Murphy’s mission to put Sligo back on the map
Ballina Stephenites’ James Doherty is surrounded by Coolera-Strandhill’s Leo Doherty and Niall Murphy during last Sunday's AIB Club SFC semi-final at Markievicz Park, Sligo. Picture: David Farrell Photography
It was hard not to think of Aretha Franklin’s greatest hit when hearing Niall Murphy reflect on what he and his teammates had just accomplished at Markievicz Park.
This time last year, Coolera-Strandhill had followed up their first Sligo SFC title in 18 years with an abject display against St Brigid’s in the Connacht Club SFC that saw them trail 0-9 to no score at half-time before losing 0-13 to 1-3. But on Sunday they produced one of the great upsets when dumping Ballina Stephenites out of the Shane McGettigan Cup.
“Unbelievable,” is how Murphy described the feeling of beating the 2005 All-Ireland senior club champions after a penalty shoot-out.
“Sligo as a county is always written off and the big teams look down on us at times so today was just unreal. It was a victory for Coolera-Strandhill but a victory, I think, for Sligo as well. If Sligo can make waves, that’s what it’s all about. And that was a big driver today, getting a bit of respect off the Mayos and those. They’re miles ahead of us but we can compete as well,” insisted Murphy who was named on the 2024 Tailteann Cup Team of the Tear for his part in helping Sligo reach the semi-finals.
“Everyone was doubting [Coolera-Strandhill] coming in and I couldn’t understand it because we’re a bloody good side and I hope we get a bit of respect today, in our own county but outside as well.”
Niall Murphy scored six of his team’s nine points, including two frees in the depths of extra-time that forced the game to penalties. He was on target during the shoot-out too, which ended with Coolera-Strandhill scoring all five penalties to secure a place in the Connacht final where they will take on Roscommon champions Padraig Pearses.
“We’ve one step taken, another step to go and look, it will be another step up in level but I think we deserved it today.
“To be fair, we celebrated hard last year, there was a stag in the middle of it, so we didn’t really have a training session until a couple of days before [St Brigid’s]. But after that game, a few of us were standing in the middle of the field after and said that when we get back to this stage again we’re going to take the chance.
“The experience of winning one, you want to push on when you win a second county title and gain respect, because we let ourselves down last year,” Murphy insisted.
