Swimming in deep end holds no fears for Egan

GAELIC GAMES:WILLIAM EGAN appears to have been thrown into hurling's equivalent of the deep end. Still only 20, he'll debut at centre back on the Cork team to face Tipperary on Sunday, and not only replaces three-time All Star Ronan Curran – Egan's "hero growing up" – but must also help halt the All-Ireland-winning attack that includes Noel McGrath, Lar Corbett, Eoin Kelly, and co.

He’s actually one of three Cork debutants, along with corner back Stephen McDonnell and corner forward Luke O’Farrell, and yet on closer inspection Egan appears well up to the task. He even suggests Cork aren’t as far as away from Tipperary as some people might think, at least if recent under-21 results are anything to go by.

“Last year in the under-21 we had the game won against Tipp,” says Egan, “but they got a questionable free in the last minute to draw, and just won it in extra-time. The last two years at under-21 we’ve lost to Tipperary only after extra-time.

“The minors last year were a quality team and they only lost after extra-time, and then the year I was minor in 2008, we really threw away an All-Ireland. People are writing off Cork hurling at the moment on the back of those underage defeats, but that under-21 team we played from Tipperary that beat us were really quality.

“We’ve been very close, and it’s just a matter of getting that bit of luck, and making the breakthrough. Munster is a very competitive province and it’s a harder proposition when you’re playing quality teams. That all has to be taken into account as well. But we’ve four of the under-21 team from last year now playing on Sunday, and there’s another two in the subs. We had a very good team last year even though we weren’t successful. But the older lads are going to contribute a lot to it as well.”

Egan will also captain the Cork Under-21s this summer, and has already gained some senior experience: he replaced Curran late in the Munster final replay defeat to Waterford last summer, and has since made a couple of league appearances too. When a knee injury ruled Curran out for Sunday then Egan was the first-choice centre back for Cork manager Denis Walsh.

“Yeah, it’s a big position to fill,” admits Egan, “but the older lads in defence, and in goal, are very good to encourage you, and look out for you. We’re all in it together. They’re guys who have done it for years and it’s a big help to listen to the likes of them. Ronan Curran and John Gardiner were heroes of mine growing up, so it’s been a really nice experience the last few years to play on the same team as them.

“I’m delighted to start. I’ve managed to work hard all year and it’s just great now to get the chance.

“It’s been a big difference from under-21 though. I know now what’s expected this year in terms of gym work and all that. It’s all just a matter of getting used to it really. I need to step up now. I played Fitzgibbon for the first time this year, with UCC, and I found that a big help. The Fitzgibbon is a totally different standard to under-21, a step up again.

“You’re playing against men there and playing teams like UL, who are practically intercounty senior teams.

“Last February I was brought in for the league after being involved in the development squad before that. I remember the pace and tempo of the game being faster than what I’d have been used to. I saw straight away that people punish your mistakes. But it wasn’t too bad, it was a good experience anyway. Hopefully I can cement a place this year and stay there.”

Cork’s mediocre league run didn’t help lift hopes for the championship, yet Egan reckons they still got what they wanted out of it: “I thought we did well enough. Against Kilkenny, I gave away a free at the end which cost us but we played well and only lost by a point. Against Waterford we played well but lost by a point again. Then in the Wexford game, it should have been over by half-time and we should have put them away. Then the fourth game was the Dublin match and we could have won that if we’d taken our chances. So we just really have to sharpen up a few things really and we won’t be too far off.”