Murphy still chasing final glory

HE’S been pounding the midfield treadmill for over a decade now and Nicholas Murphy is still chasing that twin dream of success.

He can draw neat parallels between his fortunes on the county scene with Cork and on the club scene with Carrigaline. The football prizes on offer may differ from the glamour of an All-Ireland title to the grassroots of a Cork intermediate crown, but his experiences with both have been framed by extended championship runs culminating in heartbreak.

With Cork the run started off with a three-point reversal against Meath in the 1999 All-Ireland final, included the crushing September defeat against Kerry two years ago and all manner of dejecting losses in between. At club level Murphy has found no refuge either with Carrigaline.