Kerry Players Down Under

[martinstack]

where doe that leave moran?one way flight to ireland?

[Laoch na hImeartha]

I don't think Moran would be cut out for the game in Oz. Tommy, although I've pulled my hair out on a couple of occasions due to his laziness on the pitch sometimes, seems to play with a bit more hunger, but having said that I'd welcome either of them back with open arms.

Do the Narries on here think ye can go all the way to Paddy's day this year?

[fromthehorsesmouth]

If Nixon can be so critical of one of our best exports(moran) then i think he should come back and playwhat he is best at and where his talent is appreciated...Overweight thats a disgrace lads, and to publicly say it is very unprofessionel!!!

[kerrygold]

Decision soon on Moran's Aussie contract

Moran's Aussie dream may soon be a reality
Tuesday, 1 December 2009 12:59
AFL club St Kilda will this decide this week whether or not to offer a professional contract to Kerry's David Moran.

The player has spent the past three weeks on trial with the club and has impressed officials with the Melbourne club who have signed fellow Kerryman Tommy Walsh on a two-year international rookie deal.

The club's general manager of football and list management Matthew Drain said: 'We're doing endurance tests with him today. It's standard for any player that we're recruiting. We won't be making a decision until after they are completed. It's too hard to say (if he will be signed) because we haven't sat down and analysed everything yet.

Drain added: 'We've been really impressed with him so far. To go from amateur sport to training professionally every day is a big effort and we've been happy with his standard.

'His endurance is good and his skills have been good overall. We've been very impressed with the way he's gone about it. We think he's brought a lot to the table with regards the effort he's put in.'

Should Moran impress he could be signed immediately as there are spots there on the rookie list at St Kilda.

[fromthehorsesmouth]

looks good for him so!!! id say he will get the contract...plenty of time to work on his so called weight issue:O

[narriesrule]

we hope we can go all day way to paddys day but with out dave and tommy we'll just be happy to win on sunday and hope to god we can go further

[narriesrule]

havent heard anything yet hope to god hes bak

[sullyschoice]

Statement above seems at total variance from what Nixon has been saying

[Sons of Pitches]

Moran returns home after Aussie trial

Wednesday, 2 December 2009 10:07

Kerry footballer David Moran was upbeat about his AFL experience despite not securing a rookie contract with Melbourne's St Kilda Football Club for the coming season after an intensive two week trial period with the AFL side.

Moran commented: 'I had a great time in Melbourne training with St Kilda this past two weeks. I'd like to thank the club for this chance to come into contact with a professional sports set-up and to see if my physical make up and skill set was suited to Aussie Rules.'

'It was a big challenge competing in various trails against professional AFL players over a short period especially after a long GAA season but I really enjoyed it and have taken positives from the experience, which I can apply to my own sporting career in the future.'

St Kilda General Manager Football List Management, Matthew Drain, was impressed by David's attitude and willingness to learn over the trial period. He commented: 'We are delighted that David took up the offer of a trial period with St Kilda over the last fortnight as we missed the chance to see him up close last year due to his college exam commitments.

Overall, he did very well showing good endurance and he definitely was not out of his depth in our professional environment."

Drain continued: 'David is only 21 years old but showed a great professional attitude and enthusiasm during his time and his potential as a great all round sports man is obvious. As we know only a very small number of athletes from GAA successfully make the transition to AFL.'

Moran will return home this week to make himself available for selection to his club Kerins O'Rahilly's in the Munster SFC Final against Kilmurry-Ibrickane this Sunday in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick.

www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2009/1202/morand.html

[Deleted]

I am not overly surprised by this. It is extremely difficult to make any impact over there especially at the age of 21.
Hopefully David will be in good shape for Sunday.

[KerryLad]

Disappointed for Dave but delighted to be getting him back in the Green and Gold. Big boost for Strand Road ahead of Sunday now

[fivenarow]

Nov 26, 2009 10:21:55 GMT fivenarow said:

I was talking to a narrie (in the know) over the weekend & he said that it looks like David will be back sooner rather than later - he said its like horses for courses & David was off the bridle a long way out.
I wouldnt be surprised if he's back for the munster final & it could get very lonely for Tommy over the next few months

By the way whats the story with Micheal Qurke,will he be around for the munster final - he's getting married next Saturday???

