As Micheal O Muircheartaigh might say: Iraq could not be considered a 'hurling stronghold' but one Leitrim hurler is blazing a trail for his native country.

Semaco 'Zak' Moradi lined out at left-half forward and scored a point for the Connacht county in their 2-8 to 3-12 defeat by Fermanagh in the Lory Meagher Cup semi-final at Maguiresbridge last Saturday.

Following the defeat to the Ernesiders, Moradi informed the Fermanagh Herald that his family fled Iraq in 2002 and settled in Carrick-on-Shannon. It didn't take him too long to catch the hurling bug.

"You can take up hurling at any age," he said of his experience. "You don't have to be playing in a team. You can do like I did and hit the ball against a wall. A Kilkenny hurler who won All-Irelands told me that."

The 21 year old now lives in Dublin where he lines out with Thomas Davis but he makes the trip to Ballinamore two and three times a week to coaching hurling in Leitrim schools.

Clement Cunniffe finished the game as Leitrim's top scorer with 2-9 and he was glowing in his praise of his team-mate.

"He's called a lot of things, but 'Zak' is the nickname we call," Cunniffe revealed. "He's a nice fellow. He loves the hurling. He gets stuck in and he's very fast. That's what we need, young lads coming up to take over from the older fellows.

"Yes, he does stand out. He's wiry and young. In fact, I remember him playing when I was coaching in primary school." Tweet

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