Image source: Rathmore GAA FB
RATHMORE GAA Club has said the selection of star player Paul Murphy as captain of the Kerry team is richly deserved as he has given everything to the green and gold since he first lined out for the county in 2014.
Club chairperson, Bernie Reen, said everybody is thrilled that he will get the opportunity to skipper the Kingdom for the coming season as he is a natural leader and he is hugely respected.
She said that the Rathmore club is delighted for Paul and his family and that his parents, Donal and Mary, and the rest of the family were “absolutely thrilled”.
Paul (29) was nominated by the East Kerry Board to succeed Fossa’s David Clifford who led the county to the national league title during an eventful year as captain.
The Rathmore contingent joined forces with the East Kerry divisional side last season and Murphy played a key role in their impressive retention of the Bishop Moynihan Cup with an emphatic victory over Mid Kerry in the county final.
Bernie Reen, who succeeded Paul Murphy’s father, Donal, as club chairperson. said the tenacious wing back does a lot of his talking on the pitch and he leads by example.
“I’ve seen Paul playing from underage all the way up along the line and he has always been there to the forefront,” she told Radio Kerry.
“Once Paul Murphy gets the ball you’re in safe hands,” she added.
Paul was man-of-the-match when Kerry last won the All-Ireland in 2014 and he has played in four finals, including the 2019 replay against Dublin.
Meanwhile, speculation is growing that Peter Keane is about to add key personnel to his backroom team as Kerry prepare for the forthcoming season.
Four-time All-Ireland winner Paul Galvin has already been linked with a coaching role – as previously reported on KillarneyToday.com – and the latest name to emerge if Kieran Cronin from St Michael’s Foilmore, who suffered a playing career ending neck injury when lining out with the Kerry under 21s in 2004.
He successfully pursued a role in coaching and led his home club to two South Kerry titles before going on to coach the Macroom – where he teaches – and, later, Killarney Legion although his term there wasn’t as successful as had been hoped.
Now 36 and a respected strength and conditioning coach, Cronin was also part Jack O’Connor’s backroom team when the Dromid man was in charge of the Kerry under 21s.
Another name being linked to the Kerry backroom set-up is Connacht Rugby’s performance nutritionist Gavin Rackard.
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