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Eoin Murphy: 'It Was The Best Day Of My Life, No Question About It'

Eoin Murphy: 'It Was The Best Day Of My Life, No Question About It'
PJ Browne
By PJ Browne
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Eoin Murphy remembers where he was in 2005 when Glenmore lost to Fenians by a point and were relegated from senior level in Kilkenny.

"I was in the old stand roaring, bawling actually," says Murphy, speaking at the launch of the new Avonmore Pro-Oats product.

"I remember being down, bringing in a few hurls, I think it was water bottles, in underneath the old stand and I seen grown men roaring and bawling to be honest."

Earlier this month, Murphy was part of the Glenmore team helped wipe away those 16-year-old tears, and return the club to the top tier in Kilkenny, with victory over St. Lachtains in the county intermediate final.

The man who stands between the sticks for Kilkenny played at centre-back for Glenmore, and scored a point. Though he's won four All-Irelands with Kilkenny, Murphy says the win against St. Lachtains is the "best day of my life".


Eoin Murphy: Kilkenny intermediate title 'best day of my life'

"I've lost five intermediate semi-finals since I started playing," says Murphy.

"A lot of those were by the bare minimum but we never got over the semi-final stage and it was just a huge amount of relief. There was obviously joy, but it was huge relief that we got over the semi-final a couple of weeks ago.

"We discussed it in the players' meetings, and just said 'Guys these are the best days of our lives, playing with our friends and brothers'. I've been hurling with Ger [Aylward], lucky enough to play with Kilkenny with him, but we've been hurling together since primary school. [My brothers] Alan and Shane as well. It was the best day of my life, no question about it, so far anyway.

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"We did go through some dark days with the club as well, you know, different things happening, accidents, relegations and that as well. Everyone experienced those and they definitely gelled us together.

"We see older men and women coming onto the field and they were hugely emotional as well and after everything they've given to the club.

"It was just great to see what it meant to everyone, right through to our kit man Gerry Fogarty and Breda and Joan cooking meals for us, sandwiches and tea after training whatever we're looking for, they're behind that as well. They're as much a part of the panel as the 40 something that were on it. It was just an unbelievable day to be honest."

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Avonmore Protein Milk are teaming up with Dublin footballer Brian Fenton and Kilkenny hurler Eoin Murphy, to launch the new Avonmore Pro-Oats product. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

In 2014, Glenmore were relegated to junior level, and went on to win the All-Ireland junior title. Murphy says that revitalised the club.

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"We were probably stuck in a bit of a rut, hit a bit of a plateau," says Murphy.

"We weren't really progressing out of the first round to a quarter-final or anything like that. Maybe we were a little bit rudderless. Going back down, it reinvigorated every one. We had to change tack.

"We have a serious set up below. We have two full size pitches, a walking area around it. We have an indoor astroturf, four fully kitted out dressing rooms, an unbelievable gym that we fundraised for last year. It's kitted out with absolutely everything. The community put that there for us.

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"It felt like we left them down [when we were relegated in 2014]. Hopefully, they can take a piece of last week, as well as the players."

Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Fenton and Murphy who have nine All-Ireland Championship medals between them were representing the Gaelic Players Association, of whom along with the GAA, Avonmore Protein Milk are a long-standing supporter. In attendance at the launch is Kilkenny hurler Eoin Murphy at Croke Park in Dublin.

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See Also: Can You Get 12/12 In Our Quiz Of The Club GAA Weekend?

eoin murphy glenmore kilkenny intermediate hurling championship

 

 

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