Murphy: 'An hour hurling will sort you out'

NEWRY SHAMROCKS hurler Jordan Murphy gave advice to anyone struggling in life to pick a hurl and let go of your worries.

Murphy was speaking after his side won their second Down Intermediate Club Championship in five years after defeating Clonduff.

He played the final through the pain but said it was worth it to win silverware with his team-mates and to overcome the challenge, especially as a title victory look unlikely earlier in the season.

“I’m sore, the shoulder kept popping out in the first half, but I got it strapped up, it just meant that I couldn’t really strike the ball to well, but it is a warrior’s game, isn’t that what they say?

“I am ecstatic, the chips were down, everybody wrote us off during the year, saying ‘Shamrocks were finished,’ and the doubt kind of set in with us when there was six and seven at training but we put our hands to the wheel [shoulder too sore] and

trained hard over the last few weeks and thankfully we got over the line,” said Murphy.

“Fair play to Clonduff the put up a brilliant fight, it was nip and tuck the whole game, they had Aaron Graffin playing and see they had Paddy back from Australia, so I am absolutely delighted with the result.

“At the start of the year if you had of told me we would win the Down Intermediate title I probably wouldn’t believe you.”

He said that playing hurling alongside his friends is more rewarding that he can possibly quantify.

“If anybody is ever struggling at home or things are getting tight around the house or under the current economic climate then surround yourself in sport,” Murphy said.

“No matter how hard life gets, I have two kids and life can be hard, at times you could be financially struggling under conditions these days and an hour of hurling fairly clears your head. Going out for an hour’s training with your brothers, it fairly lifts your mood, and I am loving every minute of it.”

His captain Aodhan Furlong agreed.

“It feels amazing, it is great to win the Intermediate Final after five years, it was a tough battle, and I am delighted for us to win it, “Furlong said.

“Clonduff got a great start to the second half with a goal and that put us under serious pressure and obviously they had some week when they have won the football and camogie, so they had a big crowd behind them and we just about got over the line, so I am very happy. We were focused on ourselves; we were focused on Newry Shamrocks and blocking out all the outside noise and we were just doing it for our own club.

“I coach the U10 at the club and we have some great young hurlers coming through and it is a matter of keeping them playing hurling, there are so many distractions, playing football obviously it is hard to do both but we want to keep them playing hurling for Newry Shamrocks. This day here has made the tough days all worth it.”

Eoin McGuinness turns 40 this week and he said the hurling win alongside the footballing Minor title on strengthens the dual bond and visibility of the club.

“This means a lot because you saw all the young players that played and it means a lot because we won the Minor football and now we have won the Intermediate hurling, so it means a lot to have that dual ethos all the time and it is very important, sometimes it might feel like it is disappearing because all our teams are littered with footballers and from different clubs I might add as well, which is very important to us,” McGuinness said.

“We will enjoy our night tonight. It will involve me going home and putting my children to bed and then going straight back into the club as soon as they fall asleep and we will enjoy tonight.”