Nearly every day since the pandemic commenced, two great servants to Galway sport gather behind so called enemy lines to talk about football and life.
St Michael’s to the core, but utterly respectful of other clubs, Joe Corcoran and Tommy Kelly meet outside Joyce’s Supermarket in Knockncarra. A cup of tea from Baby Ground & Co and the conversation will flow.
It is a friendship that has lasted for decades, the fortunes of St Michael’s one of the bonds that keeps them together. So there is a real sense of delight that one of their own, Alan Glynn, manages Galway in Friday’s All Ireland MFC final against Mayo at Dr Hyde Park.
Corcoran captained Galway to minor glory in 1970. Kelly looks across at Corcoran and recalls the joy the Shantalla native brought by his footballing exploits. “It is a great source of pride and I'd wish each and every one on the minor team the best of luck, to represent themselves - it is an honour never to be forgotten,” the highly regarded former postman says.
“Joe Corcoran is a true reflection of it. He captained Galway and is known from one end of the county to the other as a man that captained Galway to victory. That is what it is about. Alan has plenty of spirit.”
In his teenage years Corcoran was an influential figure as Galway sampled minor glory. “It was a big day, it was a big year,” Corcoran recalls.
“It was an honour to be the captain, to win it after a replay was unreal at the time against Kerry. We had a very good team, it was the same team that had played in the Connacht League earlier on.
“Normally, come the Championship you would have lots of guys coming from boarding schools on to the team, and half of the league team would be chopped. It didn't happen that year. Iomar Barrett was the only one - he was in Garbally, he had played the year before, he was the only one that came on to the team for the Championship.
“The rest were all there for the league and the remainder of the Championship. That was a big thing at the time. There was a great bond in that team - it was like a club team.
“We were together for the guts of nine or 10 months - more. We had some great players on it, some great characters. Mickey Rooney was some character, John Kemple from Tuam, he was one of the characters. We had a good set-up and we were well looked after as regards the time that it was.”
Back then Galway’s fabled three in a row team inspired the next generation. “They were our heroes,” Corcoran says. “They got beaten in the All Ireland semi-final by Meath that year. Everyone was disappointed that the two teams weren't in the All Ireland then.”
Galway’s eventually overcame Kerry following a replay, but by then Michael’s were beginning to stir too. “We kept the game going and we were very proud to do it,” Kelly says. “We were always blessed with great officers right from the top down, great houses too.
“We went into houses with 27 people for a meeting. We had no clubhouse, we had no base. It was over in the Shantalla pitch where everything was done. Now we have our own clubhouse and all of that situation. It is brilliant to see.”
Corcoran remembers how Michael’s prominence increased. “Michael's were always drawing from Shantalla, Claddagh, and the West - that area,” he says. “Most of them went to school together in the Old Mon or in St Pat's or the Bish. We had teams in the Bish where you would have 10 lads from St Michael's playing on it when I was going to the Bish.
“My parents were Castlegar people. That was a traditional thing. The likes of Padraig Connolly played with us – he actually won a county minor title with us. John Connolly was a super footballer.
“We won lots of competitions in the 60s, 70s, 80s. We won the Intermediate league and championship in 85.”
Gaelic Football was high on the agenda for Corcoran. “It was just the family were steeped,” he replies. “It was Gaelic we played. The City Leagues were a big thing that time, they were great. You would have teams from every area - Lally's were Shantalla, Nicholas' were Claddagh, 98s were Bohermore, Sarsfields, Western Stars.
“The Swamp, South Park, would be packed for matches at that time. You wouldn't get standing room at the Swamp for those matches. That was played up to minor. Basically then you went with Michael's or Griffins or whoever you were associated with.
“That is mostly how I played. In school too in the Bish we had fairly good Gaelic teams and hurling teams. I played a bit of everything, but you have to prioritise no matter what you're playing.”
For years the City Leagues brought joy and matches, but Corcoran acknowledges it was an exciting spell. “You had great guys over the City League at that time,” he adds. “You had Mick Sullivan down near the canal - a Fr Griffins man. He was a great bit of stuff with the city leagues.
“You had Pa Boyle with Fr Lallys, you had Peter Griffin back in the Claddagh, Seán Turke up in Bohermore - those guys. It was big stuff at that time. You had great matches, there was interest. There would be meetings packed in St Patrick's school with lads wanting to see who they were playing - that kind of stuff.
“There was a lot of guys playing in the city leagues that played all sports. Absolutely brilliant footballers and they were brilliant at every game.”
They list some of the gifted footballers, who featured for Michael’s and excelled in other codes. Then Kelly delivers a classic line. “Galway United used to be looking at Michael's for players.”
Kelly vividly remembers footballers who represented Michael’s in the early years after the club was founded in 1956.
“Andy Donnelly and Michael Duignan were as good footballers as would be put out anywhere,” Kelly says. “They weren't afraid of anything.
“My old friend Seán Callaghan was fantastic - classy. He had both talent in football and with the pen. He had personality - he was a gentleman. Harry Anderson was a brilliant footballer. Joe came along, he did us proud again. After that we had Adrian Brennan.
“Michael's - we were always struggling in the eyes of the county as a city club - but we were never struggling. We always had a team - we put a team out in every competition. We won a lot at underage.
“The spirit in the club is the backbone of the club. Without fear of contradiction some fine lads have come through the clubs, they have ended up sponsoring us. It is only brilliant. We know Peter Curran, the O'Neills, and other players behind the scenes.
“All of them have come in with finance, and finance is as big a problem to any club as membership. Those lads have contributed as much as anyone. When you have that sort of bond in it, where can you go wrong?”
Corcoran relished his playing days, but highlights the work carried out by volunteers to keep the club thriving and how more recently people living in Newcastle, Dangan and Bushy Park have contributed handsomely to the Michael’s story.
“That is where the youth are now,” Corcoran says. “People came into the club at the right times, lads came in that were living in Newcastle and Bushy Park. They were a big help to us.
“We always had good guys in the club, we have great committees now. Tom Nally, as chairman, is very good, we have a great top table. You have guys putting in great work.
“We had bad days and good days, but we are still here. We had some great battles with everyone in the county, some of the fellas we had the greatest battles with are our best friends today.”
There is a lesson in that. “The biggest thing is respect your opposition and don't fear them, that is my theory,” Corcoran says. It is an approach that serves well. Whatever happens in the Hyde tomorrow, Kelly and Corcoran will analyse all of the action in the coming weeks and months.
Colm Tummon’s Michael’s senior team will be in Championship action soon. With matches imminent, there is always hope in the air.