I should have put a bet on it

[patinkerry]

Well Australia's loss is our gain-the Aussies don't know what they are missing. Now if only they would give back Tommy Walsh!

Still, hope David is not too disappointed!

[kerrygold]

irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 11:03Moran misses out on AFL contract
Kerins O’Rahillys have received a major boost ahead of Sunday’s Munster football final with the news that David Moran will return from Australia in time for the showdown with Kilmurry-Ibrickane.


Moran had been training with AFL club St Kilda but failed to secure a rookie contract following a two-week trial. Moran’s Kerry teammate Tommy Walsh signed a two-year deal with St Kilda last week.

While obviously disappointed not to be signed up with St Kilda, Moran is already looking ahead to Sunday’s Munster decider with the Clare champions.

“Obviously, I was happy to get this chance with St Kilda but I was closely monitoring my own club’s progress over the past month too,” he said today. “

My focus will now turn to helping Strand Road (Kerins O’Rahilly’s) compete for our first ever Munster Club title, which would be an enormous boost to the club.

“Training every day for the past two weeks has meant that I’m in good physical shape and I’m looking forward to achieving something with the club.”

[kerrygold]

Delighted with this development, its significance to kerry football will not be fully seen until were 3 or 4 seasons into the next decade.

What he'll miss out on in Australia he'll gain 10 fold over the next decade as a kerry footballer. I cant see him being disappointed but maybe relieved. Hopefully he's given the space time and respect over the next number of seasons to develope into a really great kerry footballer.

Hopefully Tommy might see the light before the summer and come home and play for kerry.

[glengael]

Good news for the Kingdom, good news for Rahilly's on Sunday.

[k]

His style of play etc never seemed like it was suited to AFL. Real boost for Rahillys ahead of their game. Good news for Kerry too as it is an area of the team where possible up-and-coming players are needed at the moment.

[austinstacksabu]

David gave it a good crack and I'm delighted he did. You can never live life wondering "what if".

At the same time, I'm thrilled we will have David back in Kerry next year. I have always held David in the highest of regard and feel he can be a substantial force for Kerry football in the future.

[Laoch na hImeartha]

Great news. A replacement for the fear láidir in the next few seasons?

[veteran]

That is wonderful news about David. I am sure he will be disappointed initially but it is better to be disappointed now rather than become disillusioned later on as he, like so many other Irish lads, chase a mirage in Australia. If he avoids injury he could, over the next ten years, achieve the same acclaim in the green and gold as his father did. Nothing, financial or otherwise, that might have accrued to him in Australia could compare with that.

The hope now, selfish perhaps, is that Tommy will be overcome by loneliness.

[Billy]

Nov 24, 2009 0:22:42 GMT Billy said:

i dont think morans suited. he is thoughtful and slow on the ball. he would get hit in aussie rules while in possesion. the name of the game in aussie rules is quick transfer of possesion so you dont get hit. if u saw kennelly this year at the start for kerry he was gettin rid of the ball straight away (concerned about quick transfer of ball without getting hit). moran likes to look up carry ball and pick a pass. doesnt work in their sport. he will be back to us. he is a proper gaelic footballer and thats his game.

i may have been right. either way its great to have him back

[JOAN]

david will be a huge addition to the kerry set up for 2010.. sorry it didnt work out for him i am suprised really thought he would well suited to the set up.. but i cant say im not glad to have him back from KY football point of view!!

[kerryfanatic]

Hope Moran is not too disappointed but glad he will be back with Kerry.. great player.

Would Love Tommy to be home; but still want to wish him the best of luck if this is what he really wants.. as they say what is for you wont go by you ;D

[thepope]

good to see Moran coming home, will be great addition to the squad.

hope he's alright with it too, and didn't have his heart set on going out there.

either way, good news for the Kingdom.

[jerryewe]

What ould happen next June if Tommy Walsh decided Aussie Rules wasn't for him and came back for the Championship. Could St Kilda stop him from playing since he has signed a contract with them. I know its extremely unlikely to happen on several counts but I would be interested if anyone here had a legal background and could figure it out.

Anyway good to see David Moran back and even if he didn't make it at least he will have no regrets over it in the future

[kerrygold]

By Martin Breheny


Thursday December 03 2009

ST KILDA'S loss is Kerins O'Rahillys' and Kerry's gain as David Moran returns home after a brief stint in Australia.

