Denis Moran (Gaelic footballer)

Moran played his club football and hurling with a host of different clubs throughout the 1970s and 1980s. As a footballer he enjoyed much success with his local club Beale and as a member of the Shannon Rangers divisional side. Moran was also regarded as a hurler of note, lining out with the famous Ballyduff side in the northern part of the county.

As a key member of the Beale senior football team, Moran helped his team to seven North Kerry divisional titles between 1977 and 1989. This included Beale's very first divisional title in 1977, the first of a famous three-in-a-row.

As a hurler, Moran captured numerous North Kerry divisional titles. He also claimed the ultimate honour by winning a county senior championship winners' medal.

It was with divisional side Shannon Rangers, however, that Moran enjoyed the ultimate success in terms of club football in Kerry. In 1972, he was only sixteen years-old when he was picked for the team. Rangers reached the final of the County Senior Championship that year, with Mid Kerry providing the opposition. A victory on that occasion gave Moran a county winners' medal.

Five years later Moran lined out in his second county final, this time with nearby rivals Feale Rangers providing the opposition. Another victory followed on that occasion, giving the Beale club man a second and final county winners' medal.

Moran first came to prominence on the inter-county scene in the early 1970s as member of the Kerry minor football team. It was an unhappy time for the Kingdom as archrivals Cork dominated the provincial minor championship for the early part of the decade.

Moran's performances at minor level made him an automatic inclusion on the Kerry under-21 team in 1975. He captured a Munster title in that grade that same year following a nine-point trouncing of Waterford in the provincial decider.[2] Moran's side later qualified for the All-Ireland final with Dublin providing the opposition. It would be the first of many battles between the two sides over the course of the next decade. A 1-15 to 0-10 score line gave Kerry the victory and gave Moran an All-Ireland under-21 winners' medal.

In 1976, Moran made it two Munster under-21 titles in-a-row as Kerry easily retained their provincial crown at the expense of Cork. He later lined out in a second consecutive All-Ireland final. Kildare provided the opposition on that occasion; however, they were no match for Kerry, as Ogie collected a second All-Ireland winners' medal following a 0-14 to 1-3 victory.

Moran captured a third provincial under-21 title in 1977 following a two-goal defeat of Cork. Kerry later qualified for a third consecutive All-Ireland final with Down providing the opposition. A 1-11 to 1-5 score line gave Kerry the victory and gave Moran a third All-Ireland under-21 winners' medal in-a-row.

By this stage Moran was also a key member of Kerry's senior football team. In 1975, he captured his first Munster Championship and All-Ireland medals at senior level, under the new management of the legendary Mick O'Dwyer. In 1976, he won his second Munster title; however, Dublin gained revenge for the previous year by defeating Kerry in the All-Ireland final. 1977 was another frustrating year as Kerry won another Munster title but lost out to Dublin yet again, this time in a thrilling All-Ireland semi-final.

In 1978, Moran was captain of his native county and Kerry were primed for success. They easily won another Munster title and breezed into the All-Ireland final to face Dublin. The game itself is remembered for Mikey Sheehy's cheeky goal which he scored by lobbing the ball over the head of Paddy Cullen. The final score was 5-11 to 0-9 and Moran had secured a second All-Ireland medal. In 1979, Kerry once again faced up to Dublin in the All-Ireland final. Like the previous year the men from "the Kingdom" had another emphatic victory over "the Dubs", and Moran claimed his third All-Ireland medal.

Victories for Kerry over Roscommon and Offaly in the respective All-Ireland finals of 1980 and 1981 brought Moran's All-Ireland medal tally up to five. In 1982 he collected his eighth consecutive Munster Championship medal and the scene was set for Kerry to become the first team in the history of the game to win five All-Ireland football titles in-a-row. Once again, Moran’s side faced Offaly in the All-Ireland final. Kerry had the upper hand for much of the game and were leading by two points with two minutes left to be played. The game, however, was not over as Offaly substitute Séamus Darby, who had entered the game almost unnoticed, produced possibly the greatest match-winner of all-time when he scored a late goal. Kerry failed to score again to level the match and Offaly went on to win their third All-Ireland title ever.

In 1983, Kerry were denied a record-breaking ninth Munster title in-a-row by Cork. Moran's side were down but not out, as they reclaimed the provincial title the following year, before securing back-to-back All-Ireland victories over their old rivals Dublin in 1984 and 1985. In 1986, he collected his third All-Ireland title in-a-row with an 8-point victory over Tyrone. It was his eighth All-Ireland medal overall. Moran also enjoyed playing Railway Cup football with Munster, winning inter-provincial titles in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1982. His honours also include three National Football Leagues in 1977, 1982 and 1984 and one All Stars Awards. Moran also played hurling for a short period with his native county. In 1974, he won a 'Special All-Ireland' hurling medal for weaker counties when Kerry defeated Westmeath in the final.