Waterford’s tough task to land another stunner: 'There’s probably eight or nine of that group gone'
Waterford captain Conor Murray poses for a portrait at the launch of the Munster GAA Senior Hurling and Football Championship 2025 at Muckross House in Killarney, Kerry. File picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Waterford captain Conor Murray smiles as he recalls how he followed their first championship win since 2010. His county stunned Tipperary last year. He was tuned in from Australia.
“It was like four o'clock in the morning I was listening to it on Tipp FM. They weren't too happy but I was.”
The Rathgormack man spent the first half of 2024 Down Under, playing football in Sydney with Penrith Gaels. He returned and logged a terrific club campaign as they clinched their 12th ever title. Dr Crokes subsequently edged a tight Munster club encounter on a 0-9 to 0-8 scoreline. That defeat remains a sore point.
Waterford still select their captain based on county championship. Murray returned to Paul Shankey’s outfit and assumed the position.
“I was captain in 2020 as well but that was during Covid so that was cut short. We've five lads on the panel from the club so it is nice to be to be chosen. Any of the other lads could have been chosen as well so it's a great privilege to be captain.”
Where are Waterford now? Victories over Tipperary and Longford had them encouraged heading into 2025, but they finished at the bottom of Division 4. Now the Déise are looking for another shock win as they take on Tipperary in the Munster SFC quarter-final this Saturday in Semple Stadium.
“The problem is the turnover,” Murray explains.
“There is a lot of that group gone. There's probably eight or nine of that group gone. So it's hard to build that momentum and confidence. It takes time for those new lads to bed in, but it does give you confidence when you go out and face those teams, in particular.
“The lads that were there last year, they know we’re capable of competing. Like any team in Division 4, we know we're good enough on our day to beat anyone if we have our house in order.”
Murray is a secondary school teacher in Blackwater Community School. They are based in Lismore, a predominately hurling area, but are making football strides. He is charging it. The business and economics teacher was manager with Alan Lawlor for their first-ever Munster football title, as they won the 17E decider last December. Shankey came to the school to present the team with their medals.
"It is nice for them to see what it's like,” says Murray of that school side.
“I would be very open with them when they ask questions about it. How often do you train? What do you do in training? How often are you in the gym? It is nice for them to have that visibility. You wouldn't be as well-known as the hurlers so it is nice for the lads in the school to see what it's like and that it is an option or an opportunity when they do get to adult level, to play football for Waterford.”
