For any Townie fans (this scribe included) that traversed Clare to head to Broadford mid-week to see the Junior A hurlers opening league game back on the 30th of March earlier this year, few could see how this team would make any dent in the championship, never mind make the final. That evening down in Broadford, they struggled to keep the ball pucked out while slipping to a heavy opening day defeat in east Clare.

To be fair, the team contained several of the exciting group of young talented teenagers recently graduated from our minor ranks who were just finding their feet in the adult ranks. From the embers of that defeat, Keith Molloy and his management team returned to take the helm of the Junior As and have successfully stirred life into the slumbering giant.

Keith Molloy, Sept'22

Keith Molloy is a Townie and Banner man to the core. In addition to his unflinching good humor and energy, he has a constant belief in the good nature of young people. Subsequently, he is the right man to guide that transition from the Academy to the adult ranks in the club, where unfortunately a lot of young men and women drift away from the club. But Keith is a great man to get the young lads out training and playing hurling. Keith and his management team (and he will unashamedly tell you that it is to everyone’s else credit bar his own) have guided this Junior A team from the depths of a few heavy league defeats to the Junior A championship final.

In doing so, he has gelled the veterans from 2018 (Marc O’Donnell, Niall O’Connor, the Moynihan brothers – Kevin & Paul etc.) to the exciting young talented bunch of players just graduated from the minor (huge kudos to our Academy btw!) ranks (Andrew McElwee, Jack Lynch, Cillian Moloney, Conor Kilcawley etc.). We will feature a couple of veterans plus introduce you to some of those young talents as the countdown to the final next Saturday. Today though its Keith’s turn and as the man himself would say “Hon the Townies I said” –

1. Name: Keith Molloy

2. Position: Manager of the Junior A team

3. Occupation/Career: A support worker for the Brothers of Charity.

4. Date of birth/age: 11/05/1971 - 51 years old

5. Where were you born? Ennis hospital

6. When did you start hurling? 1984

7. Biggest influence on your career to date: Watching Stephen McNamara score a goal in the All-Ireland final.

8. When did you start playing with Eire Og? 1984

9. Cups/trophies to date: None

10. Have you played for Clare/intercounty: No but have been coaching for Clare Development Squads for the last 9 years.

11. Favorite thing about Eire Og: It is watching the young boys and girls develop their skills in hurling, camogie & football.

12. What other sports have/do you play besides hurling? I played football & soccer in my teens.

13. What’s your favorite TV show/film: Peaky Blinders

14. Favorite music: Listening to Whitney Houston after Eire Og win a match.

15. Favorite meal: The wife's roast on a Sunday.

16. What 3 people, alive or dead, would you invite for a drink and why? 1. Muhammad Ali because of his poetry, 2. Christy Ring to ask him what it was like to hurl back in his day. 3. Ger Loughnane just to get inside his head and talk about the All-Ireland in 1995.

17. What would you change about the current GAA & why? The only thing I'd change is I'd keep a set price for club game and County games for people who are less off, and everyone can enjoy the hurling.

18. What are your hobbies and interests outside the GAA? My new passion for the gym, walking and spending time with my grandkids.

19. What’s the best piece of advice you ever received? To treat people with respect and have respect for everybody.

20. What’s your favorite sporting memory? Clare winning the All-Ireland in 1995, 1997 and 2013.

21. In 5 years’ time I hope to be..... Still coaching in Eire Og and managing teams.

So, get revved up and get ready to head to Tulla next Saturday, Oct 8th to cheer Keith and the lads on!