Former Limerick Star hurler Ollie Moran meets sportstalk

SPORTS TALK: If you could sign 3 players from other counties for your team, who would you sign and why?

OLLIE MORAN:  Seamus Callanan, Richie Hogan, TJ Reid – top marksmen, all able to win their own ball, great vision, athletic, always appear to deliver on the big stage.

ST: What was your least favorite memory from the National Hurling league? 

OM: Got regular thrashings from Galway in the likes of Ballinasloe, Athenry, Pearse Stadium over the years. They were always a very physical team in the league especially at home – you’d be fairly broke up mentally and physically after trips to the West!

ST: There has been a lot of talk in the media recently about player burnout, a GAA calendar that is unfair on clubs, getting rid of the under 21 competitions, combining the League and Championship to shorten the year for inter-county players etc What are your opinions on all this and what changes would you suggest to the structure of the GAA calendar?

OM: Bottom line is the GAA inter county season (including minor and U21) has to be condensed into January – July including League. The primary reason why this isn’t happening is TV scheduling of important games in August / September. This would allow the county club season to be run off from early Summer to September and would facilitate club players who wish to go on holidays or travel to the USA etc. There is no reason why provincial and All Ireland club competitions couldn’t then be played off in the calendar year. There is also an argument to look at playing college competitions in late November which won’t differ weather-wise to first week in March. There is also an argument to be made for not allowing minors to play in senior competition regardless of their size or ability. Pre-season is way too long for the inter county season and there is an overemphasis on Strength and Conditioning to the detriment of skill development. Injuries are becoming more and more commonplace and at much younger ages – a more compact season will result in less physical training and better quality matches.

ST: Is the general standard of hurling improving or getting worse?

OM: Over emphasis on fitness may make the game faster and more intense, but the skills of the game are not any better, especially ground hurling and over head striking which are all but dormant. The dynamic of hurling has changed as it is all about retention of possession and avoiding physical contact where possible. Will need to look at 13 a side hurling if current trends continue.

Questions on based on everything

• Favourite Box set: The Good Wife
• Favourite movie of all time:Argo
• Favourite song to listen to before a match:To Win Just Once – Sawdoctors
• Toughest opponent:John Lee, Galway – amazed he never fulfilled his potential
• 3 young players from your club to watch out for:John Fox, Tom Morrissey, Dan Morrissey
• 3 things you would bring with you to a deserted island:Hurley, Sliothar, Suncream,
• Medal you most cherish in hurling:County SHC medals
• What did you love most abut been an intercounty hurler:Friendships formed all over the country
• What did you dislike most about been an intercounty hurler:Negative comments from those who know nothing about inter county hurling – especially the hurlers on the ditch
• Fav holiday destination:Majorca
• Fav soccer team:Liverpool
• Laziest team-mate you played with:Wouldn’t t like to say – lot of contenders though!
• If you could be someone else for one day who would you be:Richie Hogan – where he finds the time and space on the ball I’ll never know
• Other sports you have played:Rugby, Golf, Gaelic Football,
• Most annoying person on tv: Ray Darcy – hands down
• 3 people you would like to go to dinner with: Claire Byrne – Graham Norton – Ronan O’ Gara
• Favorite dinner: Anything Italian
• What age do you think you will retire from club hurling:Retired once at 36, didn’t like it much, so decided to keep going until I’m told otherwise