David Moran Retires

[royalkerryfan]

The news I hoped I wouldn't hear.

Thank you David for all the joy and commitment you gave to the Kerry jersey.

The intercounty game will be a lesser place without you.

[Annascaultilidie]

Always a massive fan and very sad to see him go.

Gave a ferocious amount to Kerry. Probably one of my favourite ever players. A Rolls Royce.

Who took plenty of flack.

[onlykerry]

Kerry will miss him - great servant who come back from serious injuries on several occasions. Enjoy your intercounty retirement and hope your club career continues for a few more years.

[The16thMan]

Given the circumstances at the start of his career and then amount of injuries he had to withhold, the man was a true warrior.
His best performance for me was against Mayo in the replay 2014 but not a one off. He really affirmed his place that day after years of serious injury. No better midfielder to pluck a ball out the sky in todays game. His kick passing was 2nd to none and leadership was never in doubt. Only downside to his game was his lack of pace compared to modern day midfielders but he was cute enough to play in a way where he could effect the game without making lung bursting runs up and down the field.
Given Kerrys predicament with midfield at the moment I thought he might give it one last shot but sadly not to be. Owes Kerry nothing and here's hoping he enjoys his retirement. Thanks David

[hurlingman]

Like all players he had his good and bad days on the feild. He never seemed to let the bad days hold him back.

Probably one of the last "old style" midfields. Just unlikely to come along at a time when Kerry weren't winning All-Irelands.

[kot]

A massive servant to the County. Probably didnt have the legs anymore for a full game but certainly could have played a role for another couple of years as an impact player. Best Wishes David for the future! Hopefully back in some role some day coaching future stars.

[Jo90]

Great player. I first remember him coming on v Cork in the replay in Croke Park, turning the game when Cork had come back level after being 7 or 8 down and had all the momentum by catching a kickout seconds after coming on and then setting up the winning goal.

It now means for the first time in history (well since the u21 grade came in in 1964) Kerry have no u20/u21 All-Ireland winner in the senior team.

[glengael]

That Cork game was in 2008? A lot of water under the bridge since then.

David overcame 2 cruciate injuries to come back and play at the highest standard for Kerry. Tremendous courage and strength, took the flak and kept going. Does he have 3 medals, I seem to recall he came on in 2009 Final or at least was part of the panel on the day. A wonderful servant who carried a distinguished legacy with pride & honesty.

[royalkerryfan]

Jan 23, 2023 15:01:51 GMT Jo90 said:

Great player. I first remember him coming on v Cork in the replay in Croke Park, turning the game when Cork had come back level after being 7 or 8 down and had all the momentum by catching a kickout seconds after coming on and then setting up the winning goal.

It now means for the first time in history (well since the u21 grade came in in 1964) Kerry have no u20/u21 All-Ireland winner in the senior team.

A great catch under the hogan stand !

[mike70]

David Moran, a man mountain, we will miss you in the green and gold, soaring above all in fields across Ireland, but in none more so than croke park, thanks for your service.
We salute you.

[homerj]

huge loss to Kerry, didnt want this...but now that its done, congrats to David on a wonderful career and he bowed out as you should - at the top.

[horsebox77]

Great player, but I think he has made the correct decision.

Two games stand out for me, both coincidentally against Mayo, the 2014 draw in Croker, he was unreal that day and the second was his first half display in the 2019 super eight game in Killarney.

He ruled the sky that day against Parsons and Aidan Shea, he had the Mayo keeper in trouble and was man of the match by HT.

Serious discipline and mental resolve to come back from two ACL injuries.

[peanuts]

Good luck to David, great servant to Kerry. Up to others to step up to the plate now.

[thehermit]

To quote me father at times like this, fluck it anyway

[hurlingman]

Jan 23, 2023 18:03:13 GMT horsebox77 said:

Jan 23, 2023 15:14:20 GMT glengael said:

That Cork game was in 2008? A lot of water under the bridge since then.

David overcame 2 cruciate injuries to come back and play at the highest standard for Kerry. Tremendous courage and strength, took the flak and kept going. Does he have 3 medals, I seem to recall he came on in 2009 Final or at least was part of the panel on the day. A wonderful servant who carried a distinguished legacy with pride & honesty.

Three celtic crosses, 2007, 2014 and 2022. He was injured in 2009. It was Mike Quirke his club mate who came in for Darragh in 2009.

He came in 2009 as well. He wasn't on the panel in 07. Tommy Walsh was.

[horsebox77]

Jan 23, 2023 18:24:42 GMT hurlingman said:

Jan 23, 2023 18:03:13 GMT horsebox77 said:

Three celtic crosses, 2007, 2014 and 2022. He was injured in 2009. It was Mike Quirke his club mate who came in for Darragh in 2009.

He came in 2009 as well. He wasn't on the panel in 07. Tommy Walsh was.

Yes, I stand corrected. You’re spot on,

[mafi97]

Thanks for everything, David.

In the pantheon of Kerry heros, you will forever be remembered as a giant.

Once again, I give thanks that by cosmic chance, I can claim you as a fellow county man.

(By chance, I had a congratulatory chat with a Kilmacud Croke's stalwart this morning - he was unstinting in his praise for David's performance against them. Respect for David was universal in the football world.).

[hatchetman]

A great player who I suspect will be appreciated more in retirement over the next few years than maybe he was while playing.

[kerrybhoy06]

A true leader, a real top class footballer, the best midfielder of his generation.
I was hoping that he’d stay on for another year but it’s not to be.

All the best with the retirement, thanks for all you gave to and for us

[blacksheep21]

Congrats to David on a great career, he had his share of bad times but he was a class act in lots of ways. It is great to see him bow out on his own terms after an all Ireland

[sullyschoice]

An absolute legend for Kerry and seemed like a really nice guy too.

