Monaleen’s Mike ready to battle old friends
In the aftermath of the final whistle on that wintry afternoon in Newcastlewest, Crowley was engulfed by a swirl of celebrations. Monaleen had ended a five-year hiatus from the victory podium and being captain enhanced this occasion for Crowley. When calm was restored, he began to look ahead to the challenges beyond the local borders and was informed that the Kerry champions were the next obstacle for Monaleen. That meant a collision with Crowley’s old club in Killarney was on the cards.
“It was fairly strange when I found out we were playing Dr Crokes. I’d have mainly played soccer when I was underage in Limerick, but after moving school from Ard Scoil Rís to St Brendan’s when I was in fifth year, I joined Dr Crokes. My parents are from Barraduff and Rathmore, so I’ve plenty family in Kerry and I moved to Killarney as a boarder. Dr Crokes really was where my football career began and I started to focus on it. I was involved in 2000 when we won the Kerry county title, we won a few county leagues, O’Donoghue Cups and a Munster senior league when I was there as well. I played for the best part of eight years before I then got a job as a medical sales executive in 2005. That brought me back to Limerick and I joined Monaleen then.”
