O’Doherty bids to complete final fairytale for Clare

LONG before Joe Canning, John Fenton and other hurling artists acquired cult status for their skill in taking line balls, a certain Michael Moroney from Crusheen was an expert at it.

He was a contemporary of Ger Loughnane’s and others, including Colm Honan, whose son Darach is a leading member of the Clare U21 hurling team which contests the Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland final against holders Kilkenny in Croke Park tomorrow.

The Banner County’s captain, Ciaran O’Doherty, is from the same club as Moroney, who won National League medals in 1977 and 1978 under the management of Justin McCarthy. And while it all happened more than a decade before he was born, he is well aware of the reputation he earned.