Jim McGuinness on how and when ‘humble’ Ciaran Moore first caught his eye

Ciaran Moore’s emergence as a serious intercounty force took another real turn last week when the 22-year-old was shortlisted for Young Footballer of the Year.

Moore only broke through to the senior ranks for his club St Eunan’s back in 2022.

But when Jim McGuinness trawled the club championship scene last term, the 2012 All-Ireland winning boss was immediately drawn towards the St Eunan’s player.

Moore’s directness and turn of speed meant he had the potential to fit what McGuinness believed was the modern Gaelic footballing mould perfectly.

The player debuted for Donegal in the McKenna Cup in early January and was an ever-present as the side eventually lifted the Division 2 NFL crown at Croke Park.

Such was McGuinness’ trust in him, even at that early stage, he handed him a championship debut in Celtic Park as Donegal dumped then reigning champions Derry out of the Ulster SFC running.

Prior to that huge provincial opener opener, Donegal held a press event at their training base in Convoy.

Pressed on just what Moore delivered and when he delivered it, McGuinness explained when and where he caught his eye.

“Ciaran has probably played every position on the pitch for us at this stage,” the Donegal boss said at the time.

“I actually seen him over in Glenties in a round-robin match between Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s in the championship.

“I seen the athlete in him but I also seen that he has a real natural tendency to sense danger. He understands where he needs to be on the pitch at that given moment.

“That’s something that is so often very difficult to coach. I mean some very good, excellent attacking players actually, sometimes don’t have that awareness and it really challenges a manager.

“But once you see someone that has that, and can make those recovery runs to get a hand in or whatever, it’s a serious starting point.

“Ciaran has those natural fire-fighting tendencies. But again, you don’t really know until you put him into this environment. But we’ve put him in midfield, half-back wherever, and he’s still done it.

“And he’s done it brilliantly. He’s marked some proper well-established forwards with big physiques, and good scoring prowess and done a job for us.

“So what we have now is a young lad, a very humble young lad at that, that we know can do a serious job for us in a number of positions. And that also gives us real flexibility”.

St Eunan’s booked their spot in the Donegal SFC semi-final last Saturday night with a dramatic 0-10 to 0-9 victory over champions Naomh Conaill in Ballybofey.

Having found themselves a point behind nearing the end there, Moore lamped over an equaliser while in added time Eoin McGeehin sealed the deal for Eunan’s.

Barry Meehan’s team now look forward to a tangle with Gaoth Dobhair in the last four. The Letterkenny side are huge favourites to not only advance to another decider but to also lift the Dr Maguire.

But while Moore didn’t know it at the time, he made a point to reference their earlier group stage loss to the Mageragallon side as proof that nothing can be taken for granted, even with Naomh Conaill out of the picture.

“Gaoth Dobhair took points off us in O’Donnell Park so we know there are no easy games in this championship. Anyone left in the last four now will be looking to win it”.

Moore says Eunan’s are still very much a work in progress under Meehan as he looks to put his stamp on their style and approach.

“We know there is a lot of talent in this team and it’s about getting it out of us, playing a way that suits that.

“We did it in spells against Naomh Conaill - we played some really nice football. but it’s about getting that to work across the hour now”.

Meanwhile, Moore goes up against Galway defender Johnny McGrath and Armagh’s All-Ireland winning ace Oisín Conaty for the YFOTY gong.

But like McGuinness previously alluded to, the player’s own modesty means he didn’t elaborate too much on the nomination when asked about it last Saturday night.

“It was nice to get the nomination. But the entire squad and set-up put in so much hard work this year that it was just great to be a part of it.

“I’m really enjoying my football right now and that’s the important thing. It was a huge step up but Jim, the management and the players showed huge belief in me.

“I’m just thankful I got the opportunity to be a part of things last season”.