'Easy decision' for Murphy's Rovers return

‘Welcome back’ has been the well-used phrase at Shamrock Rovers since Trevor Croly’s appointment as the club’s new manager.  Croly has been quick to start building a squad for next season bringing in eight new players; six of whom have played with Rovers previously including goalkeeper Barry Murphy.

“As soon as I got the call I was interested straight away,” said the 27-year-old Murphy speaking exclusively to Extratime.ie. “I wanted to get the deal done fairly quickly as once a club like this and a man like Trevor calls you to say he wants you involved, it is an easy decision.”

Murphy came up through the schoolboy ranks at Rovers to play over 150 first team football games with the Hoops.  He made his first team debut in 2005 when he was both the club’s Young and Senior Player of the Year.  He stayed with the club following relegation and was instrumental in helping the club gain promotion at the first attempt as First Division champions in 2006. 

Murphy was first choice goalkeeper at Rovers until 2009 before losing his place to Alan Mannus and subsequently leaving for Bohemians at the end of that season.  So had he any concerns about the welcome he would get on coming back to Rovers having left for rivals Bohs?  “That is water under the bridge as far as I’m concerned.  Once you are fighting for this club and you’ve got a few games under your belt with a few wins and clean sheets that will all be forgotten.”

Croly worked with Murphy both at Rovers when Croly was Michael O’Neill’s assistant at Rovers and last year during Croly’s time as St Patrick’s Athletic number two.  That experience of working with Croly was instrumental in Murphy making the decision to return to Rovers. 

“What I saw with Trevor last year, with the type of football he wants to play and the training sessions he puts on, made it easy for me to come back.  When I was here the first time, I learned what qualities he has and I’m delighted to come back here to work with him again.

“With Pat’s last year, we played an expansive game playing football from the back and that is something Trevor will be looking to do here.  That is certainly something I benefited from and learned from him last year and that has added to my game.  It could be one of the reasons he brought me here, so that I could try to do that again. 

“Fans will enjoy the football.  Pat’s were regarded as one of the best footballing sides last year and that is what Trevor wants at the club.  It is everyone’s ambition here to win the league trophy back.  With fans anything less and we will be struggling to please people. 

“We’ve made quality signings like James Chambers, Mark Quigley and Jason McGuinness amongst others and these are all players who have league winners medals.  That is something we will be looking to get next year.”

Murphy was at the well-attended book launch on Sunday of Robert Goggins’ “Chronological History of Shamrock Rovers”.  The book was launched in Rovers’ new store in The Square Towncentre in Tallaght.  Present as well as the many Rovers fans was another of Rovers’ new signings James Chambers as well as former Hoop Derek Treacy who made over 500 appearances for Rovers over a 17-year career with the club. 

Rovers boss Trevor Croly was on hand to officially launch the book.  “Hopefully our team is as well prepared as Robert’s book,” said Croly.  “When you look through the book there is such a depth of information.  If we can prepare our team next season and in the seasons to come like Robert has prepared this book we will do well.

“It is nice for the players to see the history of the club and how the club treats its past players.  There is a legacy that is left after you.  It is nice to live in the moment but also nice that people like Robert put the time into this book on Rovers’ history for the club and the players.”