On 22 May 1992 Corcoran made his senior hurling championship debut in a 0-22 to 0-8 Munster quarter-final defeat of Kerry. He later outplayed the reigning Hurler of the Year Pat Fox in the semi-final before collecting his first Munster medal following a 1-22 to 3-11 defeat of Limerick in the provincial decider. Cork later faced underdogs Kilkenny in the All-Ireland decider on 6 September 1992. The Rebels shot five points without reply before D. J. Carey rattled home a penalty before half-time to leave Kilkenny just two adrift at half time. John Power kicked a goal and Cork, despite a Ger Manley goal, were unable to get back on terms as Kilkenny ran out winners on a 3-10 to 1-12 scoreline. In spite of this defeat Corcoran later collected his first All-Star, while at nineteen he became the youngest player ever to win the Texaco Hurler of the Year award. It was only the fourth time in the history of the award that a non-All-Ireland winning player claimed the accolade.