was Pat Fox
, the 1991 Hurler of the Year and a two-time All-Ireland medal winner. Corcoran completely outplayed Fox and ended the day with his first senior Munster Championship medal. Corcoran's side later qualified for the All-Ireland final, which they lost to a Kilkenny
team once again. The year finished on a high for Corcoran. His club side, Erin's Own
, won the Cork County Championship
for the very first time against all the odds. As a result of this victory Erin's Own had the choice of naming the Cork captain for the following year and Corcoran was their first choice. More accolades were to come for Corcoran as he was awarded the prestigious Texaco Hurler of the Year
award. It was only the fourth time in the history of the award that a non-All-Ireland winning player claimed the award. He was also the youngest person ever to win the Texaco award, a record which still stands. Corcoran also won his first All-Star Award
in 1992 at Corner Back.
As captain in 1993, Corcoran led Cork to a National Hurling League
title, however, the side lost their Munster title. It was the beginning of a barren spell for Cork's hurlers, however, in 1993 Corcoran joined the senior Gaelic football
team. In his first year he won a Munster Championship
title before losing the All-Ireland final to Derry
. Corcoran claimed his second consecutive Munster football medal in 1994, as well as Munster and All-Ireland Under-21 football medals. It was three Munster football medals in-a-row for Corcoran in 1995, however, Dublin
were victorious in the All-Ireland semi-final. Corcoran remained on the football team until 1998 when he retired to concentrate on his hurling career which was on the way up, beginning with a National League title in 1998.
By 1999 the Cork hurlers's period in the doldrums was over. A victory over Clare
brought Corcoran his second Munster senior hurling medal since 1992. Cork eventually went on to win the All-Ireland final with one of the youngest teams of all-time. Corcoran had finally secured the elusive All-Ireland medal at senior level. Corcoran rounded off the year with as second All-Star at Centre Back and a second Texaco Hurler of the Year award. In 2000 Cork were still the standard-bearers and Corcoran claimed a third Munster hurling medal. Following Cork's shock defeat at the hands of Offaly
in the All-Ireland semi-final of Corcoran announced that he was contemplating retiring from the game. He remained on the panel for the 2001 championship
but injury meant that he played little part. At the end of the season he dropped a bombshell and announced that he was quitting inter-county hurling, but would continue to play for his club, Erin's Own, for another season.
, approached Corcoran asking him to return to the senior team. Corcoran's answer was an emphatic no, however, following Cork's loss to Kilkenny
in the All-Ireland final Corcoran began to have second thoughts. He started training over the winter and let it be known that he intended to return to club and inter-county hurling.
game against Waterford
in the spring of 2004. His coming out of retirement was met with a warm welcome from all of Cork's hurling supporters. His absence from the game for two years meant that he wasn't named in the starting line-up for the 2004 Munster championship game against Limerick
, however, when Cork were struggling in the second-half Corcoran was introduced as a substitute and went on to score a memorable point from his knees. While the side later lost the Munster final Cork went on to win the All-Ireland title. It was Corcoran's second All-Ireland medal and an All-Star at full forward soon followed. His gamble had paid off. In 2005 Cork became the standard-bearers in hurling. Corcoran won a fourth Munster title before winning a second consecutive All-Ireland title - his third in all.
By 2006 thoughts had turned to Cork completing the three-in-a-row. Corcoran had contemplated retiring again following the 2005 final, however, he decided to stay on for one more season. Corcoran won another Munster medal, however, although Cork reached the All-Ireland final again, they were stopped in their bid for three-in-a-row. Immediately thoughts turned to Corcoran's retirement from the game again, however, he remained tight-lipped. Later in 2006 his club, Erin's Own
won the Cork County Championship
for a second time. In spite of being the front-runner to be named captain of the senior hurling team in 2007 Corcoran announced his inter-county retirement in November 2006 at the launch of his autobiography 'Every Single Ball.' He continued to play with Erin's Own in the Munster club championship, however, following their loss to Toomevara in the Munster club final he ended his club hurling career.
In November 2006, Corcoran published his autobiography, Every Single Ball: The Brian Corcoran Story.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsman. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with Erin's Own
Erin's Own GAA (Cork)
Erin's Own GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Glounthaune in east County Cork, Ireland. The club is made up of players from Little Island, Knockraha, Brooklodge and Glounthaune areas of the parish...
and Cork in the 1990s and 2000s.
