'You just do whatever you can to help’ – sidelined Eoin Moloney still driving Midleton’s county final push

Few have contributed more to Midleton’s season than Eoin Moloney. His defending had been immaculate, his form immense, and his influence clear in every tackle and turnover that helped carry the Magpies to another county final.

Now, as the biggest game of the season looms, he’ll be watching from the sideline – his campaign ended by an Achilles injury picked up in the aftermath of their semi-final win.

“The only other time I've had any kind of genuine injury was probably, I broke my hand when we got to the U21 final against Fr O’Neill’s a few years ago,” he begins. “So I have a bit of, I wouldn't say experience, but I know what it feels like.

“It’s different in terms of preparation because, your week is much different now because you're not training, not going to the gym or whatever, but you kind of have to just do whatever you can to help, helping whoever's going into my position, helping anyone really.

“If it means watching videos and stuff like that, I've told the lads I’ll do whatever needs to be done anyway.” 

It’s a gutting setback, but this year has put things into perspective for everyone in the club. In a season scarred by the tragic passings of Darragh McCarthy and Ger Fitzgerald, a torn tendon doesn’t come close.

“If you're having a few good games, it's tough to take. But I think this year, we’ve probably learned that there's bigger things, worse things that can happen off the pitch. In the grand scheme of things, it's only a tendon at the end of the day.

“It’s a bit sore, but it's not going to cause any major issues really, hopefully, if everything goes right. But like I said, with everything else that's gone on, it's not the be all and end all.” 

There are smaller adjustments, of course. Moloney, an accountant based in the city, has swapped the train commute for working from home.

ADJUSTMENTS

“I'm working from home now, because getting in and out is a bit of… a bother,” Moloney says. “I was getting the train up, but I don't fancy standing on the packed train and hobbling over to the office on the crutches, so I'm working from home now!” 

As Midleton prepare to face Sarsfields – the team that have crushed their hopes of reclaiming the Seán Óg Murphy Cup in both of the previous two seasons – the obvious question is what’s changed since then.

I'd say both teams have probably changed quite a bit,” he explains. “There're a lot of fellas, that would have played the last two games, three now if you include final, but there's quite a sizable amount that haven't.

“Killian McDermott this year has been a big addition. Tadhg O’Leary Hayes came on alright in the final a couple of years ago, but towards the end. He’s been a revelation for us this year, he hasn't put a foot wrong.

“Sars as well, they've a few younger players playing for them now, and they've their own injury problems as well, so we're not the only ones.” 

There’s also a subtle shift this time around. Midleton’s intermediate team have already exited their championship, freeing up one managerial headache – something that wasn’t the case in 2023 or 2024, when they played Sars.

“Obviously, for the intermediates, you want them to be going as well as possible,” Eoin explains. “It's great when they're going well, because then they're pushing us at training.

“But ever since they’ve been knocked out, you don’t notice it around the group. None of them are feeling sorry for themselves, they're looking at it now as, how can I get into the senior team?

“Evan McGrath, he’s come on the last two games and made a big, massive impact,” he remarks. “So it was definitely tough for the management in 2023. I know you'd say the senior is the priority, but at the same time, you don't want to just deplete the whole intermediate team.

“It's tough balancing out for them. It definitely helps, but in fairness to the lads on the intermediate panel, they're keeping the standards going.

“It's the fellas who, aren't going to get any minutes in the year, they're the fellas that are winning and losing the county for you.”