A tribute to Sean Moore

Leinster and Fingal cricket lost one of its towering figures this week with the passing of Seán Moore of Knockbrack.

Seán died at home after a long illness and is survived by his wife Holly and children Sean jr, Sharon, Hazel and Pearl.  He was laid to rest in Hollywood cemetery.

When people talk of players who might have played for Ireland had they had the opportunities, Seán Moore is always mentioned.

They saw the very best of him in Fingal, where he started on the powerful Knockbrack side than won the Fingal League seven times between 1956 and 1964.

In 1963 the Evening Herald reported on a final between Knockbrack and Balrothery. Only John Mooney reached double figures facing the “fiery attack of Seán Donnelly (5-10) and Seán Moore (4-11).” Knockbrack were chasing just 36 but collapsed to 11-6. George McNally and Thomas McGrane – who also passed away this winter – took them to the brink of victory but it was left to the last pair to get the remaining five to win.

Seán moved to Rush who played in the junior Leinster leagues where he lined up alongside the Carthys and Martins. In an interview with David Medcalf in 1985 he admitted he was “terrible fast” and Paddy Martin had to wear a chest pad when keeping to him.

One of his celebrated performances was in a cup semi-final against Carlisle when he was brought on with only 20 needed to win and two wickets down. Moore took 8-8 and forced a tie.

He joined Man O’War for a time and eventually joined Malahide in 1970, hoping to break into senior cricket.

But he was already in his mid thirties and the Village were assembling a strong side who would win plenty of trophies. The demands of working his large farm meant he had to step away from the sport just when he was on the verge of a breakthrough.

His one taste of senior competition came via the Alan Murray Cup when a Fingal League Select XI played regularly in the 1970s and early 80s, winning it in 1975 and 1976.

In the 1976 final Moore took 4-17 off six overs as Malahide were routed for 57, and Matt Sheridan (26no) saw Fingal home with the bat.

In 1982 they again shocked Leinster at Balrothery when they bowled them out for 70 to win by 17 runs. Moore took 6-18 and Joey Mooney 4-20.

As late as 1998 Seán – by then in his mid sixties – was being described as “explosive with the ball” by the Drogheda Independent as Knockbrack won Junior B.

Stats aren’t easy to come by but, thanks to the shortlived Irish Cricket Magazine, a snapshot exists from the mid 1980s when Seán was in his early fifties.

In the summer of 1984 Knockbrack were in Intermediate A, the sixth division in the province.

He finished 10^th in the batting averages with 422 runs at 24.8, with a best of 77no. But his bowling was still magic, finishing sixth in the table with an average of 7.89. He took an astonishing 56 wickets – in the whole division only teammate Malachy Gavin (41 wickets) took more than 33. He was man of the match in that year's Intermediate Cup final.

The following season he was still in the top ten bowlers with 23 wickets at 10.91.

His old club folded in 2003 when their ground was claimed for development, but he still stayed involved with Balbriggan and Ring Commons.

Balbriggan paid tribute saying: “Seán and his son, Seán Jnr graced our club for a few seasons towards the end of his career and he will always be recognised as a bowling legend in the Fingal area. Seán was a great cricketer in his many years involved with Knockbrack and KBRC and we have lost another legend of Fingal Cricket.”