Murphy worked his socks off
December 19, 2014
Donegal's Darach O'Connor with Paul Murphy of Kerry. INPHO
Kerry's humiliating league defeat at the hands of arch rivals Cork in Tralee back in April turned out to be a blessing in disguise according to Paul Murphy.
The 1-11 to 2-18 defeat prompted a lot of soul searching within the Kingdom ranks and the rest, as they say, is history.
"I was marking John Hayes and then Colm O'Neill came on and got a goal off me," Rathmore clubman Murphy recalled to The Irish Independent.
"I was very low after that game, to be honest. I remember I was inside at work on the Wednesday and people were coming up to me saying 'how are you today Paul?' I must have been like a dog for the Monday and Tuesday!
"We knew after that we had no option but to work very hard if we were to get to where we wanted to go.
"Maybe mentally we realised after that we had no option between the league and championship but to work our socks off."
22-year-old Murphy admitted he exceeded his own expectations when walking away with the 'man-of-the-match' award in the All-Ireland final.
"My personal goal was to get a bit of game-time in the league and be in the 26 for the championship," he revealed.
"Killian (Young) was out and he did not come back until a few games into the league so I suppose the door opened coming from the McGrath Cup into the league."
Turning his attention to 2015, the trainee accountant is excited about the return of Colm Cooper from injury and Tommy Walsh from Australia.
"What Colm adds to it next year will be mainly in a playing capacity whereas you could imagine Tommy could add a lot more than just that.
"He was a great prospect and player when he left, so five years as a professional (Aussie Rules player) you would imagine would bring him on again.
"Having been involved in two professional teams he will have picked up things that we can take off him, his knowledge of recovery and things like that.
"That's the way to have it. There will be good competition next year but that is only good for Kerry. If individuals have to lose out, that's football. You have to get over it and row in."
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