Eoin Murphy is setting an example that all young goalkeepers should aspire to follow.
The Glenmore man is redefining the position.
He has totally revolutionised it from the traditional characteristics of the goalkeeper as the spot for the bigger and maybe slower member of the team to a fit, fast, nimble and agile stopper.
Murphy was the topic of conversation during The GAA Hour Hurling Show after he yet again displayed his cat-like reflexes with a string of point-blank saves against Wexford in Nowlan Park at the weekend.
Credit: GAA
JJ Delaney has represented Kilkenny alongside Murphy in the past and has first-hand experience of his prowess as a goalkeeper. He is also well aware of Murphy’s ability as an out-field player after facing him in club games in the past and seeing him captain Waterford I.T to a Fitzgibbon Cup from the wing forward position. He actually believes that Murphy would make the Kilkenny team out the field, were he not so good as a goalkeeper.
“What I like about Eoin Murphy is when the balls coming in, he’s so comfortable on the ball himself,” he said. “He plays out the field for Glenmore, his club and only for he’s so good in the goal he could actually make it out the field for Kilkenny.
“He played centre back there for W.I.T there a couple of years ago and he was absolutely brilliant, he plays centre forward for the club. He’s so intelligent, you never see him miss-hitting the ball, right or left.
“He’s very comfortable on the ball, you know by him coming out past forwards, he’s very good at taking the tackle, actually avoiding the tackle more than anything.
“I think he’s nearly making it attractive to be a goalkeeper again like you know he’s just so good like. As JJ said, I saw him out the field as well and he’s plenty good enough to play their too.”
Paddy Stapleton was part of Tipperary teams in the past who regularly found Murphy as an unpassable barrier in the last line of the Kilkenny defence.
Stapleton see’s similarities between Murphy and his former team-mate Brendan Cummins, who also had a versatile streak and regularly represented his club Ballybacon-Grange as an outfield player. Limerick man Nicky Quaid is another goalkeeper who represented his club out the field.
Stapleton’s words on Murphy’s dedication to training, and his craft, should be an inspiration to goalkeeper’s that often scoff at fitness work. He said:
“I think what he is is a massive advertisement for goalkeepers to keep themselves fit and to keep themselves fast, to have them reactions. You know we all train with goalkeepers at club level or at county level, and maybe they don’t see the importance in that.
“Look how fast he is and when he gets a ball, you know sometimes, If a goalie gets a ball they’re under pressure in the backline because you’d nearly want to make a roadway for them to come out, but he just avoids everyone and he’s gone. He’s like Cummins.”
The role of a goalkeeper as we know them is changing, and if Murphy is anything to go by, speed, agility and explosiveness are now key requirements of the modern goalkeeper.
The days of a goalkeeper getting a reprieve from fitness training are coming to an end.
Listen to the lads raving about Murphy’s ability here on ‘The GAA Hour’ 9’05”.
