The All Ireland semi final wins over Cork and Kilkenny at Croke Park were the high points of Kevin Moran's inter county career. The De La Salle stalwart announced his retirement earlier this week.
“One of my favourite games, for some strange reason, was last year’s All Ireland semi final when we beat Kilkenny. There was no one in the ground but we knew that everyone was at home; there was something special about that for some reason. The All Ireland semi final against Cork in 2017 as well, I really enjoyed those two victories.”
The two-time All Star is happy to bring to curtain down after sixteen years in a Waterford shirt. “I think the time is right. I think it’s time to give a little bit back to my own club De La Salle and I’ve a couple of kids who are getting that little bit older. I’ve two small ones, a five-year-old and a one-year-old. It is getting busy in the evenings with camogie and dancing and things like that. I just thought it was a good time to focus a bit more at home and up in the club in De La Salle.”
Moran made his debut as a teenager in 2006. “Jim Dee, god rest him, someone I was very fond of, gave me a ring and asked me would I be interested. They were starting training in the first week of January with Justin McCarthy. I turned up for the first session and I haven’t looked back since! I remember the first couple of training sessions up in the heavy fields and dark nights of Aglish.”
He rates Kilkenny’s TJ Reid as his toughest opponent. “An obvious answer there! When I did come up against him, over the years, just an incredible, incredible player. Michael Fennelly was a player that I had some good battles with. Bill Cooper of Cork was a player that I came across quite a bit and we had some great battles as well.”
Hear more from Kevin Moran on Friday’s Lár Na Páirce from 6.10.
