Christy Moylan

Christy Moylan (1916-?) was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Dungarvan and with the Waterford senior inter-county team from 1935 until 1949.

Playing career

Club

Moylan played his club hurling with his local club in Dungarvan and enjoyed some success. He won a senior county title with the club in 1941. This was Dungarvan’s last victory in the county championship.

Inter-county

Moylan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with Waterford in the 1930s. He made his senior debut with the team in 1935, however, Waterford were regarded as the ‘sick men’ of Munster hurling because the team had never won a provincial title.

All this changed in 1938 when Moylan lined out in his first Munster final. Surprisingly, the game saw Clare providing the opposition. In a close game Waterford emerged as the victors on a score line of 3-5 to 2-5. Not only was it Moylan’s first Munster medal but it was also the first time that Waterford had won the provincial title. Waterford later accounted for Galway allowing Moylan’s side to advance to their first-ever All-Ireland final. Dublin provided the opposition on that occasion and the game turned out to be a good one. Declan Goode scored a goal for the Decies after just six minutes, however, Dublin fought back with goals of their own. Eventually, victory went to ‘the Dubs’ on a score line of 2-5 to 1-6.

Waterford went into decline following this defeat. A two-point loss to Cork in the Munster final of 1943 was the only high point for Moylan.

In 1948, then years after their first provincial title, Waterford were back in the Munster final. Cork, the outstanding team of the decade, provided the opposition on that occasion and another exciting game followed. Waterford emerged victorious on a score line of 4-7 to 3-9 giving Moylan his second Munster medal. Galway fell again in the penultimate game of the championship, allowing Waterford to advance to the All-Ireland final. Just like ten years previous Dublin provided the opposition. Once again Waterford got off to a good start and led by nine points at half-time. Four goals followed in the second-half courtesy of John Keane, Willie Galvin, Eddie Daly and Moylan. Waterford won on a score line of 6-7 to 4-2 giving Moylan his first All-Ireland medal.

Moylan continued playing in 1949, however, Waterford surrendered their provincial and All-Ireland crowns at the first hurdle. Moylan retired from inter-county hurling following this defeat.

Provincial

Moylan also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial hurling competition and enjoyed much success. He first lined out for his province in 1937 and captured his first Railway Cup medal in 1937. It was the first of four inter-provincial titles in-a-row. Moylan won his fifth and final Railway Cup medal in 1942.

Post-playing career

In retirement from playing Moylan maintained a keen interest in the game as he came to be regarded as one of the great players of his generation. Long after his playing days were over his brilliance as a player was recognised when he was the recipient of the prestigious GAA All-Time All-Star award. Past winners of the award included Mick Mackey, Jack Lynch and Jim Langton.

Teams