Murray: Difficult Déise life an investment in yourself

The Waterford footballers didn’t win a single game in Division 4 of this year’s League. They won just two across the previous four springs. There have been three championship wins over the past 14 years.

Those figures paint a desperately depressing picture. And so the question can be justifiably asked, why would you commit so much of your time and tailor so much of your lifestyle around involvement in the Waterford football set-up?

“I don't want to get too philosophical about it, but I think it's one of the best things you can do as a person,” says Déise forward Conor Murray.

“It's a serious investment in yourself. What you're doing in terms of preparation, you're trying to look after yourself in the best way possible.

“People always ask the question, is it hard being an inter-county player? Yes, you do miss out on certain things. But it's the benefits you get from it, the friends you make that you wouldn't make otherwise, going through a lot of tough days, you learn so much about yourself in that.” 

Waterford welcome Tipp to Dungarvan for the Munster quarter-final this Sunday. It was the same venue and opposition when the Déise, two years ago, managed a first provincial win since 2010.

But even another such one-off victory this weekend, says Murray, is nowhere near sufficient to keep players coming back winter after winter. His goal in the white jersey is a simple one: to be competitive all year around.

“Winning games is fine, but you need more than that to hold on to players. Everything needs to be done properly just to create that environment where lads want to be,” the secondary school teacher continues.

“The main aim for Waterford football has to be to start competing, first of all in Division 4. I could sit here and say the goal for us is to get out of Division 4. The goal for us is to start winning games in Division 4. And then you can look at getting out of it.

“From the point of view of the rest of the year, getting a win or two in the Tailteann Cup would be a big goal for us. Beating Tipp in Munster, as well.” All those boxes aren’t straightforward ticked when there is a revolving door of player churn at the end of every season.

“You're starting from scratch every time. It's a killer. Look at Wexford, they're an example of what you can do if you do manage to keep the same 24, 25 players there. You can whinge and cry about it all you want, but it's up to the county and up to the management to make the players want to stay and give them something to stay for to cut down on that turnover.”