Murray makes Rovers debut after finalising City exit

DAN MURRAY pulled on a Shamrock Rovers shirt last night for the first time, barely 24 hours after securing a move away from League of Ireland Premier Division rivals Cork City.

Murray came on as a half-time substitute as the Hoops beat Shelbourne in a 1-0 friendly win courtesy of a 12th minute strike from triallist Declan Edwards.

Speaking yesterday, Murray criticised the “audacity” of the suspension which was handed down after last week’s show of opposition against Tom Coughlan’s stewardship of the club but said he was leaving Leeside with a heavy heart.

“I tried to hang in as long as I could to ensure the club got through a the most difficult period it has ever had, and it came to a point where the offer from Shamrock Rovers was too good to turn down and I had to get paid sooner rather than later.

“Rovers went through the same thing as Cork City with examinership and hopefully Cork can do the same and pull through. They have to start with a clean slate and turn the whole thing around. Rovers have a very progressive club and the fans are very involved.

“(Cork) needs a football club and the league needs a strong football club. It’s arguably one of the best supported clubs in the country so it needs to be run well. The fans need a major say in where the club goes.

“There were a few things that made my mind up. When we did what we did last Friday, we knew there was going to be some reaction from the club. And that’s the way they go. It was disappointing after five or six years working really hard for the club and then it turns out you don’t get paid for 11 weeks.

“Then they have the audacity to suspend you for a couple of weeks and tell you there’s the possibility of fining you a few weeks wages as well when they haven’t paid you in so long.

“It’s been tough to take. Since there was all this talk about me leaving there weren’t that many people from the club bashing my door down to make sure that I stay. So I think it’s probably the right time for me to move on.

“It’s a new challenge that I wasn’t expecting. It’s sad to say that, a year ago, I thought I’d actually be challenging for the record amount of appearances for Cork City. But that’s the way it goes and I have to say I’m excited about this new era in my life.”