Mickey Moran
Encyclopedia
Mickey Moran is a retired football
er and currently a manager
. He played inter-county football for Derry
in the 1970s and early 1980s. He played his club football for Watty Graham's Glen
.
Moran is known to be one of the best trainers / coaches in the game and was part of the managerial backroom staff of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship
winning team, as coach of the side.
In his managerial career he has had three stints managing Derry and has also managed Sligo
, Donegal
, Mayo
and Leitrim
. He has also been in charge of various club sides and the Jordanstown university team. On 26 November 2011 he retired as Leitrim manager on health grounds.
His son Conleth was on the Derry minor side that won the 2002 Ulster Minor
and All-Ireland Minor Championship
s.
team in 1975, and left half back when Derry successfully defended their Ulster title a year later. Moran was part of the Derry team that were beaten by Dublin
a point in the 1975-76 National League
final.
In 1978 he was chosen as an All Star replacement.
He won Derry Intermediate Championship
medals with Glen in 1980 and 1983.
s in 1980/81?.
He was manager of Omagh St. Enda's
when they won the 1988 Tyrone Senior Football Championship.
When Eamonn Coleman
was announced as Derry manager in September 1990/91?, Moran was appointed coach of the team. The duo helped lead Derry to the 1992 National League title, defeating Tyrone
in the final. The following year Derry won the Ulster Championship
and went on to win the county's first ever first ever All-Ireland Championship
. He is famed for his rousing half-time speech in the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Dublin
.
Following the controversial sacking of Coleman after the 1994 campaign, Moran was appointed Derry manager in September 1994. Under his leadership, Derry won the 1994/95 National League, but unfortunately for Derry they were knocked out of the 1995 Ulster Championship at the semi-final stage and he quit soon after. Moran was in charge of Sligo
for four seasons (1996-2000) and the county made "made huge strides" under his leadership, including reaching the 1997 Connacht Senior Football Championship
final.
Straight after managing Sligo, Moran with John Morrison as assistant was appointed as Donegal
manager for the 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons His first year in charge of Donegal was a disappointing one, but 2002 was more successful, leading Donegal to the Ulster final (where they were beat by Armagh
) and then to the All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin. However in September 2002 he informed the county board he would not be staying for the third year of the term. He was immediately linked with the vacant Derry job. His third spell as Derry manager was from 2003 to 2005. He led Derry to the 2004 All-Ireland semi-final, but they were defeated by Kerry. He was also appointed manager of Derry Under 21s at the time.
Moran was appointed manager of Mayo in October 2005. In his first season in charge he won the Connacht Championship and guided Mayo to the 2006 All-Ireland
final after a brilliant comeback against Dublin
in the semi-final proving one of the Championship highlights. Unfortunately for Moran and Mayo they were beaten by Kerry
in the final. He stood down as Mayo boss a few weeks later, a few days after assistant John Morrison had stood down.
He was linked with the vacant Kildare
position in September 2007, but the job eventually went to Kieran McGeeney. Moran was appointed Leitrim
manager on 25 August 2008 for 2009 and will once again be assisted by John Morrison. Moran has been manager/coach of the Jordanstown football team for a number of years and along with Adrian McGuckin guided the university to victory in the 2008 Sigerson Cup
. He has since stepped down since that success.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er and currently a manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
. He played inter-county football for Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
in the 1970s and early 1980s. He played his club football for Watty Graham's Glen
Glen GAC
Watty Graham's GAC Glen is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The team draws players from Maghera and some surrounding townlands. They currently cater for Gaelic football, Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie.Glen are also committed to Scor,...
.
Moran is known to be one of the best trainers / coaches in the game and was part of the managerial backroom staff of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993
-All-Ireland Football Final:-Top championship scorer:...
winning team, as coach of the side.
In his managerial career he has had three stints managing Derry and has also managed Sligo
Sligo GAA
The Sligo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Sligo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Sligo...
, Donegal
Donegal GAA
The Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Donegal. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.Gaelic football is strongest in the...
, Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
and Leitrim
Leitrim
-In Ireland::* County Leitrim in the Republic of Ireland* Leitrim, County Leitrim, a small village in the same county* Leitrim Station, a former railway station on the defunct Cavan & Leitrim Railway* Leitrim, County Down, a small village in Northern Ireland...
. He has also been in charge of various club sides and the Jordanstown university team. On 26 November 2011 he retired as Leitrim manager on health grounds.
His son Conleth was on the Derry minor side that won the 2002 Ulster Minor
Ulster Minor Football Championship
The Ulster Minor Football Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Ulster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Ulster Council. The trophy for the winning side is The Liam Murray Cup. The competition began in 1930, with...
and All-Ireland Minor Championship
All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
s.
