Focused Murray digs deep to seal title

LAST summer Gary Murray was told by the renowned Munich sports injury specialist, Dr Hans Mueller, that his back was in such bad shape that he should not be running at all.

When he awoke with a back spasm on Saturday morning, his hopes of reclaiming the national inter-counties cross country title seemed remote.

Yesterday Murray turned in the performance of his life to beat last year’s silver medallist, Gareth Turnbull (Antrim), and defending champion, Mark Christie (Westmeath), in a thrilling race fought out in spectacular fashion over the plains of The Curragh.