Murphy has high hopes for his young charges

THE double transfer of Larry Tompkins and Shea Fahy still grates with Kildare folk, who wonder what might have been had the future All Stars stayed at home instead of inspiring Cork to the greatest era of their football history.

By the time Bryan Murphy is finished contributing to the Lilywhite cause though, they may have cause to think that they got a decent payback from the Leesiders.

A dual minor with Cork, Murphy played at centre-back in both the hurling and football finals in 1985, winning the former. Serious knee trouble stalled his progress, even though he won an All-Ireland junior football title in 1993.

A new job at Dawn Farms in Naas made things even more difficult and when the travelling down south to play for Bishopstown became too much, he made the decision to throw in his lot with Clane.

Mick O’Dwyer came calling immediately and while mostly deployed as an impact sub, his name will forever be inked in Kildare’s history courtesy of his late goal that sealed the county’s first Leinster senior title in 42 years in 1998.

He won another two years later before retiring, his knees having finally proven too troublesome to persist. He immediately involved himself at underage level with his club and has prioritised that area since, apart from a year as a senior selector with Kildare under Padraig Nolan in 2005. Feeling that the underage structures within the county needed improvement, he approached the county board with an idea about setting up a development squad system and has been overseeing it since.

It is fitting therefore that Murphy is at the helm as the Lilywhites contest a Leinster final at minor level for the first time since 2004.

“I have always had great time for Bryan Murphy” says county chairman Syl Merrins. “He’s an excellent man. He moved up here from Cork and didn’t play for any other reason but to help Kildare and that was obvious from the time he came up.”

Murphy believes that Kildare have a tremendous opportunity now thanks to a huge growth in the youth demographic.

“The work from U14 right up to minor is being done and there’s definitely a better structure. Noel Mooney, David Murphy and Dermot O’Toole have put in fierce work and they’ve been joined now by the likes of (former Kildare star) Tadhg Fennin. It’s starting to pay off. We’re trying to back that up by getting external feedback and advice from experts in various fields such as nutrition, and strength and conditioning, to get the players working on all facets of the game.

“Ultimately you want to give these lads the tools and ambition to go on to play at senior level. I think we’ve given them a platform to chase the dream.”

The short-term focus has to be on tomorrow though and Murphy is optimistic. He has every reason to be with the likes of the prodigious Paul Cribbin to call on.

The 17-year-old is currently considering an offer of a two-year contract from AFL club Collingwood. Others to look out for are forwards Darroch Mulhall and Pádraig Fogarty.

“We’re going up to win, there’s no question about that” says Murphy. “There are so many variables that can be at play with young fellas but I believe that if we perform as we’re capable, we’ll make it difficult for any team.

“There’s only a kick of the ball between the teams and if it’s tight at the end it might be a question of character and we have that as we showed when winning in Meath. I want them to perform as they can and do themselves justice. That’s all you can ask for.”