Early life
Brian Corcoran was born in Caherlag, GlounthauneGlounthaune
Glounthaune is a village situated some 10 km east of Cork,on the north shore of Cork Harbour, the estuary of the River Lee, in County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland.-Transport:...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1973. He was educated at the local primary school, Midleton CBS and Cork Regional Technical College
Cork Institute of Technology
Cork Institute of Technology , formerly the Regional Technical College, Cork, is an Institute of Technology in Ireland, located in Cork, Ireland opened in 1973. The institute has 17,000 students in art, business, engineering, music and science disciplines...
where he qualified with an honours degree in Computer Applications. He currently works as an IT Manager. In his youth Corcoran showed a natural talent as an all-round sportsman. Naturally he played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with his local club, however, he also played soccer with Leeside F.C. as well as being an accomplished snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
player, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er and attained a black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do. Corcoran's talent at Gaelic games quickly reaped rewards, and he won a number of East Cork under-12 and under-14 honours in both codes. It was during his tenure at Midleton
Midleton
Midleton, historically Middleton , is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies some 22 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare...
CBS
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
, however, that his flair for hurling really developed. In 1987 he captained the school hurling side to victory in the Rice Cup, before joining the Cork under-14 hurling team for the Tony Forrestal tournament. More success came in 1988 when Corcoran made the school's Harty Cup team and made it all the way to the final before being beaten by St. Kieran's College from Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
.
Minor and Under-21
A few weeks after the Harty Cup defeat Corcoran was invited to try out for the Cork minor hurling team. As he was only 15 years-old at the time he reluctantly declined, however, he was persuaded at the second time of asking a few weeks later. To his surprise he was immediately accepted onto the panel and the starting fifteen. Corcoran won a Munster minor title after just a few weeks as a player, however, his side lost the All-Ireland final to KilkennyKilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
. In 1989 Corcoran's minor hurling adventure was short-lived as Cork lost the first of the Munster Championship. He was later invited onto the Cork minor football team, however, there was no joy for Corcoran as a footballer in 1989 either.
In 1990 Corcoran was now a major fixture on both the minor hurling and football sides. With the footballers he lost the Munster final, however, he won his second Munster minor hurling medal. The All-Ireland final against Kilkenny ended in a draw, however, Corcoran broke his ankle in a Junior B club game the week before the replay which Cork lost. It was around this time that Corcoran was coming under pressure from his local club, Erin's Own
Erin's Own GAA (Cork)
Erin's Own GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Glounthaune in east County Cork, Ireland. The club is made up of players from Little Island, Knockraha, Brooklodge and Glounthaune areas of the parish...
to join the senior panel. However, since he was only 17 years-old he decided to wait another year. When he did join the club's senior team in 1991 Corcoran immediately came to the attention of the Cork senior hurling selectors who invited him to play a challenge game against Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
. He was even more impressive in the challenge game and was nearly picked on the Cork team that was to play in the Munster final. However, since Corcoran had only played one senior county game and a challenge match he was left out of the team. Corcoran did win Munster and All-Ireland honours with the minor footballers that year, before rounding off the year with a Munster under-21 hurling title.
Senior dual player
In 1992 Corcoran became a regular feature on the Cork senior hurling team in National Hurling LeagueNational Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
games. He impressed the selectors so much during these games that he made his senior championship debut in the Munster Final
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
that year. His opposite number was Pat Fox
Pat Fox
Pat Fox is a former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Éire Óg] Anacarty and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s.-Club:...
, the 1991 Hurler of the Year and a two-time All-Ireland medal winner. Corcoran completely outplayed Fox and ended the day with his first senior Munster Championship medal. Corcoran's side later qualified for the All-Ireland final, which they lost to a Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
team once again. The year finished on a high for Corcoran. His club side, Erin's Own
Erin's Own GAA (Cork)
Erin's Own GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Glounthaune in east County Cork, Ireland. The club is made up of players from Little Island, Knockraha, Brooklodge and Glounthaune areas of the parish...
, won the Cork County Championship
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
for the very first time against all the odds. As a result of this victory Erin's Own had the choice of naming the Cork captain for the following year and Corcoran was their first choice. More accolades were to come for Corcoran as he was awarded the prestigious Texaco Hurler of the Year
Texaco Hurler of the Year
The Texaco Hurler of the Year is a hurling award, created in 1958, that honours the achievements of a hurler of outstanding excellence. The award is part of the Texaco Sportstars Awards, in which Irish sportspeople from all fields are honoured....
award. It was only the fourth time in the history of the award that a non-All-Ireland winning player claimed the award. He was also the youngest person ever to win the Texaco award, a record which still stands. Corcoran also won his first All-Star Award
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
in 1992 at Corner Back.
