*Éire Óg’s Gavin Murray. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
WINNING BACK to back Clare senior football championships was ‘something special’ for adopted Éire Óg man Gavin Murray.
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Moate native Murray has been part of the Éire Óg for three seasons and during that time has won two senior football championships as well as earning a call up to the county panel, achievements that some footballers miss out on for the entirety of their careers.
Part of the half forward line this season for Shane Daniels’ side, Gavin said their victory over St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield capped off a memorable week for the club. “Two in a row is great, first of all it’s been a great week for the club, as someone new coming into it, it took me a bit of time to understand the dual aspect, the amount of time the club put into endorsing it and the lads to both codes is so admirable, I’m delighted to be on the good end of things on the football side of it”.
Their finish aided by fresh legs off the bench was the winning of the game, he felt. “It was a really tough game. We expected it to happen in the first half and we were a bit wasteful up front. At half time we said that we’d grind them down in the second half and eventually it came, we had a great impact from the bench with Jack (Joyce), Gavin (Cooney) and the lads so eventually it told in the last ten minutes. It’s so sweet on a day like today to get the cup in your hands, any way at all it doesn’t matter”.
Lining out in the middle third, the Air Traffic Controller is among the players tasked with bringing in a high tackle count and winning back possession for the Townies.
He explained to The Clare Echo, “It’s just about emptying yourself. With the talent that we have in the forwards with the likes of Mark (McInerney) looking for two pointers in the new system, you’re just trying to create space for them, do the hard work and take the ball to them to let them put the icing on the cake, a couple of times it paid off today but maybe the next day we have to keep the heads in front of goal a bit more and keep the scoreboard ticking. It is so special to be a part of a high performing team with the management Shane (Daniels), Seanie (Buckley) and the lads leading it and the fantastic players we have and how they apply themselves, I’m delighted to play any part in it and it is special on a day like that when it all comes together”.
Success on the football and hurling fronts has been a big lift for the town of Ennis, Gavin maintained. “It’s huge. The colour around town, all week you’re trying to embrace it, soak it up while realising there is a job to do, it is special to be around the business end on days like today, this is why you do all the work for, we’re a fortunate group to get to display it on county final day, you never take it for granted, it is brilliant”.
