‘Those years with Louth, football was a welcome distraction. I was using gambling to escape reality’

Former Louth man Jimmy Murray recounts depths of despair and how he won his life back

That was then: Jimmy Murray of Louth catches up with Dublin's Paul Casey during the 2008 Leinster football quarter final at Croke Park. Pic: INPHO/Caroline Quinn

The last time Louth faced Cork in the championship, Micheal Shields’ fists pierced into James Murray’s ribs as he received a ball under the stand in a riproaring qualifier encounter at Portlaoise, back in 2007. A lot has happened since.

Cork reached an All-Ireland final that season and then eventually went on to win the Sam Maguire three years later. Murray had finished playing with Louth by that stage, and 15 years later after facing up to his demons, he has eventually won his life back.