Moran (21) is expected to be available for Kerins O'Rahillys bid to win the AIB Munster SFC club title for the first time when they play Clare champions, Kilmurry-Ibrickane, in the final in Limerick next Sunday and will also be back in the Kerry fold next year.

He came on as a sub late in this year's All-Ireland final but left for Australia with club and county colleague, Tommy Walsh after Kerins O'Rahillys' win over Clonakilty in the first round of the Munster championship.

Moran failed to secure a rookie contract with St Kilda's after an intensive two-week training stint but Walsh, who has a two-year deal, will stay on.

Moran said that while he had enjoyed the Australian experience it was a big challenge competing in trials against professional AFL players over a short period of time, especially at the end of a very long GAA season.

St Kilda general manager, Matthew Drain, said that they were pleased to have been able to assess Moran close up after missing out last season. However, it appears they didn't feel the Australian game would suit him.

Moran's return will be major boost to Kerins O'Rahillys while Kerry will also be pleased to see him back, especially since they will be without Walsh and Tadhg Kennelly, who has resumed his career in Australia.

Moran's return will also be welcomed beyond Kerry. Fears have been growing that a talent trickle towards AFL would grow into a torrent but it hasn't happened. Several hopefuls have returned and the fact that Moran is on his way back further underlines just how difficult it is to make the breakthrough Down Under.

However, he has the talent to develop into a big star in Gaelic football and is likely to make a major push in that direction next year.

- Martin Breheny

Irish Independent

[kerrygold]

O’Shea hails ‘top class’ Moran’s return
By Jim O’Sullivan

Thursday, December 03, 2009



BARRY O’SHEA was sympathetic to the fact that his Kerins O’Rahillys clubmate David Moran hadn’t landed an AFL contract — but he was also delighted Moran would be home to play Kilmurry-Ibrickane in the Kerry club’s first appearance in the AIB Munster club football final at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday (2pm).



"We weren’t really expecting it. There was a lot of talk about whether or not he would be back,’’ he said. "We were saying no and we weren’t telling any lies — we genuinely didn’t know. It’s a great boost to the team and everybody involved in the club to see him coming home, but it’s a disappointment for David, obviously.

"He is a top-class player. Any team would like to have a fellow like him. The fact his return is unexpected makes it even better."

O’Shea agreed that the presence of Moran in the team will help to offset the loss of Tommy Walsh.

"There aren’t too many players like him (Walsh) around in the whole country, not to mind our club. We’ve known about it for a couple of weeks. We can’t complain; we’ll just have to get on with it and motor on.’’

O’Shea is worried about his brother Brian, forced off six minutes from the end of the semi-final game against Moyle Rovers with a dislocated elbow. He is the Tralee club’s biggest injury concern, though Giles O’Grady hasn’t trained since the semi-final (when he was unable to start) and Barry himself? Well, let him explain: "I haven’t been able to train with my knee. I haven’t trained a whole pile this year. I said to someone recently, if there is a football god, he is not from Kerins O’Rahillys because things aren’t falling our way.’’

Full-back on Kerry’s 1997 All-Ireland-winning team, O’Shea is in his 17th season playing senior football with the Strand Road club. So, it’s easy to understand that he would have regrets about the limited success they have had during his career.

"When we beat Clonakilty (in the first round of the current championship), it was our first time winning a game in Munster,’’ he pointed out. "Over the last nine or 10 years we have had a reasonably good team and we have been pretty consistent. Maybe we haven’t won what we could have, but we’re in a final. What happened in the past counts for nothing and we’ll definitely be giving it a right go.’’

If they are to be successful, he agrees they need to step up on the level of their performance against the Tipperary champions: "We really didn’t play very well that day and that was partly because they didn’t let us play. They were very committed, they were fit, and were getting stuck in.

"Conditions were very bad — of course they were the same for both teams. The most pleasing part about it was that they had a gale-force wind behind them in the second half and while they drew level with us, they couldn’t get ahead of us. We stuck to our guns and held tough and pulled through in the end.’’

What helped them, he says, is the experience that has been built up over the last decade or so, recalling that they came through a replay against South Kerry in last year’s county semi-final. "Fellows have been used to playing in tight games and they are not panicking. All that is standing to us, because we still have an awful lot of young guys, under 21 and 22. They are getting the experience through these tough battles.

