Murphy: 'You don't want to let your standards drop'
Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy.
By Cian O'Connell
Expectations and standards are always high in Kilkenny - it is something Eoin Murphy has become accustomed to dealing with.
So when Clare claimed a commanding 4-22 to 2-19 Allianz Hurling League semi-final win over the All Ireland champions, Kilkenny were forced to summon a response.
Leinster Championship triumphs over Dublin and Galway confirmed Kilkenny’s class, but goalkeeper Eoin Murphy admits the Clare match was a setback
“It wasn't the first time, it won't be the last either,” Murphy laughs about the fact Kilkenny leaked four goals.
“Obviously you want to be coming out of every game keeping a clean sheet. If it doesn't work out like that there is nothing you can do. You have to just move on to the next game.
“We were probably lucky enough, we had a club game the week after so I could maybe park that aside for a bit to concentrate on the club game. That is just the way it goes.
“In fairness to Clare that day, they probably should have beaten us by more. We were very honest about our performance, we knew it just wasn't good enough.
“We knew we had a lot of work to put in and we did put it in. I suppose as a unit, the seven and maybe the nine if you include the midfield, we have played better since. You don't want to let your standards drop to how we played in the league semi-final.”
Murphy recalls how his senior inter-county career commenced. “I played minor in goal for Kilkenny but then in the years after that, for the U21s, I was actually out the field," Murphy said.
"And when Brian and the guys approached me, they put it on the table they were looking at me as a goalkeeper and an outfield player.
“Then PJ Ryan retired and Brian and the guys approached me and said my foreseeable future was in the goals. When you are fighting for a position, you don’t mind where it is as long as you are there. As long as you are on the team, I don’t really mind.”
So now Kilkenny face Waterford, who Murphy acknowledges give goalkeepers plenty to ponder with puckouts. “They do to a certain extent, but they do change it up quite a bit,” is Murphy’s verdict.
“I think they have adapted their gameplan regarding that. They aren't afraid to go 15 on 15. Physically they have come on leaps and bounds with the amount of young players they have.
“They aren't afraid to go man to man. One minute you could be playing against two extra men in the backs or whatever it is, the next minute they are running alongside a midfielder as support players.
“They can play an orthodox 15 on 15. Look, it is how we set up our plan, making sure lads are sure that they do track those runners. Whoever is spare in our defence, if they do go with a spare man, we do have to be at the top of our game. We just have to adapt our own gameplan on it.”
Eoin Murphy and Noel Connors following the 2015 All Ireland SHC semi final at Croke Park.
With puckout statistics being monitored, the approach to the game has altered significantly throughout the years, but Murphy stresses the importance of being adaptable. “You make the best decision every time,” Murphy said.
“You could say to someone you are going to get the first ball or puck out, whatever it is. After the first minute the whole gameplan could be thrown out the window. Depending on how the other team sets up, you just have to play with your head and play with your feet aswell. You just have to take it as it comes.
“One minute Joey, Rob Lennon or Paul Murphy is free, whoever is free, whoever is in the most space, things like that. Last year for the first puck out Padraig Walsh was free. He got the first one. We didn't set out to give it to him. That is just the way it panned out.”
Playing outfield for Glenmore gives Murphy a different perspective on what is required too. “I suppose you don't want the ball coming down with snow on it either,” Murphy commented. “So you realise what type of a ball a back doesn't like. You know what forwards like coming in front of them. You are trying to give a more favourable ball to a forward aswell.
“There does come a time when you are just going to have to hit it long. There might be nothing on and you have to win your own ball, you can't be gift wrapped the ball every single time. Every forward has to win their own ball along with the backs aswell.”
For Murphy there is a certain ‘comfort’, also, in knowing that Kilkenny’s forwards can gather possession the direct route. “You aren't under pressure to be confined to one gameplan, you can lamp it up the field when you have the likes of Wally, TJ, they can be dominant in the half forward line.
“It does give a bit of comfort, but any of our backs are comfortable aswell if you do give it short. It is there in the back of your mind that if there is nothing on up the field, if teams are drifting back, you can give it short.”
Murphy and Waterford custodian Stephen O’Keefe will be two of the most important figures on Sunday afternoon. It promises to be an interesting encounter.
