WHILE his native Ireland triumphed at rugby in the Six Nations, Town striker Barry Corr could only raise half a smile as he pondered just how much his luck was out, writes ANTHONY MARSHALL.

As Brian O’Driscoll & Co overpowered every opponent put before them on the way to the Grand Slam, the 24-year-old was sat on his couch on the road to recovery from shoulder surgery, following a third dislocation of the joint in less than 12 months.

But Corr is determined to return to full fitness as soon as possible and continue a promising career, even if it means doing it away from the County Ground.

“It’s very slow and difficult but I think I’m making progress,” said the big Irishman. “It’s feeling stronger and I can move it around a bit, so it’s doing okay.

“It’s frustrating though because I was watching the Six Nations a few weeks ago and was sat there wondering how their shoulders aren’t hanging off with some of the challenges they go into! But it’s just one of those things and you can get yourself down.

“When I first did it, that night when I got stretchered off I was lying on there with tears in my eyes.

“I was thinking it could be the last time I ever play here, and it could be the last time I ever play football.

“But I’m thinking more positive now - when has a shoulder injury ever ruled someone out of a career? Even if I’m crippled when I’m 35 I don’t care. I want to play now.”

Corr’s latest operation saw surgeons insert metal pins into the joint, and the striker is confident it can finally be fixed for good.

“I never had any problems with my shoulder before, but when you dislocate it for the first time there’s an 85 per cent chance you are going to do it again. And I’ve done it a few times since.

“The first operation was to tighten ligaments and there is normally an 80 per cent success rate, and it was my luck that I was in the other 20 per cent.

“But this time they’ve put two metal pins in it and done a bone graph, so I think it should be a lot stronger.

“The movement will be a little bit restricted though, so I won’t be taking any Sean Morrison throw-ins! But as long as it stays strong then I don’t mind.”