At its essence, club GAA is about community and bonds forged by time. You see that in every club and its plain to see in the Kerins O'Rahilly's side wh0 will contest Saturday's Munster final. The likes of Barry John Keane, Tommy Walsh and David Moran have soldiered for years for club and county. Life has taken the trio in many different directions but they'll find themselves again in that Kerins O'Rahilly's shirt under the Pairc uí Rínn floodlights, on what's forecast to be a freezing cold evening. The Munster title will be at stake.
Speaking at a media roundtable ahead of this weekend's AIB Munster GAA Football Senior Club Championship Final in Cork between Kerins O'Rahilly's and Limerick champs Newcastle West, Moran reflected on a club career bookended by Munster final runs.
The midfielder will be hoping to lead his club to their first-ever provincial title on Saturday night. The club were last in the decider back in 2009 but lost by a point in injury time to Clare champions Kilmurry-Ibrickane. David reveals that it has been a reference point this past week for the players.
I think we lost by a point, I kicked six wides which didn't help things! I think we got a goal late that got disallowed. There's always something in a club run, a moment of magic or a moment of huge disappointment, look it has obviously been a reference point for the last week or so and we're just trying to go one step further.
6 December 2009; David Moran, Kerins O'Rahilly's, in action against Martin McMahon, top, Shane Hickey, and Mark Killeen, right, Kilmurray Ibrickane. AIB GAA Football Munster Club Senior Championship Final, Kilmurray Ibrickane, Clare, v Kerins O'Rahilly's, Kerry. Gaelic Grounds, Limerick. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
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Red Card
Kerins O'Rahillys made it to the final after a battling performance against Eire Og of Ennis, with the Tralee side finishing with 14 men. Unfortunately for David, it was he who got sent off after two yellow cards in quick succession in the first half. The midfielder revealed that he thought he let the team down and is thankful that the lads dug in for the victory.
I was hugely disappointed and worried that it was going to cost the game. I suppose the big thing, as the game went on, at least the lads dug it out, I was very thankful and I wasn't suspended for the final so it was just a case of major relief after the game.
One of the players that made sure the club dug in for the victory is former Kerry player Tommy Walsh. The towering midfielder won possession from kickouts after his clubmate's dismissal. David and Tommy have gone to school together, played together for their club and county and have been good friends. The fact that you play with people that you grow up with is what David thinks makes club championships special.
That's the nature of the club, you're playing with your people that you grew up with from the very start and it's great to be on a journey with everyone from your area. So we're all looking forward to going to Cork on Saturday night.
7 December 2022; David Moran of Kerins O’Rahillys, pictured today ahead of the 2022 AIB Munster GAA Football Senior Club Championship Final, which takes place this which takes place this Saturday, December 10th at Páirc Uí Rinn at 7.30pm. The AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships features some of #TheToughest players from communities all across Ireland. It is these very communities that the players represent that make the AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships unique. Now in its 32nd year supporting the Club Championships, AIB is extremely proud to once again celebrate the communities that play such a role in sustaining our national games. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
Unique Kerry Championship
The Kerry football championship has a unique structure. There is a county championship and a club championship. The county championship is contested by divisional sides, made up from clubs in a certain region. Kerry only has 8 senior sides within the county. There have been calls to change the structure but David thinks that it should stay due to the sheer competitiveness between them.
Look, the reality of life is that there was one round of the club championship that there was two draws and two one point wins. You have 8 teams, there's very little between anything. Obviously, like Stacks and Kenmare are in the final and they [Austin Stacks] beat us in the county final last year and now we won it, there's nothing between the teams.
Enjoying the Split Season
Moran is waiting till the club season is over to decide whether or not to retire from the intercounty scene.
Speaking ahead of his club's Munster Club final clash with Newcastle West, the 34-year-old revealed that he has told Kerry manager Jack O'Connor that he's committed to his club and he'll wait till Christmas to make a decision.
I've met with Jack and I've said look I'm going to keep playing with the club and probably take Christmas to decide and or decide in the New Year. At the moment I'm with the club and I'm trying to take them as far as I can.
Possibly due to the split season, David is missing out on the Kerry team holiday due to it clashing with the Munster Club final. He's not the only one. David Clifford and Paudie Clifford will be compete for the Munster intermediate title this weekend too. The midfielder jokes that he's seeing the disadvantages of social media now.
I'm seeing the disadvantages of social media at the moment now with the updates. But look it's great to be in a final.
The 34-year-old has been playing with Kerry since 2009. He thinks that the new split season between county and club is better than the club only month of April in the past.
I prefer this one, when I'm playing for the club, I like to be training with the lads, back having fun with the lads. With Kerry, I like to be back all in with Kerry. I never liked the April side of things, you were trying to train a little bit with Kerry, play with the club, there was good fun stuff after the games but you're back with Kerry. I never really enjoyed it that much, I really like the fact that you're all in with Kerry and then back and all in with your club.
David's club play Limerick side Newcastle West on Saturday evening at Pairc Ui Rinn in Cork. Their opponents will also be hoping to win their first provincial title, appearing in their first Munster decider in 35 years. There will be a new name on the trophy after the whistle is blown, David will hope that it's Kerins O'Rahillys.
David Moran was speaking ahead of the 2022 AIB Munster GAA Football Senior Club Championship Final, which takes place this which takes place this Saturday, December 10th at Páirc Uí Rinn at 7.30pm. The AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships features some of #TheToughest players from communities all across Ireland. It is these very communities that the players represent that make the AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships unique. Now in its 32nd year supporting the Club Championships, AIB is extremely proud to once again celebrate the communities that play such a role in sustaining our national games.
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