kerry footballers

Ogie Moran - The Jewel in the Kerry Crown


by Weeshie Fogarty

Ogie Moran had a glittering career in the Green and Gold jersey of Kerry, no wonder then that he is regarded as a sparkling jewel in the football crown of the Kingdom. He has a pocketful of medals, an abundance of skill and remarkable talent – qualifications, which entitle him to lecture at length on the art and science of Gaelic football. Yet if awards were presented for modesty, Ogie would gain an Oscar.

We remember his first championship game for the county as a minor in Fermoy.  At that time three illustrious North Kerry men held six senior All Ireland medals each – Con Brosnan, Moyvane; Bob Stack, Ballybunion; Jack Walsh, Caraughdarrig. Little did anyone realise that the future career of this young North Kerry man would see him surpass that number and gain eight – and remarkably all won while wearing the number eleven jersey. His dedicated contributions to Beale, Shannon Rangers, Kerry, Munster and Gormanstown College need no embellishment here; his displays on the field said it all and much better!

As a player he had all the necessary attributes; skill, speed, swerve, vision, positional sense, hands, strength, balance and courage. Off the field he is an unassuming young man, but can be very forthright in expressing firmly held opinions when the occasion demands. Intelligent, affable and convivial, he is obviously an eagerly sought companion. Ogie was a model sportsman on the field of play; he is a thorough gentleman in his street clothes.

Ogie Moran – A Club Tribute

Our first memory of Ogie was when he arrived in Ballybunion in the summer of 1970 and played in a North Kerry competition at under 14.  The fact that he hailed from Limerick did not matter as it was obvious that he was an exceptional football talent. The problem for the St. Patrick's Club Officers – Jack Walsh (RIP) and Dan Aherne (RIP) was that nobody believed that Ogie was actually under 14.  The solution to the problem resulted in Ogie's birth certificate being available at all matches, and being frequently requested.  That a Limerick lad should play for Ballybunion was another story!

Ogie has an unbelievable record with Beale. He won under 14 medals with St. Patrick's and went on to playing minor football for Kerry and for three years. He won a County Championship with Shannon Rangers at age sixteen and marked no less a man than Brendan Lynch in the County Final.  He won an All Ireland Colleges' medal with Gormanstown College and made the Kerry senior team in 1975. That he succeeded in winning 8 All Ireland medals for Kerry at centre forward is well documented, but maybe less known was the enormous contribution he was making to the Beale Club during this period. Although a student in Loughborough College in 1977, he made the long trips home to win Beale their first ever North Kerry championship.
Ogie built up a great relationship with Eoin Liston and the two proceeded to capture the imagination of Kerry football and totally dominating the scene in North Kerry with further championship wins in 1978 and '79.
Ogie also won a County Championship in '77 and went on to captain Kerry in the All Ireland victory of '78.  He also helped Beale to County Novice ('77), Junior ('80) and Intermediate titles ('83), along with North Kerry league and Mart Cup victories.
Ogie played in every position on the field, including goalkeeper.  However, his most memorable games were in partnership with Eoin Liston at centerfield. Bomber would bat the ball to Ogie, who would solo 50 yards to get the inevitable score. In full flight it was impossible to contain Ogie.

Ogie's role of honour is endless. He failed to win an inter-county medal at Minor but went on to win All Ireland Under 21 medals, 8 senior All Irelands, the only player to have done so from the same position in all finals. All-Star award winner, Railway Cup winner with Munster, Provincial senior and under 21 medals. All Ireland seven-a-side winner with Shannon Rangers.

Ogie would have played in excess of 1,000 games in his playing career of 21 seasons. And of course he then went on and answered the call to train Kerry when Mickey "Ned" o Sullivan finished in that role while his son is one of the up and coming young stars of the Kingdom. He stared as Kerins o rahillys won the kery minor county championship in'06.



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