Confident Captain Ready For The Challenge

Brendan White talks to Kevin Murray

(first published in the March 2011 Athlone Town programme)

Three points behind Derry City last season, but defeated by Monaghan United in the play-offs. Ultimately a season to forget for Waterford United but with the new season kicking off tonight, Blues captain Kevin Murray is confident that the side can go one better this season and capture the First Division title.

“Our goal is to win the league, win the First Division and get promoted, no play-offs or anything, we need to finish top of the pile. We’ll be going all out this season definitely to get that”, Murray said. “I think we just have to focus on ourselves, worry about what we do, and hopefully come November be top of the league and going into the Premier Division.”

A tough First Division last season looks set to be even tougher this year with many clubs having strengthened in the off-season, looking to compete for a spot in the Premier Division.

“I think it will be tougher this season”, Murray said. “Last season there was ourselves and Derry, and Monaghan but this season I think Shelbourne will be right up there, and Limerick and Cork City will be well up for it too. I think it’s going to be a great league and I’m really looking forward to it.”

With a good pre-season behind the team, Murray is hoping they can carry it forward to the new league season. “We’re excited to get started”, Murray said. “It’s been a tough six weeks pre-season but everyone is looking forward to it. All the tough running and the friendlies are all out of the way now so we’re into the real stuff now with Athlone and hopefully we can start with a good performance, get the win and kick on from there.”

Having lost numerous first team players during the close season, manager Stephen Henderson set about putting together a new side and Murray believes they now have an even stronger team than last time.

“The first couple of weeks the new lads have been getting bedded into the squad and they’re all good players. We’ve lost a lot of good players but on the other hand we’re after gaining a lot of good, young and exciting players and I really think it bodes well for this season. There’s a lot of young fellas here and I think we’ll be a very attacking team this season.”

“There has been a big turnaround squad wise, there’s been eight or nine lads going and eight or nine lads brought in, but I don’t think we’re weaker, I think we’re stronger.”

Having missed games during pre-season, Murray played the full 90 minutes against Shamrock Rovers last weekend in Tallaght Stadium which has the centre-back set for the start of the season. “It was a tough 90 minutes that I played”, Murray said. “I wasn’t expecting 90 minutes but it’ll count well for me and I’m raring to go for Athlone now and hopefully we can start well tonight.”

With all the hard work done in pre-season, it’s now time to do the talking on the pitch, and the inspirational captain is determined to deliver. “Our goal is to win the league, and we’ll definitely be right up there”, a determined Murray concluded.