Moran grew up in Rialto, Dublin until his early teens, before he moved to the Long Mile Road in Walkinstown. While there, he attended James's Street CBS and Drimnagh Castle CBS where gaelic football was the dominant sport although soccer proved to be the sport he played on the streets while growing up. During the period in which he played Gaelic football for Good Counsel and soccer for Rangers, Bohemians and Pegasus, he had divided loyalties between the two sports, as both sports were then played on a Saturday.