*Gavin Murray. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
NEVER in his wildest dreams did Gavin Murray expect to be representing Clare in a Munster senior football final.
Appearances for Clare on the biggest day of the provincial football calendar have not been overly plentiful, having won the Munster senior football championship on two occasions and lost out in thirteen finals.
For Westmeath native, Gavin Murray the prospect of lining out in a Munster final was never on the radar for the air traffic controller. “I was only talking to my Mam and Dad about that the other day, I never expected to be playing for Clare in a Munster final, it’s been brilliant all along, it’s something we’ve never targeted or really spoken about it’s been training session to training session and especially for a new guy like myself it was getting to know the lads and try get embedded in the group, Mark and the lads have been very good leading that, the lads have been very good inside in the dressing room there’s no egos and everyone is very welcoming, we’re all in it together and driving forward together, it has led to a Munster final so far and it’s really exciting to be looking forward to it”.
Although Clare appeared in last year’s Munster final, the high amount of turnover within the squad means there are many panellists getting their first taste of a provincial decider. While Gavin is a new addition to the squad, he has experience of a senior provincial final having been part of the Westmeath panel which lost out to Dublin in 2016. “I was on the panel the last time Westmeath were in a Leinster final in 2016, we faced Dublin that day and got well beaten in the end, it was a great experience, getting to line out in Croke Park for a Leinster Final, I never expected eight years later to be playing in a Munster Final with Clare, it’s an unusual path but one I’m grateful for and looking forward to”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Gavin reflected, “In some ways it is a very similar scenario as the underdog facing Dublin then and Kerry now, back then we focused on ourselves and had the belief, possibly not enough and I know that is what the lads have been speaking about in the last few weeks, we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves, we’re very grounded that way, it is really just to focus on ourselves and we’ll see what comes then after that”.
Another unique aspect that he brings to the table for this weekend is that he will face off against Kerry for the first time, his teammates had prior experience of battles with the Kingdom at underage and senior level. “I’m under no illusions as to the experience they have, All-Ireland finalists last year, All-Ireland champions the year before, even in the video analysis in the last few days and in training it has been very much focused on ourselves, Mark, James and the lads are well knowledgeable in that sense in terms of what Kerry will bring. We’re just trying to look at ourselves and we’re really excited for Sunday, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to play in a Munster Final in Cusack Park, we’re really going to enjoy it”.
In February, Gavin was one of eighteen graduates to join AirNav Ireland the Irish Air Navigation Service Provider. He works out of Ballycasey in Shannon and has said his first few months in the job are “going well. The guys are very good in there and are very understanding in terms of trying to work around shift work, matches and training, they’ve all been very supportive, particularly John Joyce and Peter Cavanagh who is actually a Kerry man”.
Career paths for inter county players are becoming a bit predictable but Murray is bucking the trend. He said on balancing work with inter-county commitments, “I’m lucky in that I’ve only myself to look after, it’s a mixture of you have to be willing to put in that commitment and realise there are going to be sacrifices in some way, I don’t see them as sacrifices because for me all my friends are in this group and it is a privilege to be able to come training four or five times a week and weekends away, it’s been all go but it has been very enjoyable, the fruits of that will come hopefully in the Munster final”.
His parents Maura and Pat are now “adopted Clare people,” he said given the support they have put towards the county’s footballers. Pat achieved All-Ireland success with Carmelite College, Moate and went on to play for Westmeath at senior level. His uncle John is also a former Moate and Westmeath player, he served as assistant coach of the St Brigid’s side who claimed the Connacht club title last year but lost out in the All-Ireland decider to Glen from Derry. Both Pat and John won Westmeath senior championship medals with Moate All Whites.
Arguably the most difficult hour for Maura and Pat was the second round of the Allianz National Football League when Clare played Westmeath. “In Cusack Park in Mullingar they were definitely on the Clare side. I’m delighted to be down here and for myself it has been a great way to get to know people, being involved with Éire Óg and Clare, that was possibly the motive behind the move as well. They are looking forward to coming down on Sunday to Cusack Park in Ennis”.
Ahead of Sunday, there is an “excited” mood in the camp according to Gavin who won a Westmeath intermediate championship medal with Moate All Whites in 2020 lining out at wing back. “It is a great boost to get the home venue, the evenings are getting longer and this is where you want to be, testing yourself against the best, we’re preparing very well for it, we’re very diligent that way, we’ve nothing to fear, we will keep the heads down and focus on ourselves, all we can do is like every game perform to our best and look after ourselves”.
For the National League, he formed a midfield partnership with Brian McNamara, the duo both playing their first season for Clare’s seniors. The return of Darragh Bohannon saw Murray move to wing forward but the difference between the positions is “very minimal,” he maintained. “Each player has a specific role in a way regardless of position, you fill that role and try repay the trust the management put in you, I’ve been doing that and hopefuly if I’m playing that role will be different again. It is about using the guys around you to support you and play to your strengths, go out on the pitch and enjoy it”.
Having played under Clare coach Seanie Buckley for his first season with Éire Óg last year plus the high amount of representatives from the Ennis club on the county panel has allowed Gavin to embed into the group. “Even the experience I had with Éire Óg last year to be training with those inter-county players and giving the confidence boost to say you are at that level. I’ve been trying to improve from session to session, having Seanie there has been really good but even the likes of Declan Downes and James Costelloe give really good one to one advice and Mark leading the whole thing. The cliché is that it’s a player led group but I really think it is, the lads have learned a lot over the last few years and I’m trying to pick it up from them. It’s been incredibly enjoyable so far and I’m looking forward to more”.
Taking to the field in the Munster final will be the highlight so far for Gavin in a Clare jersey. “A lot of people might say it is pressure playing in a Munster Final but this is a once in a lifetime thing and you have to go out there, soak it up and enjoy it, I’m thinking of Jack McCaffrey walking around in the parade smiling and that has to be the mantra, that is what we will bring to Sunday week, we just have to go out there and make the most of it, come what may on the scoreboard”.
