St Patrick’s Day 1964 was a special day for Glenavy and Antrim legend ‘Big’ Jim McCorry. Named as a sub on the Ulster team the Glenavy man came on to play at full back on the team who beat Leinster 0-12 to 1-6 before over 50,00 fans at Croke Park. He started the following year wearing the number 3 jersey as he collected his second Railway Cup medal on the side that beat Connacht by 0-19 to 0-15 at the same venue.

The Glenavy clubman may have missed the best of Antrim’s days, but he stood out as one of the best full-backs in Ulster and beyond during his county days. A sturdy number three, whose ability to turn defence into attack was as invaluable as his long kicking.

DOWN may have been making all the headlines in 1960 and ’61 with their ground-breaking All Ireland triumphs but those years also marked the induction period of Antrim’s Jim McCorry to county football.

It was just as Down were moving into overdrive that Jim was plucked from the Glenavy side to fill a corner-back slot in the Saffrons line-up against Fermanagh.

And it proved to be his only game in that position.

“I was asked to play at full-back in the next game and I was lucky enough to hold down that spot for the next 10 years or so,” recalls Jim.

His elevation to the Antrim ranks did not quite follow the normal lines.”I never played under-age or minor football. I just started with the club at senior level and suddenly found myself in the county side alongside such well-known players as Patsy Totten, Hugh O’Kane, Colm O’Loan, Tony McAtamney and Pat Grogan,” explains Jim.

And for a spell he found it difficult to believe that he was sharing the same pitch with players he had looked up to as heroes.

“Some of these boys had given outstanding service to Antrim and it took me a while to realise that I was to be a regular in the side.

“I never took anything for granted – every time I was picked it was a real bonus and I always pledged to myself that I would do my utmost in every game in which I played,” states Jim.

His strong. forceful presence and unflinching courage under the high ball made him a feared and respected opponent.

He mixed strength and skill, vision and craft to such an extent that he was regarded as one of the outstanding full-backs of the 60s era.

Indeed, had it not been for the majestic form displayed by Down’s Leo Murphy, Jim would have enjoyed an extended run in the Ulster side in the Railway Cup competition.

As it was, he was selected for the squad for four years running and made a big impression even though he had resigned himself to living in the considerable shadow of Murphy.

“No doubt about it, Leo Murphy was a class full-back and a gentleman. He had a big input into Down’s successes and I must say I was delighted to be involved with Ulster,” reflects Jim.

He had particular admiration for players such as Charlie Gallagher, PT Tracey and Sean Ferriter.

“Ulster was producing some great players then and it was no surprise that we had crowds of up to 50,000 going to the Railway Cup matches then. The atmosphere was always electric no matter where the games were played – what a contrast to the way in which the competition is staged now,” laments Jim.

He particularly recalls the contribution of Leinster’s Des Foley who earned Railway Cup medals in both football and hurling.

“People like Des underlined what provincial honours were all about. They had prestige in those days,” adds Jim.

He has no difficulty in recalling the highlight of his 25 years spent as a player with Glenavy.

“I was made captain when I was about 28 and in that year we were very fortunate to win the Antrim Junior Championship and league. In fact, I think we won about five trophies in all and I must say I got a great kick out of leading the side,” smiles Jim.

He fondly recalls the contribution of players like Joe Creaney, Owen Ruddy, Ciaran O’Neill, John Loughan and Frank Rodgers to Glenavy’s ongoing success.

“Take Frank Rodgers, for instance. He was a Fermanagh man who came to teach in Glenavy and proved more local than the locals,” he laughs.

Jim was 40 when he retired: “The saddest day of my life. I didn’t want to hang the boots up at all but I knew that I could not go on forever.”

But there was compensation in the mid-90s when his son Emmet led Glenavy to a clean sweep of trophies.

Unfortunately, injury subsequently curtailed Emmet’s career. He had been an outstanding left-half-back who, like his dad, had given sterling service to his club. In contrast, his dad seldom, if ever, incurred a knock while he was playing.

“I never missed a day’s work because of injury, I was dead lucky. I might have picked up the odd wee sore knock but I rarely missed a game – indeed, it would have broken my heart to sit out a match,” he says.

It was the herculean efforts of people like Jim McCorry who helped to fashion the thriving Glenavy club that today is among the most progressive units of the Association in Antrim.

He smiles: “I was only one of many who tried to do their bit.”