After 16 glorious years in the Mayo forward line, Andy Moran called it a day last August, and then the GAA was cancelled the following year.
He played 182 times for Mayo including in 5 All-Ireland finals. He would have played in a sixth if not for tearing his cruciate in the 2012 quarter-final. A two-time All-Star, Moran was named Footballer of the Year in 2017. He also has eight Connacht medals, and was a National League winner just last year.
The Ballaghaderreen man played in a number of different roles in the Mayo team going back to John Maughan's team in 2004. He changed the game against Dublin in Mayo's famous semi-final win in 2006. In recent years, he became the focal point of the full-forward line, winning possession and generally playing other forwards into the game.
Sportsfile were there with him the whole way and captured the evolution of an incredible intercounty career.
26 August 2001; Andy Moran is tackled by Sean Cavanagh in the All-Ireland Minor Footbal Semi-Final at Croke Park. Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
27 June 2004; Mayo players Fintan Ruddy, Liam O'Malley and Andy Moran celebrate victory over Galway in the Connacht Senior Football Semi-Final in McHale Park. Damien Eagers / SPORTSFILE
26 September 2004; Tom O'Sullivan, Kerry, in action against Andy Moran in the All-Ireland Senior Final in Croke Park, Dublin. Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
27 August 2006; Andy Moran celebrates after scoring his side's goal against Dublin in the famous 2006 All-Ireland Semi-Final win at Croke Park. Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE
22 April 2007; Andy Moran reacts after missing a late chance in the Allianz National Football League Division 1 Final against Donegal. Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
25 April 2010; A dejected Andy Moran after another League Final defeat, this time to Cork. Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
17 July 2011; Andy Moran is interviewed at Dr. Hyde Park after winning his 5th Connacht title. Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE
31 July 2011; Andy Moran is tackled by Michael Shields, Cork as Mayo shock the All-Ireland Champions in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final. Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
21 August 2011; Andy Moran has a shot on goal saved by Kerry keeper Brendan Kealy in the All-Ireland Semi-Final. Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE
21 October 2011; Andy Moran wins his first All-Star award. Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
15 July 2012; Mayo captain Andy Moran lifts the Nestor cup after beating Sligo in the Connacht Final. Ray Ryan / SPORTSFILE
4 August 2012; Andy Moran is carried off the pitch on a stretcher after tearing his cruciate ligament in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final against Down. Dáire Brennan / SPORTSFILE
23 September 2012; Dejected Mayo players Jason Gibbons and Andy Moran after their defeat to Donegal in the All-Ireland final. Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
19 May 2013; Mayo supporters applaud as Andy Moran returns from injury, coming on as a second-half substitute in the Connacht Quarter-Final v Galway. Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE
21 July 2013; Andy Moran and Keith Higgins lift the Nestor Cup under the watchful eye of An Taoiseach Enda Kenny after winning another Connacht Final. Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
22 September 2013; Match referee Joe McQuillan tosses the coin between team captains Andy Moran and Stephen Cluxton, Dublin before the All-Ireland Final. Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
22 September 2013; Andy Moran shoots to score his side's goal past Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton in the All-Ireland Final in Croke Park. Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
22 September 2013; Andy Moran gestures towards Hill 16 after scoring his side's goal. Dáire Brennan / SPORTSFILE
22 September 2013; A dejected Mayo manager James Horan and captain Andy Moran at the end of the game. David Maher / SPORTSFILE
13 July 2014; Andy Moran celebrates at the end of the Connacht Final win against Galway with the Nestor Cup. David Maher / SPORTSFILE
24 August 2014; Andy Moran receives a Hurricanrana from Kerry's Marc Ó Sé in the drawn All-Ireland Semi-Final at Croke Park, one of the greatest games of all time. Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
30 August 2014; Andy Moran scores Mayo's third goal All Ireland Semi-Final Replay in Limerick. Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE
30 August 2014; A dejected Andy Moran after Kerry's replay win in the All Ireland Semi-Final Replay. Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE
8 August 2015; Michael Murphy Donegal is consoled Andy Moran after Mayo's win in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final. Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
30 August 2015; Andy Moran celebrates scoring his side's equalising point in the All-Ireland Semi-Final against Dublin. Tomás Greally / SPORTSFILE
30 August 2015; John Small, Dublin, gets involved in an altercation with Andy Moran as referee Joe McQuillan signals for a penalty for Mayo. Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE
5 September 2015; Andy Moran deals with defeat again after Dublin beat Mayo in the All-Ireland Semi-Final Replay. Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE
18 September 2016; Jonny Cooper and Andy Moran stand toe to toe during the All-Ireland Final between Dublin and Mayo at Croke Park in Dublin. Ray McManus/Sportsfile#
1 October 2016; Andy Moran with his daughter Charlotte after the All-Ireland Final Replay between Dublin and Mayo. David Maher/Sportsfile
26 August 2017; Andy Moran celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the All-Ireland Semi-Final Replay win against Kerry. Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
17 September 2017; Andy Moran with his daughter Charlotte after the All-Ireland Final defeat to Dublin in Croke Park. Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
3 November 2017;Andy Moran pictured with his Footballer of the Year and PwC All Star awards during the PwC All Stars 2017 at the Convention Centre in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
10 August 2019; Dublin captain Stephen Cluxton and Andy Moran after the All-Ireland Semi-Final between Dublin and Mayo. Ray McManus/Sportsfile
10 August 2019; Soaking it in for the last time. Andy Moran following the All-Ireland Semi-Final defeat to Dublin. Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Legend!
