When Maurice Deegan calls together the captains for the coin toss in Sunday’s national league final, Andy Moran will be the man who goes to centre field for the green and red. The Ballaghaderreen man has captained Mayo on a couple of occasions in the past, but Sunday will mark his first official duty as the full-time captain of the team.
Moran is one of the most experienced members of James Horan’s squad and over the past few years has become one of the first names to be put down on any Mayo teamsheet. Moran’s outstanding form last year saw the Ballaghaderreen man rewarded with an All Star for his leading role in Mayo’s march to the All Ireland semi-final.
When he was an u21 back in 2004, Moran captained that side to a Connacht title win and unsuccessful All Ireland final against Armagh, a week after he had also been involved in the All Ireland senior final defeat to Kerry. The Ballaghaderreen club man will also be fondly remembered by Mayo supporters for the goal he scored coming off the bench against Dublin in the 2006 All Ireland semi-final which was a major part in Mayo’s memorable come from behind win against the Dubs. Moran has been an almost ever presence in the starting side this year in the league, with the one exception being the abandoned game against Dublin in McHale Park. But he was back in situ for the refixed game in March. In the eight games he has started this season, Moran has chipped in with 1-5.
