Murphy credits junior run for senior elevation

DIARMUID MURPHY has taken an unusual route to become Kerry’s first choice goalkeeper.

While most in the position come through the minor and U21 ranks, the Killarney-based insurance official credits a spell with the junior team for propelling him into the limelight as replacement to Declan O’Keeffe. And he is eternally grateful to manager Buddy O’Grady for the chance.

From the Dingle club, he won All-Ireland U21 medals in 1995 and again the following year. But it was only in 2001 that Páidí Ó Sé brought him into his panel, taking over as reserve from Peter O’Leary.

“There were those in-between years before I made it onto the senior panel,” Murphy says. “Luckily I was on the junior team. We made the All-Ireland final twice and lost them, but I got experience. Buddy was a good trainer; that helped. Without the junior, you’d be coming from nowhere, with nothing to back you up.”

Murphy learned a lot from his time on the bench and enjoyed a good relationship with the man in the number one jersey.

“Declan had a professional attitude towards preparing for a game. It was worthwhile for the few years I was there,” he adds.

“I was surprised when he gave up. It would have been a challenge to get my place if he was still there.”

And he is enjoying life as the Kerry senior goalkeeper, aided no doubt by the solidity of his defence.

“The fact that the backs are playing so well all year, that the whole team as a unit has defended well, meant there haven’t been too many shots at goal!”

Eamonn Fitzmaurice is one of those backs with a longer involvement in the team. Yet, after getting red-carded in the League game against Tyrone, he wasn’t certain of recapturing his place. A lost appeal meant he was ineligible for the League semi-final against Limerick but he returned for the decider.

“The way things are going in the half-back line, either Seamus (Moynihan) or Tomas Ó Sé could fit in at centre-back. You don’t want to be missing any games.

“I put my head down in training up to the Limerick game even though I wasn’t playing in it. Luckily I got back for the League final. It would have been disappointing to play the full campaign and miss the final because of a rush of blood in Omagh!”

Fitzmaurice agrees the team has performed better this season and has learned many painful lessons since defeat to Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final last year.

“The half-forwards have been tracking back while the full-forward line has improved their tackling. That has helped the backs. So far so good, we haven’t conceded any big scores yet, but it’s early days. We have to be tuned in for Cork. If we give them time or space on the ball, our defensive record will be gone out the window.”