Football

Ryan Murray back to boost both Lamh Dhearg and Antrim

Ryan Murray comes under pressure from Conall Bohill and Conor Johnson during Sunday's championship clash in Hannahstown. The Lamh Dhearg forward was named man-of-the-match and brilliantly set up the only goal of the game for Brendan Herron. Picture by Hugh Russell
Ryan Murray comes under pressure from Conall Bohill and Conor Johnson during Sunday's championship clash in Hannahstown. The Lamh Dhearg forward was named man-of-the-match and brilliantly set up the only goal of the game for Brendan Herron. Picture by Ryan Murray comes under pressure from Conall Bohill and Conor Johnson during Sunday's championship clash in Hannahstown. The Lamh Dhearg forward was named man-of-the-match and brilliantly set up the only goal of the game for Brendan Herron. Picture by Hugh Russell

RYAN Murray wasn’t supposed to be here to lead the championship charge for Lamh Dhearg – but on Sunday he showed the Red Hands, and Antrim boss Lenny Harbinson, just what they would have been missing.

The 27-year-old bagged the score of the game and brilliantly set up Brendan Herron’s crucial goal in a virtuoso second half display to help Lamh Dhearg edge out west Belfast rivals St John’s in their first championship outing.

Yet, had it not been for the Covid-19 pandemic, Murray - who is a geotechnical engineer for the Arup Group - would currently be in Dubai having relocated to the Middle East at the back end of last year.

“Myself and my girlfriend had actually just committed to staying maybe another year on the Monday, then by the Wednesday everything was building over there,” he said.

“They were getting word ahead of what was going on back home and when we were told by work that the airports were closing at the weekend, we just made the call to come back.

“It’s worked out well now that you get to play a bit of football, otherwise we’d have been stuck out there in 40 degree heat. I probably wouldn’t have been here otherwise so it makes you appreciate it’s good to be here playing a match.”

Antrim boss Harbinson had also expected to be without Murray for the whole of 2020, as the Saffrons were without him throughout their National League campaign until the pandemic brought everything to a shuddering halt.

Antrim sit third in Division Four with winnable games against Wicklow (away) and Waterford (home) to come when their promotion chase recommences in mid-October, and Murray hopes to be able to play his part.

“Lenny gave me a shout as soon as I came back. I was talking to Deccy Lynch, who’s the county captain, and of course I’d like to get back involved.

“But it’s been eight or nine years since I’ve just been able to go to club training, go home, do your recovery, go to club training, play a match. Usually you feel you’re letting someone down every other day because you’re not at club training or having to go to county, you’re just getting pulled all over the show.

“That aspect of it’s nice so I’d just like to stay with the club and give it our all and see how far we can progress. Hopefully if I’m playing alright and Lenny’s willing to give me a shout I’d be happy to come back and play.”

On his day Murray is clearly one of the best forwards in the county and, despite the relatively short lead-in to the start of championship, looked sharp in helping lead Lamh Dhearg to victory over the Johnnies.

Martin Lynch’s men will hope to seal a quarter-final spot when they face Rossa in their final group two game on Sunday, and Murray was just glad to be back out playing football having feared the year could be a write-off.

He said: “It was weird, it didn’t really feel like championship because usually you’ve been at it from back in March and progressing the whole way through, where you don’t really have that time.

“But a couple of months ago none of us thought we’d have got a championship match this year and here we are. It’s great to be back.”