Corry aims to prove doubters wrong
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
UCD may be favourites to be relegated from the Premier Division this season, but midfielder Paul Corry has his sights set far higher than just scrapping survival.
Corry’s form last year helped The Students win the First Division title and he is hoping that Martin Russell's side can defy expectations by picking up results in the top flight.
"Our main priority is to aim high and do as well as we can in the league, though realistically, we have to make sure we stay up," Corry told Extra Time.
"We need to progress with the way we play our football. We played really, really good football last season. If we can manage to do that again this season, we’ll get some results and I’d say we’ll do well."
The talented player has also set his own targets for the upcoming campaign as he intends to make a big impact at club level so that it can boost his chances of winning more international caps.
"I want to try and establish myself in the team, but I also really want to get back into the international scene," he stated.
"I was captain of the Ireland U-17’s and U-19’s, but I’ve always been on the fringes. I was on standby for the last Ireland U-19 squad, so I’d love to get into the squad for the upcoming European qualifying competition. The competition is huge though, I’m competing against players like Conor Clifford at Chelsea who trains full-time so it’s hard, but it’s definitely an aim of mine this year."
Ironically, Corry could have ended up like Clifford when a trial with Premier League side Burnley came up and he impressed during a two-week stint last summer.
"I was over at Burnley for two weeks in July last year. I trained with the youth team for one week and the first team after that," he explained.
"I really enjoyed my time at Burnley, it was a great experience. When I got there, I thought I’d be a million miles away, but it’s actually not that big a gap as you’d think it is. I remember the first day, Chris Eagles came in with a brand new Lamborghini and his legs were waxed, and I also remember nutmegging Graham Alexander.
"The big difference however was that those lads could go for the whole 90, their fitness and strength was unbelievable. The thing I really liked about Burnley though, was Owen Coyle. In training, he was always encouraging me, always giving me that bit of confidence, so that would have been a reason for signing for Burnley. But I was always told, don’t sign for the manager, sign for the club."
In spite of meeting with Coyle and the rest of the Burnley staff, Corry struggled to make a decision on what to do. He weighed up his various options before making the toughest decision of his career so far.
“I remember on the deadline day for the CAO, I went out to UCD and got a deferral for my course as I was so certain that I was going to go to Burnley. But at the last minute, I changed my mind," said Corry.
"Why I changed my mind, I don’t really know. Maybe it’s something that I will end up regretting, maybe it’s not. My ambition is to play at the highest level, so obviously I want to go and play in England some day. Hopefully something like that will come up for me in a few years. But I haven’t regretted my decision one bit, as all I’ve had is good times with UCD."
Corry has great maturity for someone so young and with limited experience of senior football. However, should UCD have a good season, it will no doubt be partially down to the talent and influence of their young midfield maestro.
Corry’s form last year helped The Students win the First Division title and he is hoping that Martin Russell's side can defy expectations by picking up results in the top flight.
"Our main priority is to aim high and do as well as we can in the league, though realistically, we have to make sure we stay up," Corry told Extra Time.
"We need to progress with the way we play our football. We played really, really good football last season. If we can manage to do that again this season, we’ll get some results and I’d say we’ll do well."
The talented player has also set his own targets for the upcoming campaign as he intends to make a big impact at club level so that it can boost his chances of winning more international caps.
"I want to try and establish myself in the team, but I also really want to get back into the international scene," he stated.
"I was captain of the Ireland U-17’s and U-19’s, but I’ve always been on the fringes. I was on standby for the last Ireland U-19 squad, so I’d love to get into the squad for the upcoming European qualifying competition. The competition is huge though, I’m competing against players like Conor Clifford at Chelsea who trains full-time so it’s hard, but it’s definitely an aim of mine this year."
Ironically, Corry could have ended up like Clifford when a trial with Premier League side Burnley came up and he impressed during a two-week stint last summer.
"I was over at Burnley for two weeks in July last year. I trained with the youth team for one week and the first team after that," he explained.
"I really enjoyed my time at Burnley, it was a great experience. When I got there, I thought I’d be a million miles away, but it’s actually not that big a gap as you’d think it is. I remember the first day, Chris Eagles came in with a brand new Lamborghini and his legs were waxed, and I also remember nutmegging Graham Alexander.
"The big difference however was that those lads could go for the whole 90, their fitness and strength was unbelievable. The thing I really liked about Burnley though, was Owen Coyle. In training, he was always encouraging me, always giving me that bit of confidence, so that would have been a reason for signing for Burnley. But I was always told, don’t sign for the manager, sign for the club."
In spite of meeting with Coyle and the rest of the Burnley staff, Corry struggled to make a decision on what to do. He weighed up his various options before making the toughest decision of his career so far.
“I remember on the deadline day for the CAO, I went out to UCD and got a deferral for my course as I was so certain that I was going to go to Burnley. But at the last minute, I changed my mind," said Corry.
"Why I changed my mind, I don’t really know. Maybe it’s something that I will end up regretting, maybe it’s not. My ambition is to play at the highest level, so obviously I want to go and play in England some day. Hopefully something like that will come up for me in a few years. But I haven’t regretted my decision one bit, as all I’ve had is good times with UCD."
Corry has great maturity for someone so young and with limited experience of senior football. However, should UCD have a good season, it will no doubt be partially down to the talent and influence of their young midfield maestro.
