Country boys loving new lives as city slickers

WHERE would two former Dr Crokes Killarney players lining out for London watch the draw for the second round of the All-Ireland qualifiers?

In Kerry’s embassy in the English capital of course, the Kingdom Bar on Kilburn high road.

Mike Moloney and Shane Doolan nestled in and waited patiently on Sunday evening to discover their fate.

Would they be testing their wares against the might of Armagh or Kildare, Galway or Tyrone?

When ‘Londain’ was drawn at home a buzz of excitement spread across the bar and then in an instant they digested the news that Waterford would be the visitors.

“That’s the best draw we could have got” said one fan from Listowel, another chipped in with “we’ll win that one easy”.

But with experienced old heads on young shoulders both Moloney and Doolan were playing it cool.

“Of course at first I thought this is a good draw for us,” said Moloney, “but Waterford will be thinking exactly the same.”

Meanwhile, Doolan recalled memories of a tight tussle with The Nire in the Munster Club SFC final in 2006 where the O’Gorman brothers were “immense”.

There’s been a massive buzz in London GAA circles since the Exiles collected their first championship win in 34 years last Saturday with their qualifier victory over Fermanagh.

The former Dr Crokes duo have played a vital role in transforming this side.

London haven’t conceded a goal in 245 minutes of competitive football and Moloney in particular has been key to their meanness at the back.

Both defenders played starring roles in Dr Crokes’ county championship winning campaign in Kerry last season and featured in January’s Munster Club decider when Nemo Rangers pipped the Killarney men by 1-15 to 1-13.

“I graduated from the University of Limerick in September 2009 after studying construction management and engineering. But after I left college there wasn’t really any work in that sector at home” explained Moloney.

“I was out of work for a year-and-a-half though I did a bit of labouring here and there. It was for the Crokes really that I stayed around, I was concentrating on winning with the side and that took priority. When we were beaten by Nemo I decided the time was right to leave.”

After both Moloney and Doolan joined the Kingdom Kerry Gaels club London manager Paul Coggins wasted no time in recruiting the pair after the Allianz league campaign had ended.

And Doolan for one is delighted he decided to opt for the Exiles.

He said: “It’s unreal. We’re the talk of the place here and at home and we believe we can cause another surprise or two.

“Since the Fermanagh game I’ve had so many Facebook messages, texts and phone calls from people in Kerry saying well done. It makes you want to keep winning.”

This weekend the duo, who now work with Murphy’s construction in London, hope to travel home for Sunday’s Munster final in Killarney.

For Moloney in particular this fixture has special meaning. His family home is on Dalton’s avenue adjacent to Fitzgerald Stadium.

“I haven’t missed many games between the two over the years and of course none in Fitzgerald stadium. Our street comes alive on match day and sure the Cork crowd love coming down too so the banter’s mighty before and after the game.”

Many in the Kingdom believe Moloney would have reached this year’s senior panel had he remained at home but the 23-year-old has no regrets about where life has taken him.

“You have to go where the work is sometimes and that’s what I had to do. But I’m young so who knows what the future holds?

“Perhaps one day I’ll be out there playing against Cork in the Munster final but for now I’m happy enough with the way things are going.

“Kerry have a point to prove after a difficult season last year but they’ll need their big players to shine on the day, the likes of Gooch and Kieran Donaghy. You’d have to say Cork look settled and strong in midfield and that’ll stand to them.

“But writing off Kerry is a foolish thing and Cork don’t have a great record in Killarney. Hopefully it can continue that way on Sunday.”