Moran’s return can be the difference for O’Rahillys
Moran’s disappointment at failing to gain a contract with AFL club St Kilda this week will be put to one side as the Kerry outfit confront the biggest challenge in their history.
It’s unusual to have a Kerry side contesting their first decider, but the narrowing of the gap between the ‘top two’ at inter-county level in recent times has been much more pronounced at club level. Hence, we have the situation of the west Clare side being finalists for the third time – and winning through in 2004 after a replay with Stradbally.
And, the fact they are back a year after going under to Drom-Broadford by a point in last year’s final gives the Ogie Moran-led O’Rahillys added reason to respect the opposition.
They may be going in as favourites, but they readily acknowledge that this rating has more to do with the perception of Kerry superiority over Clare at inter-county level than the reality of a game between two evenly matched teams. And the history of the competition reveals that Clare sides have taken some notable ‘scalps’. Thirty years ago I saw Kilrush shock Austin Stacks on their home patch, in the 1998-99 campaign Doonbeg put out Castleisland Desmonds on the way to bringing the title to the Banner for the first time and, more pertinently, Kilmurry defeated Milltown-Castlemaine by eight points before triumphing against Stradbally five years ago. Kilmurry defeated Stradbally a fortnight ago in Dungarvan after accounting for Drom-Broadford by six points in the quarter-final.
Kilmurry coach Michael McDermott (recently appointed as Clare boss) says that the team’s support play “is what they are all about”. It was what sustained them against Stradbally, when the full-back trio of Darren Hickey, Mark Killeen and Martin McMahon excelled, while at the other end of the field the team’s best known player, Odran O’Dwyer, played a key role. Operating at full-forward, the former International Rules player kicked five pointed frees in the first half.
With Moran likely to resume his midfield partnership with Michael Quirke (who was under suspension for the Clonakilty game), the O’Rahillys attack will be hoping for even better service than they received in the semi-final against Moyle Rovers.
And, once more they will be looking to Declan Quill to give the attack that extra cutting edge. However, it’s not as if they are dependant on him, because the ‘two Barry-Johns’ – Walsh and Keane – represent a major threat in the forward line, while the experience of Barry and Morgan O’Shea deep in defence is even more reassuring.
Moran’s return could prove more important if older brother Brian is ruled out (at centre-back) by the elbow injury sustained in the semi-final.
It promises to be close and fiercely contested and for the Tralee side, Moran’s inclusion could make the difference between winning and losing.
