Wednesday, March 17, 2010 Previous editions
Saturday, November 07, 2009
AS Tommy Walsh departs for the life of a professional athlete with Aussie Rules outfit St Kilda, Brendan Murphy’s re-integration into the GAA is continuing apace with Rathvilly taking on Clara in the AIB Leinster club championship tomorrow.
At 22, Walsh is a former young footballer of the year and has an All-Ireland medal in his pocket. Murphy is two years younger but he knows what lies in store for the Kerryman in Australia. What’s more, even though he turned down the offer of a contract extension by Sydney Swans, Murphy reckons Walsh, Zach Tuohy and any other hopefuls dreaming of making it Down Under, are right to have a go.
Murphy said: "I’m delighted I went over. I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t get to play senior football; I was just unlucky with a few injuries. I thought I could play over there but when I kept getting injury after injury, I wasn’t enjoying myself anymore.
"I decided I’d be happier at home. You learn a lot about yourself when you’re getting through homesickness. You also learn about things like nutrition, how to keep your body in good condition. It helps you to become a better athlete really."
Murphy has big expectations for Walsh, who plays his final game for Kerins O’Rahillys in the Munster club against Clonakilty tomorrow.
"Tommy Walsh is a class footballer. I’d put all my money on him making it over there. Definitely if you get a chance, I’d tell any lad to go for it. No club is going to make you stay the two years. If you don’t like it, you can come home whenever you want. The benefits are massive."
That chapter of his life is now behind Murphy, who came to national prominence as Carlow got to the Leinster MFC final in 2007, losing by just two points to Laois.
He has settled back in seamlessly with Rathvilly, having starred in the semi-final defeat of Éire Óg and kicked a crucial long range point in the final against Old Leighlin.
He is ready to give his best in Tullamore against the Offaly champions.
"It was great to get back with all the boys, going to training and getting the skills back.
"I feel I’m back to where I was now but you get a bit rusty. I was always talking to the brothers and in contact with the manager while I was away.
"They were all delighted for me to come back and play.
"I was back just four days after the (county) quarter-final. That gave me six weeks before the semi-final. We had kept losing in the semis since the last time we won the championship in 2004, so to beat Éire Óg was great."
When the final whistle was blown in the decider, Murphy was awash with emotion. After all, it wasn’t the SCG, Bondi Beach and Aussie Rules that dominated his dreams as a boy.
"It was unreal. Playing county championship is all you want to do when you’re growing up. Playing with your brothers, your best friends and then to win. I’ll never forget it."
That was a couple of weeks ago now though. A new campaign begins for the Carlow champions and they are eager for the fray.
"We’re giving Leinster a good rattle. Some people will laugh at us because we’re from Carlow but we have a serious panel and we’ll give it our all.
"We went up to watch Clara against (St) Laurence’s (in the first round). Laurence’s were eight points up but Clara clawed back into it and deserved to win in the end. I can’t wait for it."
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