Moynihan looks to the manor born

Four players made their debuts for the Kingdom on Sunday, one stood out more than the others, however

SOMETIMES it’s better that way, in at the deep end, with little warning, with little time to think and over-think, little time for nerves to catch hold.

When did he know? Before we all did certainly. By a couple of hours? A day maybe at most? After all the team was only named on Friday night. No matter, he knew when he knew and we knew when we knew.

To be honest even if he knew all week, the way he played on Sunday afternoon half suggests it wouldn’t have made the blind bit of difference to him one way or the other. To the manor born and all of that.

He carries himself the way a Kerry footballer should. With a confidence that’s just on the right side of swagger. To be a success in the green and gold you have to believe you belong in it, that it was made for you and you for it.

The green and gold is not a place for the timid and Dara Moynihan doesn’t strike us as the timid type. Right away he positioned himself as a potential leader of the team, getting on the ball, showing for it and demanding it almost.

When he got his chance – however and whenever it came about – the Spa man grabbed it with both hands. He didn’t wait for things to happen, he made them happen for him. When he found himself in a position to shoot, he shot.

That might seem an obvious thing to do – especially from outside the fray watching on – but not every young player will. They might shrink from the responsibility, pass it on to the next player off his shoulder, fearful of making a mistake, fearful of kicking a wide, or worse still, dropping it short.

Out there on the Fitzgerald Stadium carpet Moynihan was fearless. He took a pass from Paul Geaney, sized up his options, saw that he was best placed and did the needful. The ball soared over the scoreboard end goal and Moynihan’s confidence soared along with it.

Two minutes after that and Moynihan was at it again. Another Geaney assist, another opportunity for a score, another chance to get himself noticed, another chance to stand out from the crowd, another nail in the coffin of Mickey Harte’s Tyrone.

With those two points Dara Moynihan had introduced himself to the Kerry public as a player for the here and now. Not for him the waiting game, not for him an eye on making the breakthrough a year or two down the lin. His time is now. A new Kerry is rising and Moynihan intends to be at the vanguard.

Of the debuts we saw on the weekend, Moynihan’s was by far the most impressive, which is