Tony Morley Mayo 's new forward star Tony Morley, on whose broad young shoulders rests a sizeable portion of Mayo's hopes on Sunday next, was a surprisingly late developer. He was only a sub when Ballyhaunis won the Mayo U-16 title seven years ago - yet within five years he was voted Footballer of the Year and had been the midfield powerhouse behind a county Intermediate Championship success. Often mistaken for the other tall blonde on the Mayo team, Colm McManamon, Tony (aged 21 ) made the full-forward place his own with a string of impressive displays during the league campaign which saw Mayo deprived of promotion by a late Bill Sex goal for Kildare at Charlestown. Ironically, it was on that bleak spring day, when Kildare handed out a lesson in intelligent football to the home team, that Tony really arrived. He scored 2-1 from play, a rate of return so unusual for a Mayo forward, and his was about the only name mentioned in hostelries that evening as followers of the green and red sought solace from a discomforting display. Your average Mayo fan is nothing if not extreme, and before Morley put his head to his pillow that night comparisons were being made with the late great Tom Langan. He's the first full forward we've had in years who can take a score was the phrase employed to justify the unsustainable argument. Beats His Marker Quick to the punted pass floated from midfield, Morley is also able to turn. beat his marker and slap the ball over the bar. For one so young and so new to the inter-county scene, he is remarkably composed on the ball - often holding up possession to allow colleagues to run into space. Standing well over six feet tall and built accordingly, Tony will not be easily put off his game. Morley may well turn out to be a great inter-county full-forward, but he knows better than anyone that comparisons with Langan (who operated long~ long before his time) are ridiculously premature. Anyway, he hadn't a particularly good game against Galway in the opening round of the championship. It was inevitable that Tony would lean to Gaelic Football, despite undoubted prowess as a Basketballer and Soccer player during his schooldays. His father Tony was a Ballyhaunis stalwart, winning the Player of the Year award in 1977. The pair work together as painting contractors now, and Tony Snr. is a selector on the club senior team. The Morleys are a quiet family, and younger brothers David and Jason are also showing great promise. David is the most talkative of the clan, and favours a snappy style of dress which has encouraged comparisons with Humphrey Bogart. A stockier lad who stars for the club team, David maintained his slightly flamboyant image by recently escorting a contender in the Rose of Roscommon pageant! Ballyhaunis is a town which cherishes its Gaelic Football heroes, and before Tony their most revered standard-bearer was Michael Webb who kept goal for Mayo for close on a decade. His unstinting popularity among his peers and those who have watched his career develop ensure that he has the backing of the entire parish. School Tutor Hugh Rudden was Tony's football tutor at the local Community School, and he is not at all surprised that he is on the road to the top. "Tony has a great temperament, and he is cool and calm. He has all the credentials to be a top-class footballer. In his final year in school he was probably the best Gaelic Footballer, Soccer player and Basketballer." In school, Tony sat beside and played alongside many lads from Roscommon, which is just a good poc fada from Ballyhaunis. Hugh also had Paul Earley under his wing at the school some years earlier, and both will fill the respective no. 14 jerseys next Sunday. "They are both very talented players and two of the nicest people you could ask to meet. They are similar in style, able to link up in the build-up to scores or take scores themselves. I think that Tony will develop op into a really great player when he has a few years behind him" stated Hugh. One of Earley's greatest virtues as a school's player was his ability to score a goal at the most unlikely of times. Earley's great rival in those days was one Peter Ford of Ballinrobe, and they will be in direct opposition on Sunday next if Ford overcomes a serious hamstring injury sustained against Galway. A club official feels that Tony is a "youngster's sportsman". He adds: "Tony doesn't go in for dirty play or rarely complains on the field. He is a quiet fella who is very dedicated to the game". Tony gave an indication of his maturity and willingness to lead as an 18 year-old in 1988 when he starred for Ballyhaunis in an Intermediate campaign which culminated in an impressive final victory over Shrule. Highfielding, strong-running and astute distribution were the assets which came to the fore. Encouraging The club form of the emerging star has also been encouraging for Mayo followers. He scored three points in a midfield display which was instrumental in helping Ballyhaunis overcome Qarrymore in the first round of the senior championship. Indeed, the Mayo lads were all impressive for their clubs in that series of championship fixtures. Liam McHale and Paul McStay turned in displays which were described as "vintage" for Ballina Stephenites in ousting Claremorris, while Michael Fitzmaurice landed seven points for Lacken when they got the better of Bonniconlon. The only blemish was an injury sustained by Colm McManamon as his side cruised past Moy Davitts. Tony Morley is a darling of the Mayo crowd (already), and those close to him know that Connacht Final day shouldn't prove too much of a mental undertaking. If Tony gets it together Roscommon could be in trouble. Taken from Hogan Stand 12th July 1991 Tweet

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