Shane Moloney has had plenty of big days out with Galway in Croke Park, but this Sunday will be his first time to play for his club Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry in GAA HQ.
Moloney broke onto the Galway scene as a 16-year-old back in 2009, scoring 0-3 in the All-Ireland minor final victory over Kilkenny.
He remained a key part of the Galway minor hurling team in the subsequent years, captaining them to glory in 2011 alongside his club-mates Padraig Breheny and Paul Killeen, both of whom started in the final against Dublin.
Breheny won man-of-the-match, scoring 0-4 from play from midfield with Moloney hitting 1-9 in attack, while Killeen played full back.
The trio went to national school together in Tynagh and they'll be side-by-side again, eyeing more glory against Cork's Watergrasshill in the All-Ireland intermediate final.
Moloney celebrates scoring the winning point against Tipperary in the 2015 All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final. Sportsfile.
Moloney is a key scorer for 'TAD,' lining out in midfield along with Paul Killeen while Breheny plays in the forwards.
All three have represented Galway at senior level, with Moloney scoring the winning point against Tipperary in the 2015 All-Ireland semi-final.
"Everyone from the community and the parish is involved when it's the club, playing with lads you went to school with the whole way through.
"It's family, uncles, it's everyone. It's special," Moloney says at AIB's press-event ahead of the finals.
It was a different story for Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry this time last year, having lost the Galway intermediate final to Ballinderreen but they got back on track, with Moloney hailing the influence of former Dublin and Cuala manager Mattie Kenny, along with his backroom team.
Kenny is a native of Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry, with Moloney describing him as a fantastic club-man.
"The difference 12 months makes," he says.
"This time last year we were licking our wounds and everyone in Galway will tell you how hard it is to win that championship.
"Mattie left the Dublin gig in 2022 and things fell into place.
"He's a good club man, and wanted to give back to his home club. After getting relegated, all of the players were eager to get back up playing senior."
"Even when he was with Cuala and Dublin, he was very generous with his time as well. He just brought back all the experience that he'd gathered over the last few years.
"He got a good group of guys along with him, good local lads from all corners of the parish, and we're buying into everything they say and do and that's why we are where we are."
Moloney says the experience of leaner times with the club adds to the enjoyment of this novel run.
"We've had a lot of poor years with Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry but you stay at it because you enjoy hurling, enjoy the group of lads, family is involved and neighbours and so on."
"Myself, Paul and Padraig started national school together in Tynagh, so we're thick as thieves, together the whole way up. The three of us were playing in 2011, and that was special, we won the minor A with the club that year as well which was special.
"I've three cousins on the panel, they live next door to me. I don't have a brother but they're nearly like brothers to me."
AIB GAA Intermediate And Junior Club Championship All-Ireland Hurling And Football Finals Photocall 9/1/2025
Shane Moloney (Tynagh Abbey Duniry), pictured ahead of the AIB GAA All-Ireland Hurling Intermediate Club Championship Final, which takes place this Sunday, January 12th at Croke Park at 2.30pm, between Tynagh Abbey Duniry (Galway) and Watergrasshill (Cork).
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom Maher
