David Moran has retired from inter-county football.
By Cian O'Connell
Kerry's David Moran has announced his retirement from inter-county action.
Moran, who made his debut for the Kingdom in 2008, won three All-Ireland senior titles and 10 Munster Championships during a glittering career.
The Kerins O'Rahillys clubman also gleaned four Allianz Football League medals and two All-Stars in 2014 and 2019.
"After a lot of thought, I have decided to retire from inter-county football," Moran said in a statement released on Monday morning.
"It’s not a decision I have taken lightly. Playing with Kerry fulfilled all my boyhood dreams, however, with an aging body, a young family and a demanding work life I feel I can no longer give the commitment required to perform and compete at the top level."
Kerry manager Jack O'Connor acknowledged Moran's rich contribution.
"It feels like the end of an era today with the announcement of David Moran’s retirement," O'Connor remarked.
"He followed in a long line of traditional Kerry midfielders with his high fielding and long accurate kicking. He was particularly good at that long diagonal kick to the inside forwards and it was one of his specialities that led to Seanie O’Shea’s goal against Dublin last year. He also executed a beauty in Kieran Donaghy in the 2014 semi-final which led to James O’Donoghue’s late goal in that game.
"I first came across David when I coached Kerins O’Rahillys in 2008. As a 20 he formed a powerful midfield partnership with current Kerry selector Mike Quirke as we had a memorable campaign before being beaten by an injury time penalty in a county final.
"He featured for me in the All Ireland win with Kerry the following year as well as in the win this year. I always felt that his cruciate injury in a league game in Iniskeen in 2011 possibly cost us that championship because at that stage he was becoming a leader.
"David will be missed by all of us associated with Kerry football, but even more so by the current players. He was like a father figure to them and they looked to him for leadership and inspiration."
