Niall Murray (born 1990) is an Irish Gaelic footballer for Cavan Gaels who previously played for the Cavan county team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Niall Mac Muirí | ||
| Sport | Gaelic Football | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Born | 1990 (age 33–34) | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Occupation | Financial Consultant | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
2008– | Cavan Gaels | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Cavan titles | 5 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | ||
2011–2022 | Cavan | ||
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Ulster titles | 1 | ||
Playing career
editClub
editMurray joined the Cavan Gaels senior panel in 2008.[1] On 19 October 2008, Murray came on as a substitute as Cavan Gaels defeated Denn in the Cavan Senior Football Championship final, winning his first county title.[2]
On 4 October 2009, Murray came on as a substitute in the county final as the Gaels defeated Denn for the second year in a row.[3]
On 26 September 2010, Cavan Gaels faced Kingscourt Stars in the county final. Murray started at full forward as the Gaels fell to a four-point loss.[4]
Cavan Gaels were back in the county final in 2011, facing Castlerahan on 2 October. Murray started as Cavan Gaels secured another senior championship.[5]
On 13 October 2013, Murray was in the half back line as the Gaels returned to the county final, facing Ballinagh. Ballinagh were winners on a 0–12 to 0-11 scoreline.[6]
On 11 October 2014, Cavan Gaels faced Kingscourt in another county final, with Murray starting in the full back line. A late Micheál Lyng point secured a one-point win for the Gaels, and Murray's fourth senior championship.[7]
It would be 2017 before Cavan Gaels would reach the county final again. On 8 October, Murray was at full back as they faced Castlerahan, coming out five-point winners.[8] The Gaels would later defeat Lámh Dhearg and Derrygonnelly to reach the Ulster Club final.[9][10] On 26 November, Murray started at full back as Cavan Gaels faced Slaughtneil in the Ulster final. It was Slaughneil's day as they ran out comfortable winners.[11]
Inter-county
editMinor and under-21
editMurray first played for Cavan at minor level, however he had no success at this grade.
Murray later joined the Under-21 team. On 13 April 2011, Murray was at centre forward in the Ulster Final against Tyrone. A first-minute goal from Murray was decisive as Cavan were winners on a 1–10 to 0-10 scoreline.[12]
Cavan defeated Wexford in the All-Ireland semi-final later that week to reach the final against Galway.[13][14] On 1 May 2011, Murray started at centre forward in the All-Ireland final. Murray scored a point as Cavan fell to a 2–16 to 1–9 defeat.[15]
Senior
editMurray joined the senior squad after the under-21 success in 2011.[16] On 12 June 2011, Murray made his championship debut at wing back in an Ulster quarter-final defeat by Donegal.[17]
On 3 April 2016, Murray scored a point against Galway in the National League as Cavan earned promotion to the top flight for the first time in 15 years.[18] On 24 April, Murray came off the bench in the Division 2 Final against Tyrone, with Tyrone winning by five points.[19]
On 1 April 2018, Cavan faced Roscommon in the National League Division 2 Final. Murray came on as a substitute in the 4–16 to 4–12 loss.[20]
On 18 May 2019, Murray was in the forward line for the Ulster quarter-final against Monaghan, and scored two points in the 1–13 to 0–12 win.[21] Murray scored five point in both games against Armagh as Cavan reached the Ulster final.[22][23] On 23 June 2019, Murray started the Ulster final as Cavan lost to Donegal.[24]
In February 2020, it was announced that Murray had undergone surgery for a quad injury and would likely miss the rest of the 2020 season.[25] On 18 October 2020, Murray came on as a substitute in a National League loss to Kildare, his first game for Cavan since his injury.[26] Cavan would go on to reach the Ulster Final for the second consecutive year, facing Donegal on 22 November. Murray came on as a substitute as Cavan claimed their first provincial title in 23 years.[27] Murray again came off the bench in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin.[28]
Cavan faced Tipperary in the National League Division 4 final on 2 April 2022. Murray came on as a late substitute in the one-point win.[29] Murray was an unused substitute later that year as Cavan lost the Tailteann Cup Final to Westmeath.[30]
Murray retired from inter-county football after the 2022 season, having made 93 senior appearances for his county in all competitions.[31]
Honours
editCavan
- Ulster Senior Football Championship (1): 2020
- National Football League Division 4 (1): 2022
- Ulster Under-21 Football Championship (1): 2011
Cavan Gaels
- Cavan Senior Football Championship (5): 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017
References
edit- ^ "Wheel has come full circle for Murray". The Anglo-Celt. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
I started with the Gaels in 2008
- ^ "Johnston points the way as classy Gaels blow Denn away". Irish Independent. 20 October 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Cavan SFC: Gaels breeze past Denn". Hogan Stand. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
- ^ "Regal showing by McCormack as Kingscourt dethrone Gaels". Irish Independent. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "12th title for Gaels". Irish Examiner. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Gaels left stunned by Ballinagh". Belfast Telegraph. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Lyng seals the deal to leave Kingscourt seeing stars". Irish Independent. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ "Gaels too strong for Castlerahan in Cavan final". The Irish News. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Cavan Gaels prove much too strong for Lamh Dhearg". The Irish News. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Cavan Gaels reach a first Ulster SFC final since 1977". The Irish Times. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Slaughtneil ease to Ulster title beating Cavan Gaels". RTÉ. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "McKiernan leads by example as Cavan finally deliver". Irish Examiner. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "All-Ireland U21FC semi-final: Cavan safely through". Hogan Stand. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Cavan set up U21 date with Galway". Irish Independent. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "All-Ireland U21 FC final: Galway too strong for Cavan". Hogan Stand. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Cavan Ulster Championship squad includes 10 Under-21s". BBC Northern Ireland. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Donegal 2-14 Cavan 1-08". RTÉ. 12 June 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Cavan back in the top flight after beating Galway". RTÉ. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Tyrone see off Cavan for silverware". RTÉ. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Roscommon lift Division 2 title with win over Cavan in eight-goal thriller". The42.ie. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Cavan into Ulster semis after first championship win over Monaghan in 18 years". The42.ie. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Cavan and Armagh face semi-final replay after thrilling extra-time battle". The42.ie. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^ "Cavan end 18-year wait for Ulster final after pulsating replay win over Armagh". The42.ie. 9 June 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Clinical Donegal dispatch Cavan to go back-to-back in Ulster". The42.ie. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^ "Cavan's Niall Murray out for season through injury". Sky Sports. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Cavan rally to rattle Kildare nerves but Lilywhites hold on". RTÉ. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Cavan shock Donegal to claim Ulster title". RTÉ. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^ "Dublin beat Cavan at a canter to reach another final". RTÉ. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^ "Lynch brace crucial as Cavan pip Tipp to Croke Park glory". Irish Examiner. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ^ "Westmeath crowned inaugural Tailteann Cup champions after late flurry against Cavan". The42.ie. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Careers built on persistence". The Anglo-Celt. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.