Seán Moran hoping Cuala can hit ground running in 2018

Thu, 21st December 2017

Seán Moran wants his Cuala team-mates to use the experience of winning the All-Ireland Club SHC last March to drive them on in 2018.

The Dalkey club will face Galway’s Liam Mellows in their All-Ireland semi-final in February (Sat, Feb 10, Thurles, 4.0) and the recently named 2017 Dublin Bus/Herald Hurler of the Year is determined that their winning streak does not stop now.

“It’s just a privilege to be associated with such a special group of fellas,” says Seán.

“We had a great run last season and what we really wanted to do was to get back on the horse and build on that.

“We were All-Ireland champions, but that wouldn’t sit well with us if we didn’t get out of our group in Dublin, so that was our first aim. And thankfully we managed to do that and then retain Leinster.”

While his club is his primary sporting focus at the moment Seán is optimistic that Dublin hurling can commence on an upward curve in 2018.

“Pat Gilroy has come in and by all accounts he’s doing great work.

“The lads are training away. They are putting in a good pre-season. There’s plenty of optimism.

“We’ll keep going with Cuala, and when we finish the campaign we’ll see what happens after that. Hopefully we can help Dublin do well too.”

DUBLIN BUS/HERALD DUBS STARS GAMES

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23

FOOTBALL

Páirc Naomh Uinsionn (St Vincent’s GAA): Dublin v Dubs Stars, 12.30

HURLING

Páirc Naomh Uinsionn (St Vincent’s GAA): Dublin v Dubs Stars, 2.0

DUBS STARS FOOTBALL: Michael Savage (St Vincent’s), Craig Wilson (St Vincent’s), Jarlath Curley (St Vincent’s), Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala), Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes), Ger Brennan (St Vincent’s), Carl Keeley (Ballymun Kickhams), James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams), Nathan Mullins (St Vincent’s), Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes), Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincent’s), Jason Whelan (Ballymun Kickhams), Niall Coakley (St Jude’s), Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams), Pat Burke (Kilmacud Crokes), Shane Supple (St Brigid’s), Mark Sweeney (St Jude’s), John Small (Ballymun Kickhams), John O’Loughlin (St Brigid’s), Kevin McManamon (St Jude’s), Gary Sweeney (St Sylvester’s), Tomás Quinn (St Vincent’s).

DUBS STARS HURLING: Seán Brennan (Cuala), Niall Corcoran (Kilmacud Crokes), Cian O’Callaghan (Cuala), Barry Aird (Lucan Sarsfields), Ross O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes), Seán Moran (Cuala), Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields), Jake Malone (Cuala), Rian McBride (St Vincent’s), Alan Moore (St Vincent’s), Fergal Whitely (Kilmacud Crokes), David Treacy (Cuala), Cian O’Sullivan (St Brigid’s), Con O’Callaghan (Cuala), Alex Quinn (Crumlin), Stephen Chester (Craobh Chiaráin), Simon Lambert (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Paul Schutte (Cuala), Johnny McCaffrey (Lucan Sarsfields), Darragh O’Connell (Cuala), Paul Winters (St Brigid’s), Oisín O’Rorke (Kilmacud Crokes).