Murray: ‘Form book goes out the window on these derby days’

Interview

Jack Madden

November 15, 1989. John Aldridge is at the double. The Maltese are downed a little south of Sicily and the Republic of Ireland and Jackie’s Army soon bound for Italy.

On that very day a young man, a 25-year-old to be precise, is in hospital for back surgery. He goes by the name Bernie Murray. A star of Scotstown, of Monaghan too.

That was a lowlight, particularly given the fact injury cost him a playing role in Scotstown’s Ulster triumph over Coalisland, but a year prior came his finest moment in Monaghan white. He eventually hung up the intercounty boots a gear short in 1993.

Murray had missed Monaghan’s 1985 Anglo-Celt triumph too with a broken leg, joining the identically ill-fated Declan Loughman, so three years on, an Ulster title tasted that little bit sweeter.

While Cavan had beaten Monaghan on their journey to the Polo Grounds, Monaghan overcame Cavan in 1988 in one of the Farney’s finest ever seasons.

It was a first win in 19 games against their rivals, a first win in 58 years:

“In 1987, we were beaten 0-12 to 0-10 in Breffni. We felt we were going really well, and Cavan went into it looking to take us down a peg or two. That’s exactly what they did. We actually had a chance to snatch a draw, lost possession, they broke down the field and scored.

“In 1988 we were hurt. Sean McCague came back in as manager and we trained damn hard. We couldn’t contemplate being beaten by Cavan again. I remember vividly sitting watching the minor game and I’d never felt stress or pressure like it before a match.

“The game was close all through. With about ten minutes to go, Fintan Cahill got away from Ciaran Murray and his shot just skimmed the crossbar on the way over. We just kept our noses in front.

“With the very last play we had a penalty, we were up by a point and Sean McCague instructed Eamon McEneaney to put it over the bar. There was nothing between the teams.

“In ‘87 we knew we didn’t play well and we still could have snuck a result. Cavan could have said the same in ‘88. Monaghan and Cavan championship games take on a life of their own.

“One team heads into it feeling they’re doing better than the other, but all bets are off. It’s about who can get to the pitch of the game on the day.”

And that latter point is perhaps something of a concern for Murray, who references Monaghan’s injury list, their potential returnees, and just what role Gabriel Bannigan will give them in the heat of Ulster Championship battle.

With the senior leagues in Monaghan only kicking off a week before the start of their intercounty championship, some big hitters have been reduced to little other than training and challenge games, with Monaghan reportedly beaten by Kildare in the latter.

Murray describes challenge affairs as ranging from ‘misleading’ to ‘a serious wake up call’, but never anything to get too hung up on. In an ideal world, a few club games would have proven more valuable:

“Bobby McCaul was very impressive last year and obviously did his ACL. You’re looking at Killian Lavelle, Dylan Byrne, Ryan McAnespie, Gary Mohan and Conor McCarthy who all missed some or all of the league.

“Match fitness is a problem. If you and I sat down to pick the best Monaghan XV on paper, we’d pick virtually the same team. We know our strongest team, but how many are you able to take a gamble on?

“I’d be looking at Bobby as an option for the last 20 minutes. Conor McCarthy hasn’t started a game for Scotstown or Monaghan since the defeat to Donegal in Croke Park. Ideally you’d have two or three weeks to give him club action.

“No matter how good you are, the mind can play tricks on you.”

In a more positive light, Murray - who has coached Navan, Kingscourt and Balllymacnab and others, as well as the Monaghan minors - feels the Farney are still only a win away from being ‘back up and running again’.

The Diarmuid Scullion factor isn’t something that concerns him either, with the Derry native involved with the Scotstown and Cavan backroom teams:

“Diarmuid will know all the Scotstown lads, and he’d be looking at a lot of others on a week to week basis, but it’s not too concerning.

“These teams know each other inside out. If you’re marking Dara McVeety for example, you might be watching 20 clips of him this week, what he does well and where his weaknesses lie.”

In a greater context of Ulster, does the winner here stand a chance of getting to a decider and securing a home tie in the All-Ireland SFC round one?

“Obviously Donegal are strong. You’d expect them to meet Armagh in the other semi-final. Derry will beat Antrim, which makes up three of your semi-finalists.

“I think Cavan are in a better place than people think. They were a kick of a ball away from both promoted sides, Meath and Cork, and their only poor result was probably against Tyrone.

“These games are always 50/50. For Monaghan it’s about who starts and who comes in, and whether you’re in a position to win when they do come in.”