Tipperary footballer Alan Campbell.
In this week's 'My Club' feature, Tipperary footballer Alan Campbell tells us all about his club Moyle Rovers.
By Cian O'Connell
Seven Tipperary Senior Football Championships were won by Moyle Rovers between 1995 and 2009. It was a special time laced with silverware when Declan Browne and Derry Foley were in their pomp.
Moyle Rovers were renowned throughout Tipperary and Munster for their stylish approach to Gaelic Football losing the 1998 provincial final after a replay against Doonbeg.
During the past decade Moyle Rovers also been making an impact in hurling too, especially in the underage grades.
Everyone associated with the club is hopeful that the future is bright and this summer Alan Campbell was a key figure in Tipperary footballers' impressive march to the All Ireland Semi-Finals.
Last weekend's narrow South Tipperary Championship Semi-Final loss to Clonmel Commercials was a blow, but Moyle Rovers remain optimistic.
GAA.ie recently spoke with Moyle Rovers player Alan Campbell about his club which also has a vibrant Juvenile and Ladies Football scene.
For more information on Moyle Rovers, visit their website http://www.moyle-rovers.tipperary.gaa.ie/
Declan Browne celebrates after scoring a goal in the 1998 Munster Club Final.
Q: When did you start playing for the club?
A: It feels like a long time ago, it is hard to remember really, but we started in Primary school and most of the lads from my class started playing football and hurling with Moyle Rovers back at under 6s and under 8s. Back then you were playing everything and I suppose lads find their own path. I've stuck with the hurling and the football up until now.
Q: Traditionally, especially in the 1990s, Moyle Rovers were very successful so for young lads growing up was the emphasis on Gaelic Football?
A: Yeah, it certainly was. There is great work being done on the hurling front in the club aswell, but traditionally it would be more of a Gaelic Football club at senior level. Great players have won seven or eight county titles in the late 90s and early 00s. Derry Foley and Declan Browne played International Rules and won All Stars so it was great to have them around the club. They are still a good influence, trying to continue the success.
Q: When you were growing up were they guys you'd have looked up?
A: Certainly, I remember going to those big games, Munster Semi-Finals and a Munster Final against Doonbeg. I vaguely remember that, I think Moyle Rovers lost after a replay. Those players we would definitely have looked up to. Luckily I got to play with a lot of them aswell, there was a slight overlap there. Liam Cronin, Robbie Boland, Declan Browne, I got to play with them for two or three years. That was a good guiding factor for us starting off.
Derry Foley was an influential player for Moyle Rovers and Tipperary.
Q: Are many of them guys involved now?
A: Yeah, Liam and Robbie are managing the senior football team at the minute. All those players from that successful era are involved in some underage team or perhaps in other clubs and they might come in to train us the odd time. They are always around.
Q: So it would be seen as a very tight-knit club?
A: It would, it is a rural club outside of Clonmel town. There is a parish atmosphere, everyone is tight-knit, but it is big at the same time.
Q: Were you on successful underage teams?
A: Yeah, I suppose we won a nice few county titles at underage level. We had quite a strong team and we would have won a few county underage titles the whole way up to minor and under 21. We won a few underage titles in hurling too. We were successful at underage, but I suppose for us now we just want to bring it through at senior level.
Sean Carey, Moyle Rovers, in action during the 2008 All Ireland Junior Club Hurling Final against Conahy Shamrocks.
Q: The club hasn't won a County Senior title for a while since 2009?
A: I was on the extended panel alright, I was still a minor at the time so I was just coming on to the scene. Unfortunately I've lost two finals since which is a pity, but we will get there eventually. That is what we are hoping to do.
Our goal every year is to win the County Championship. Obviously it doesn't work out for every team every year, but we will always be trying. It is difficult with the hurling and football going well at county level, but we will always be hoping to go the whole way.
Q: Who would you view as your fiercest rivals?
**A: **Back in that late 90s and early 00s Fethard would have been very strong and Commericals in Clonmel aswell. They always would have been seen as the rivals.
In underage we came up against Arravale Rovers a lot. In recent years I suppose Commercials and Loughmore-Castleiney have been very strong. Commercials did very well last year.
Alan Campbell with his parents Patty and Tommy after Tipperary defeated Galway in the All Ireland SFC Quarter-Final in July.
Q: The fact that they went so close in the All Ireland series and came within a whisker of beating Ballyboden St Enda's, did that give everyone a boost?
A: It should what can be done when you do things right. Tipp football would be considered weaker or whatever, but I think they proved that it shouldn't be considered like that. They beat Nemo Rangers and they could easily have beaten Ballyboden St Enda's in the All Ireland Semi-Final. It showed the quality is there and that others aren't far off it. We lost to them by two or three points in the County Final last year.