‘It will be the biggest game we play’ – joint captain Moloney ready for All-Ireland final

*Josh Moloney speaking to Seamus Hayes. Photograph: John Mangan

Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Josh Moloney is the team’s joint captain along with Sean Neylon and both have the experience of having played senior football championship with their clubs last year.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Josh stated, “This will be the biggest game we will play and it’s going to take a lot to get over the line. Everyone in the school is delighted and there is a great buzz around. We are all in school here since first year, we are all friends, we are well able to play with each other which is great”.

He accepts that the experience he and his team mates have gained from playing with each other has helped them greatly. “We have a lot of lads that have played big games with the county and at senior level with their clubs in front of big crowds and this is a great help. We have great experience behind us as a team”.

Moloney added, “This will be the biggest game that all of us will have played and hopefully there will be a big crowd. There will be that bit of pressure on the players but hopefully it will make the game that bit more enjoyable. We can get over that pressure, we are a good team”.

“There is a great tradition of football in the school and it’s great to be part of one of the only teams to win a Munster title and hopefully to be the first team to win an All-Ireland title for the school,” he said.

The experience that the players have gained through playing with the school, with their club and with county sides was evident in the semi-final when the pressure came on. “That experience helps greatly and that was the case in the semi-final when the pressure came on. It’s all about the squad and that has been evident at training when players are putting their hands up showing that they want to be in the team. We have a great squad and that really helps when games are tight, you can bring on players that you can trust to deliver”.

Like his fellow joint captain Josh doesn’t see the captaincy putting on any extra pressure. “We have great leaders all round, even some of our younger lads are great leaders, well able to talk, encourage and motivate”, according to Moloney who is also a member of the Clare under 20 squad this season.
“Clara will have the same hunger as us and it will come down to who will want this more. We have a great chance, we have a good team and we have trained hard. All the main training is done now. There will always be nerves but when you go onto the field, they seem to settle”, he concluded.