As captain in 1993, Corcoran led Cork to a National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
title, however, the side lost their Munster title. It was the beginning of a barren spell for Cork's hurlers, however, in 1993 Corcoran joined the senior Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
team. In his first year he won a Munster Championship
Munster Senior Football Championship
The Munster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council and are played during the summer months...
title before losing the All-Ireland final to Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
. Corcoran claimed his second consecutive Munster football medal in 1994, as well as Munster and All-Ireland Under-21 football medals. It was three Munster football medals in-a-row for Corcoran in 1995, however, Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
were victorious in the All-Ireland semi-final. Corcoran remained on the football team until 1998 when he retired to concentrate on his hurling career which was on the way up, beginning with a National League title in 1998.
By 1999 the Cork hurlers's period in the doldrums was over. A victory over Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
brought Corcoran his second Munster senior hurling medal since 1992. Cork eventually went on to win the All-Ireland final with one of the youngest teams of all-time. Corcoran had finally secured the elusive All-Ireland medal at senior level. Corcoran rounded off the year with as second All-Star at Centre Back and a second Texaco Hurler of the Year award. In 2000 Cork were still the standard-bearers and Corcoran claimed a third Munster hurling medal. Following Cork's shock defeat at the hands of Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
in the All-Ireland semi-final of Corcoran announced that he was contemplating retiring from the game. He remained on the panel for the 2001 championship
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
but injury meant that he played little part. At the end of the season he dropped a bombshell and announced that he was quitting inter-county hurling, but would continue to play for his club, Erin's Own, for another season.
Retirement
In retirement Corcoran withdrew completely from the life of an inter-county star. He concentrated on his family life and career and didn't attend any hurling or football games. In 2003 the new hurling manager, Donal O'GradyDónal O'Grady
Dónal O'Grady is an Irish former hurler and manager.O'Grady enjoyed a successful playing career as a full-back with the Cork senior team throughout the early 1980s...
, approached Corcoran asking him to return to the senior team. Corcoran's answer was an emphatic no, however, following Cork's loss to Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
in the All-Ireland final Corcoran began to have second thoughts. He started training over the winter and let it be known that he intended to return to club and inter-county hurling.
Comeback
In 2004 Corcoran made an amazing comeback onto the Cork hurling team. Given his protracted absence from the game he was taking a huge gamble in making himself available. He made his second 'debut' for Cork as a substitute in a National LeagueNational Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
game against Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
in the spring of 2004. His coming out of retirement was met with a warm welcome from all of Cork's hurling supporters. His absence from the game for two years meant that he wasn't named in the starting line-up for the 2004 Munster championship game against Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
, however, when Cork were struggling in the second-half Corcoran was introduced as a substitute and went on to score a memorable point from his knees. While the side later lost the Munster final Cork went on to win the All-Ireland title. It was Corcoran's second All-Ireland medal and an All-Star at full forward soon followed. His gamble had paid off. In 2005 Cork became the standard-bearers in hurling. Corcoran won a fourth Munster title before winning a second consecutive All-Ireland title - his third in all.
By 2006 thoughts had turned to Cork completing the three-in-a-row. Corcoran had contemplated retiring again following the 2005 final, however, he decided to stay on for one more season. Corcoran won another Munster medal, however, although Cork reached the All-Ireland final again, they were stopped in their bid for three-in-a-row. Immediately thoughts turned to Corcoran's retirement from the game again, however, he remained tight-lipped. Later in 2006 his club, Erin's Own
Erin's Own GAA (Cork)
Erin's Own GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Glounthaune in east County Cork, Ireland. The club is made up of players from Little Island, Knockraha, Brooklodge and Glounthaune areas of the parish...
won the Cork County Championship
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
for a second time. In spite of being the front-runner to be named captain of the senior hurling team in 2007 Corcoran announced his inter-county retirement in November 2006 at the launch of his autobiography 'Every Single Ball.' He continued to play with Erin's Own in the Munster club championship, however, following their loss to Toomevara in the Munster club final he ended his club hurling career.
In November 2006, Corcoran published his autobiography, Every Single Ball: The Brian Corcoran Story.