Scully hails Murphy and looks to next season
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His own shot stopper of the same name is undoubtedly one the leagues best, but Shamrock Rovers manager Pat Scully has no problem admitting that Bohemians keeper Brian Murphy is a player on the top of his game.
Murphy has so far conceded just nine goals all season in the league. Tadhg Purcell's header from a Sean O'Connor cross gave the Tallaght bound club the lead after twenty minutes last Friday night. Prior to that derby goal, Rovers had been the last team to get one past the former Irish underage International, at the beginning of August.
During the first half at Tolka Park last week there were a number of occasions where Bohemians were in danger of going two down, and Scully has singled out Murphy's contribution - "We cut them to pieces and could have been more than one goal ahead. Brian Murphy kept them in the game"
"He's been superb for Bohs – he's one of the reasons they've had such a good season - and he pulled off a wonder save from Joseph Ndo to prevent a certain goal".
Signed by former Bohs manager Sean Connor before the start of the 2007 season, Murphy quickly established himself as one of the top keepers in the country. The former Manchester City man is well on course to better last seasons impressive haul of nineteen clean sheets.
Rovers were easily Bohs equals for the first forty five minutes, but having gone a man down, the second half was always going to be tough against a side who have shown a valuable knack for coming out on top in tight games.
"Their experience and maturity won the game for them in the end, but we have a very good, young side and at full strength we aren't too far off where we want to be," said Scully.
Already planning for next season in a new stadium, Scully is convinced that his young side has what it takes to challenge for honours. "Looking ahead, if we hold on to the players we have, and add a couple more before next season, I think we'll have a very good side in Tallaght that can compete at the top of the Premier Division."
Realistically, if Rovers can avoid letting their performances slip as the season is drawing to a close, they would seem to have a very good chance of improving on their current seventh placed position. At this point, a fifth placed finish is certainly within reach.
Rovers travel to St Colmans Park on Saturday - extratime.ie match preview to follow on Friday.