Hard to replace him

[Kingdomson]

Sorry to hear this news but not surprised and David has made the right decision for himself. David Moran is a colossus of a man and often a warrior in the middle of the park for Kerry. The man oozed class and leadership and was a brilliant representative for his county. All Kerry supporters wish him well and you’ll never hear opposition talk ill of him and this speaks volumes. A class act! Thank you David Moran. 

[buck02]

David was often unfairly the scapegoat when things went wrong for Kerry. It was probably because he took risks and tried to play the game the way most of us would like it played. I don't think it happened very often that David caught a kick out, took a mark and turned around and kicked it 20 yards backwards.

His retirement will leave a big hole in terms of leadership on and off the field and a few others will need to step up and take on more responsibility in this area in the next few seasons.

[kerryboyo]

The best fielder kerry have had since darragh o shea

Best wishes in retirement great memories and moments

[thehermit]

Someone said above and I'd agree 100% that David is one of those players that's never full appreciated until they have headed for the sunset. For me undoubtedly one of the finest midfielders this county ever produced and definitely one of the very best middle men in the inter-county game for more than a decade. Think this piece in the Examiner sums up a lot of what made Moran great:

Maurice Brosnan: David Moran manfully carried the kick pass torch during a dark age

When Gaelic football was held captive by conservatism, endless handpassing and mindless retention, he waged a one-man crusade in the name of positive, go-forward football.

The date is most fondly remembered for the anointing of the king. Fitzgerald Stadium was heaving, the sun was soaring, the ball was flowing. A day glittered in Kerry’s alternative kit gold.

In his second season out of minor, David Clifford rubber-stamped his status as the jewel in the Kingdom’s crown with seven superb points against Mayo in the opening round of the 2019 Super 8s. It was a remarkable tally and deserved headline.

David Moran, meanwhile, finished with 0-1. A number that is less striking, no doubt. How about 11-0? That is 11 first-half kick passes with 100% accuracy, zero backwards. Every single play was positive. In total he kicked the ball 17 times, only two went backwards and one of them was a cross-field ball that led to Paul Geaney’s goal.

Catch and kick with precision, that is what earmarked the hall of fame midfielders. That is what David Moran did.

It was fitting that his own football clinic came against Mayo. It was versus the same side in 2014 that the three-time All-Ireland winner truly announced himself. His senior career started in 2008 with two substitute appearances. He was introduced four times from the bench in 2009 on the way to his first All-Ireland medal.

The Kerins O’Rahillys stalwart finally started a tie in 2010, scoring a goal against Down as Kerry crashed out in a quarter-final. Then trouble tore him down. A cruciate ligament in 2011 bled into another in 2012. Throw in a complicated retina injury for good measure. It all looked bleak as the dressing room’s giants started to trickle away and a capable deputy striving to emulate legendary pedigree was stuck on the sidelines.

For several reasons, 2014 elevated Moran to one of Kerry’s greats. In a campaign where they were expected to win nothing, he bounced back from a poor display against Clare to give immense performances against Mayo in a signifying contest. He finished the year with his first All-Star and second All-Ireland medal.

At this point it is important to pause. Moran’s artistry stemmed from his ability to look up and scan all around. It is only right that we do similar. Think back and take stock. Do you remember what the sport was like in 2014? That season the black card had to be introduced because of rampant cynical play. The average margin in uncompetitive provincial finals was 9.5. Pale imitations of Jim McGuinness’s Donegal were widespread.

When Gaelic football was held captive by conservatism, endless handpassing and mindless retention, he waged a one-man crusade in the name of positive, go-forward football. He was a kick of light rebelling against a dark age. Kicking off the laces, outside or inside of the boot, bouncing out in front, into the chest or over the bar. Performing the ultimate service to Gaelic football.

In 2019 he soared to similar heights. Man of the match against Tyrone in the semi-final, awesome in the drawn final against Dublin and for much of the replay. Even so, nor was he perfect. Punching the throw-in before Eoin Murchan’s goal was an error exacerbated by man-watching defenders. He was stripped of possession in the draw prior to Dean Rock’s equalising score. He lost the ball prior to Cormac Costello’s goal in the 2022 semi-final as well.

Isn’t that the point? For much of the past decade, too much play has been defined by a fear of the slightest error. Too often reduced to a zero-sum game. So risk-averse they lose sight of the reward. The goal should be fineness rather than faultless. Enough excellence to account for occasional inaccuracies.

His best match in 2022 was the quarter-final against Mayo once again. Afterwards, Jack O’Connor admitted they didn’t think he had 70 minutes to give. His midfielder kicked two points, ruled the skies and kept them ticking with kick-passing excellence throughout. As proven earlier this month, Strand Road will continue to benefit from more of the same.

For Kerry, David Moran demonstrated what the game should be about.

[Ballyfireside]

Jan 23, 2023 18:13:58 GMT thehermit said:

To quote me father at times like this, fluck it anyway

I know a Johnny Buck, as he says 'buck it' - and then our Johnny buck's it with that point vs, well Dgal in AI final 2014 - bucking deadly!

[Annascaultilidie]

Kerry never replaced Darragh Sé.

I suspect Kerry won't be able to replace Moran either.

[royalkerryfan]

Jan 26, 2023 19:59:56 GMT Annascaultilidie said:

Kerry never replaced Darragh Sé.

I suspect Kerry won't be able to replace Moran either.

No those players are not easily replaced.

Hopefully Diarmuid develops into the player we all hope he can.

Very few top midfielders in the game I can only think of 3 in Dublin, Galway and Derry.