Liverpool John Moores Gaelic Football team travel to Manchester this weekend, trying to complete back-to-back All-Ireland and All-British doubles for the first time in their history.
Our reporter Daibhóg McKee sat down with manager Fergal Murphy to discuss the task in hand, as well as the emotions behind ‘the Moores’ collegiate win in County Carlow last month…
Q.1) What are the expectations heading into the British Championship this weekend?
“In terms of expectations, we’ll take it step-by-step. Obviously after winning the All-Ireland title, things are looking good. There is a lot of positivity since the victory, but teams will target us and we need to be ready. One of the first things we will try to look at is tightening up defensively and preparing for high-intensity situations, so we’ll see what happens.”
PHOTO: Fergal Murphy (centre-right) celebrates with the Corn na Mac Léinn cup with assistant managers of LJMU; Reece Fury Brogan, Pearse MacNiocaill & Oisin McKenna in County Carlow last month. (Image Courtesy of Liverpool John Moores GAA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LJMUGAA)
Q.2) How is training/preparation looking ahead of this weekend?
“Training has been going great, with motivation levels still high, even after winning an All-Ireland. It’s natural that a dip [in motivation] can happen, but we’ve been dealing with lads who are constantly trying to improve. Everyone is keen on trying to get their hands on more silverware.”
Q.3) Are there any opponents that could pose a threat to LJMU?
“Our first fixture against Loughborough on Saturday should be a big one. It’ll probably set the tone for the weekend and we’ll be wanting to hit the ground running, but so will they. We’ve played Glasgow before and we know they’ll be a different side this time around, so we’ll just have to take it game-by-game.”
Q.4) Who are the key-players (if any) that you’re relying on to help the team win the championship?
“It’s very tough to pick individuals because there are so many big characters throughout the squad. Our team captains [Danny Magill and Dáire Jones] are both huge leaders at full-forward and full-back, along with Ryan Lundy and Adam Kerr, who are a huge presence in the middle of the field. But at the end of the day, the whole squad will play a part in how we do this weekend.”
Q.5) What was it like winning an All-Ireland title with this group of lads, and what was the secret to that success?
“Quite a surreal feeling, that can barely be put into words. The group were very motivated and is also full of talent, with so many great characters. It was unbelievable how quickly they gelled together and it felt like success was ever the only option. We’re a really closely knit group as it is at LJMU, but the secret is probably that common drive to win trophies.”
PHOTO: The victorous LJMU team celebrating with the Corn na Mac Léinn trophy last month in County Carlow (Image Courtesy of Liverpool John Moores GAA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LJMUGAA)
Q.6) Is there any current players in the squad you could see making a name for themselves back home after this season? Whether that’s: making a county panel, winning a championship with their club etc.?
“You’ve got Danny Magill with Burren, who’s continuously pushing for championships. I know Dara Flanagan is involved with Fermanagh at Under 20 level which is obviously a great achievement in itself, but will want to try and break onto the senior panel. You also have the likes of Declan McClements and Ryan Lundy, who both lead by example, not just in how good they are, but how they conduct and look after themselves. There are so many that have the potential to go far with their clubs/counties.”
Q.7) Is there any freshers/new players in the squad that you could see becoming a great addition to the first-team in the next couple of years?
“Of course, I’ve already mentioned Dara [Flanagan] and Eoghan Donnelly, who are definitely lads to look out for. Also the likes of Stephen Muldoon, Shaun McCready and Tiarnan McKavanagh, only to name a few.”
Q.8) What’s your favourite thing about being the manager of LJMU?
“Winning. Also being able to bring the group together and watching your team play good football, as well as seeing the smiles on the faces when we’re winning.”
Q9.) What have you learned during your (so far) successful tenure as manager?
“This is the first manager job I’ve ever taken, so I would say a lot. There is a lot of stuff you have to consider when managing a uni team, as it’s such an important time in these boys lives. I’d like to think I have given most lads the benefit of the doubt with regards to training’s and nights-out. They have lots of other stuff going on outside of football so I feel I’ve learned to take off-the-field stuff into account.”
Q.10) Finally, what would an Irish-British double mean to you as manager and of course, LJMU?
“As a team, it of course would be absolutely huge. When you see how closely knit they are and how they conduct themselves both in-and-out of training, success is really the only option. I feel the double is the least this team deserve from the effort they’ve put in. On a personal note, it would be surreal. I remember joking with Oisin [McKenna] about winning the double earlier in the year, and now we’re a week away from that possibility, which is incredible.”
The Liverpool side will face Loughborough, Glasgow and Heriot Watt on their way to reclaiming the British crown this weekend.