"It’s very rarely you come off the field thinking you have done it all, because you know you can always play better. And there have been very few occasions this year when we played really well as a team. In the (county) club championship final against Ardfert, we clicked and played some outstanding football and the same against Clonakilty. In fact, this competition has been our best couple of games this year.

"Coming on from the semi-final, we can definitely improve. If we can get the best out of our team, we are in with a shout, but if we produce what we produced in the semi-final, I don’t think it would be enough.’’

He dismisses the tag of favouritism, arguing it’s not warranted against a team contesting the final for a fourth time (having won the title after a replay in 2004). "The only reason we’re favourites in the bookies is because it’s Kerry versus Clare,’’ he commented.

"I wouldn’t be reading a whole pile into this favouritism thing. Kilmurry-Ibrickane are the team with the experience in this competition and this isn’t just bull. It’s genuine. They have been at this stage before. We haven’t. It’s our first time and we’ll just have to see how fellows will react to it.

"The only way you can get experience at this level is by going through it — hopefully fellows will react in a positive way!’’



This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Thursday, December 03, 2009



Read more: www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/oshea-hails-top-class-morans-return-106989.html#ixzz0Yc7nDCq1

[kerrygold]

Boost for Rahillys as Moran returns from AFL trial
By Colm O’Connor

Thursday, December 03, 2009



DAVID MORAN will be available for Kerins O’Rahillys’ Munster club decider with Clare champions Kilmurry-Ibrickane at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.



Moran, spent the last fortnight on trial with AFL side St Kilda, however he learned yesterday that we would not receive a rookie contract with the Melbourne based outfit.

All-Ireland winner Moran insisted that he would take ‘positives from the experience’.

He said last night: "I had a great time in Melbourne training with St Kilda this past two weeks. I’d like to thank the club for this chance to come into contact with a professional sports set-up and to see if my physical make up and skill set was suited to Aussie Rules.

"It was a big challenge competing in various trails against professional AFL players over a short period especially after a long GAA season but I really enjoyed it and have taken positives from the experience which I can apply to my own sporting career in the future."

The next step in that career will be a provincial decider, the club’s first, against the west Clare men at the weekend. Moran, son of Kerry legend Ogie, will undertake a gruelling trip from Australia and is expected back in Tralee on Friday afternoon.

O’Rahillys trainer Mark Fitzgerald said the availability of Moran is: "fantastic news and a great boost coming up to the game. David has been an integral part of the team for a number of seasons and we welcome him back with open arms.

"I am no expert on Aussie Rules but from watching it, I would imagine he has all the skills to make it. He is good athlete with a great attitude and the stuff that appeared it the papers last week quoting the Ricky Nixon guy was absolutely rubbish regarding David.

"I am disappointed that David did not make it but I am sure David will have a fantastic intercounty career for the next decade or so — Australia’s loss is Kerry’s and Kerins O’Rahillys’ gain."

Kerry boss Jack O’Connor is also relieved to have the Tralee man back in his plans for 2010.

O’Connor said: "The likes of David are the future of Kerry football. He was showing tremendous form early last season in the league and while his form dipped a bit in the middle of the year, he was coming strong again at the end of the season.

"I think potential is the key word — he certainly has the raw material, he is a good fielder, he is athletic and he can use both feet. While David is still not the finished product, you would think that with a run on the team next year that he will come on in leaps and bounds. Far from seeing the past few weeks as a disappointment, David should see it as a great experience and use that experience to drive him on next year."



This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Thursday, December 03, 2009



Read more: www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/boost-for-rahillys-as-moran-returns-from-afl-trial-106988.html#ixzz0Yc8cN1Kj

[diehard]

Thank God for small mercies. Straight in midfield with Scanlon. Here we go back to back here we come.....

[branch]

Disappointed for David Moran, would be great for any athlete to experience life as a professional sportsman even for a year or two, not having a go at anyone but a little shocked that people on here are so happy he didn't make it! I know its better for the Kingdom but I think its a bit strange not to be happy for one of our own to go somewhere and make it as a professional athlete for a year or two, just so that we can have him back in a Kerry jersey!

Best of luck to Tommy, he has a great build and strength for the game and a great kick, and if he can make the change to the oval ball will be a massive forward for the Saints.