Inter-county
Moran was a very versatile player, evidenced by the fact he started left corner forward on Derry's victorious Ulster ChampionshipUlster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
team in 1975, and left half back when Derry successfully defended their Ulster title a year later. Moran was part of the Derry team that were beaten by Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
a point in the 1975-76 National League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
final.
In 1978 he was chosen as an All Star replacement.
He won Derry Intermediate Championship
Derry Intermediate Football Championship
The Derry Intermediate Football Club Championship is an annual Gaelic football club competition between the intermediate Derry clubs...
medals with Glen in 1980 and 1983.
Managerial career
Moran was Derry manager in the early 1980s at a young age. He was 29 years old and still a player when he took over the Derry managerial reinRein
Reins are items of horse tack, used to direct a horse or other animal used for riding or driving. Reins can be made of leather, nylon, metal, or other materials, and attach to a bridle via either its bit or its noseband.-Use for riding:...
s in 1980/81?.
He was manager of Omagh St. Enda's
Omagh St. Enda's
Omagh St. Enda's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Their home ground is Healy Park which was opened in 1972....
when they won the 1988 Tyrone Senior Football Championship.
When Eamonn Coleman
Eamonn Coleman
Eamonn Coleman was an Irish Gaelic footballer and later manager.He had two separate stints as manager the Derry senior football team, and his chief success was guiding the county to the victory in the 1993 All-Ireland Championship - Derry's first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title...
was announced as Derry manager in September 1990/91?, Moran was appointed coach of the team. The duo helped lead Derry to the 1992 National League title, defeating Tyrone
Tyrone GAA
The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
in the final. The following year Derry won the Ulster Championship
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
and went on to win the county's first ever first ever All-Ireland Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
. He is famed for his rousing half-time speech in the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
.
Following the controversial sacking of Coleman after the 1994 campaign, Moran was appointed Derry manager in September 1994. Under his leadership, Derry won the 1994/95 National League, but unfortunately for Derry they were knocked out of the 1995 Ulster Championship at the semi-final stage and he quit soon after. Moran was in charge of Sligo
Sligo GAA
The Sligo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Sligo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Sligo...
for four seasons (1996-2000) and the county made "made huge strides" under his leadership, including reaching the 1997 Connacht Senior Football Championship
Connacht Senior Football Championship
The Bank of Ireland Connacht Senior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition for the senior county teams of Connacht GAA. A series of games are played during the summer months and the final is played in July....
final.
Straight after managing Sligo, Moran with John Morrison as assistant was appointed as Donegal
Donegal GAA
The Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Donegal. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.Gaelic football is strongest in the...
manager for the 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons His first year in charge of Donegal was a disappointing one, but 2002 was more successful, leading Donegal to the Ulster final (where they were beat by Armagh
Armagh GAA
The Armagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Armagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Armagh...
) and then to the All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin. However in September 2002 he informed the county board he would not be staying for the third year of the term. He was immediately linked with the vacant Derry job. His third spell as Derry manager was from 2003 to 2005. He led Derry to the 2004 All-Ireland semi-final, but they were defeated by Kerry. He was also appointed manager of Derry Under 21s at the time.
Moran was appointed manager of Mayo in October 2005. In his first season in charge he won the Connacht Championship and guided Mayo to the 2006 All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2006
The 2006 Bank of Ireland All-Ireland Senior Football Championship began on Sunday, May 7, 2006. The 2006 championship used the same "Qualifier" system that was used in 2005....
final after a brilliant comeback against Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
in the semi-final proving one of the Championship highlights. Unfortunately for Moran and Mayo they were beaten by Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
in the final. He stood down as Mayo boss a few weeks later, a few days after assistant John Morrison had stood down.
He was linked with the vacant Kildare
Kildare GAA
For more information see Kildare Senior Club Football Championship or Kildare Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Kildare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Kildare GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kildare...
position in September 2007, but the job eventually went to Kieran McGeeney. Moran was appointed Leitrim
Leitrim GAA
The Leitrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Leitrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Leitrim. The county board is also responsible for the Leitrim inter-county teams.-Gaelic football:In the 1924 Connacht...
manager on 25 August 2008 for 2009 and will once again be assisted by John Morrison. Moran has been manager/coach of the Jordanstown football team for a number of years and along with Adrian McGuckin guided the university to victory in the 2008 Sigerson Cup
Sigerson Cup
The Sigerson Cup is the top division of Higher Education Gaelic football in Ireland, It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
. He has since stepped down since that success.