ONE of Armagh’s goals this season is to turn their Athletic Grounds home into “a fortress”, according to Michael Murray.
Cullyhanna defender Murray hopes to be contention to play against Fermanagh in the Cathedral city on Saturday night and admits Armagh need to improve on their home record which, since 2013, reads played 12, won five, lost five and drawn two in the league. In the Championship, Armagh have a 60 per cent winning record, with three wins out of five over the past three seasons.
“Playing in front of your home crowd, you put a bit extra and nerves come into it because you’re playing in front of your friends and family and the local community,” said Murray.
“Hopefully we can turn things around and make Armagh the fortress that it once was. Teams feared coming here and very few left with points on the board. That will be one of the goals over the next couple of games.”
Murray featured in the first two games of the year for Armagh, but has been on a lengthy injury list since he hobbled off against Monaghan with a hip injury. He hopes to be back for Sunday’s home game with Fermanagh.
“I’d like to think I’m close,” he said.
“Maybe the Fermanagh game would be pushing it, but hopefully I can get back into training before it and be in contention for it. There’s a couple of boys in who are playing well. Once you’re in, it’s hard to be put out, so I’d like to think I’ll definitely be back for the Cavan game, but the Fermanagh game is just pushing it maybe. It’s very frustrating, I don’t like being on the sideline - it’s not much fun running up and down it, but these things have to be done to get back to full fitness.”
Armagh have also been without Ciaran McKeever, Rory Grugan, Andrew Murnin, Brendan Donaghy among others this season, but Murray says competition for places is still intense within the squad.
“We’re missing boys that people would class regulars, but I guarantee you, if you go in there the competition is just as fierce,” he said.
“There’s new boys in there like Ruairi McCaughley, Shea Heffron… Once your fresh into the panel, you have no fear of anybody and that’s as good as any competition. I remember coming in with that mindset myself.”
Andy Watters and Cahair O'Kane cast their eye over Armagh v Fermanagh and Dublin v Monaghan:
Despite the enthusiasm of the new faces, Armagh’s results have been disappointing so far; defeat to Meath in Navan was followed by a one-point home loss against Laois.
“The boys are a wee bit disappointed because we felt they are teams that we should have beat,” said Murray.
“So everyone was a wee bit disappointed, but the break came at the right time for us to refresh ourselves, assess ourselves and the whole thing together and hopefully come back renewed, ready to go and attack Fermanagh. Get a few points on the board and get the thing going.”
Murray scored two points last time Fermanagh visited the Athletic Grounds and also played in last season’s Division Three final win against the Erne men: “I know a few players from playing with the university,” he said.
“I know the calibre of them, they’re dogged boys, they’ll not give up easily and I like to think we’re along similar lines. It’ll be a good tussle - last year’s was two good games at the Athletic Grounds and then down at Croke Park. But the belief is in the squad. We would like to think we’ll come out with a win.”
The experience of last year’s campaign has helped Murray to acclimatise to the world of inter-county football. The St Patrick’s clubman says he is always trying to improve his game.
“I don’t think I’ve ever walked off a football field happy in my life and I don’t think I ever will,” he said.
“But I’ve got a better feel over the last couple of years in county football what is expected of you and the intensity you’re going to be put under in a game whenever your tube’s out and you’re bucked.
“You just have to fill the lungs and keep going to the final whistle and I’m getting more accustomed to the level required at inter-county football rather than club football.”
