Shay Murrin delighted with South-West despite Mac Rory defeat to Abbey VS

Joint manager of the South-West Donegal Mac Rory Cup team, Shay Murrin, was very happy with the way his side performed on Friday night against Abbey VS in Ardara. They came up short by a point but there was a big improvement from their opening round defeat to Castleblayney.

“We’re delighted with them. We thought last week (against Castleblayney) it was shock and awe. Physically they struggled but I thought tonight they had the intensity for the occasion and they were really up for it.

“I thought they knew about the history of the evening and they wanted to put up a performance regardless of anything else and I thought they did that and we’re delighted with them,” said Murrin, speaking after the game.

The South-West team reached the semi-final of the competition last year, losing out to Abbey VS, but they have had a big change in their panel since then.

“Last week was tough but we actually lost 14 of last year’s panel so there were 14 new players making their Mac Rory debut. It was a big change for them and they found the step up difficult. Some of them hadn’t played at county level and they were coming from Division Two and Three clubs and coming into that level.

“There was a real sense, we have to tune in now if we are to make a dent in this and they knew that today. The pressure was on them to turn up and I think they did.

“At times I felt we were a wee bit rushed and lacked a bit of composure, but that comes with experience. I’m really delighted with the application compared with last week.”

Murrin’s side were four up at half-time after playing with the breeze and they held the lead until the final 10 minutes. And then even when Abbey went four up, the South-West side came back and could have had a share of the spoils, missing two late chances.

“We really made a big point about that before the game, to go for 65 minutes no matter what, four up, five up, five down, it doesn’t matter. The nature of the game is that it is ebb and flow. You can get the two pointers and get a lucky goal. 

“Four points in the old game is a lot different now. You just stay in it as long as you can,” said Murrin, who thinks young players are used to that now. “They are growing up with that now.”

READ NEXT: Happy to get second win in Mac Rory Cup - Abbey manager Pauric O'Donnell

Despite the defeat, Murrin says the development of players is really important and the main reason they are in the competition.

“That’s kinda the reason we came up with this (amalgamation). We felt that teams in the North were getting access to this competition and we weren’t getting access to it. It’s that in-between phase between being a county footballer and being a club footballer. It gives you a chance to expose yourself at that level to see if you are good enough. And can you learn at that level as well?

“Thankfully tonight our boys learned a little bit more from last week,” said Murrin.


Great midfield action pic from Mac Rory Cup game in Ardara Picture Thomas Galllagher