| Cherishing the feats of legendary Murray BY
HENRY WYMBS Roscommon may not currently be enjoying the best of fortunes
both on and off the field but they do have a proud tradition. They have
not reached an All-Ireland final since 1980 and last won the second of
their back-to-back All-Ireland titles in 1944.
One name that immediately springs to mind from that glorious Roscommon
era is Jimmy Murray who was then hailed as one of the greatest captains
to have ever graced a Gaelic football arena. Not surprisingly his name
is still revered throughout the country as he was the first player ever
to captain back-to-back All-Ireland champions.
Murray — who will be 89 this May and is now the oldest surviving
All-Ireland winning football captain — recently recalled some of his
fondest memories. His achievements also include the unique honour of
leading out his county on five separate occasions in All-Ireland senior
football finals in Croke Park.
He said: “It was great to be part of that team and to lead your team was
a wonderful experience; I suppose I was lucky, Roscommon is a very small
county and at the time it was categorised as one of the weakest in
football terms.”
Murray was at the heart of the great Roscommon football revival which
began in 1943. The Rossies had not won the Connacht title since 1914 but
along came great players who later became legends of the game including
the Murray brothers, Bill Carlos and Donal Keenan. Unfortunately while
football fever raged at that time, the dark clouds of World War Two also
hung over the country.
Murray recalls: “The early ‘40s in Ireland was a bleak time with war
raging over Europe. There was little money and food was limited.
Transport was scarce and travel was either by bike, trap or any other
means at your disposal. Football gave the people hope.”
In 1943 Roscommon defeated Galway in the Connacht final by four points
before beating Louth in the All-Ireland semi-final. Ulster champions
Cavan now stood between them and their first Sam Maguire Cup.
Murray said: “Cavan had some mighty players in big Tom O’Reilly his
brother John Joe and Simon Deignan. I will never forget the cheering and
the noise as I led the Roscommon team around. I remember thinking of my
mother at home with the rosary beads praying for us to win and my father
listening to the match on the radio.”
A tense game ended in a draw but Roscommon finally won their first title
in the replay.
Recalling the reaction to Roscommon’s historic victory Murray said: “We
had a great reception after the game and the journey home was something
I’ll never forget. From Athlone to Roscommon, crowds gathered with
bonfires lighting the sky. There was a torch-light parade in my home
town for my brother and myself. Knockcroghery had become the centre of
attention in the whole of Ireland.”
A year later Roscommon had the satisfaction of adding to their prestige
by defeating the pure football traditionalists of Kerry to win
back-to-back All-Ireland titles.
Murray’s local village of Knockcroghery is now one of Roscommon’s
football spiritual homes. Born on May 5, 1917 into a family of eight
boys and two girls Jimmy still lives in the same house — a bar and
business grocery which still bears his name.
The pub’s walls are still lined with memorabilia from the county’s
All-Ireland success as well as GAA photographs from other counties. The
football used in the 1943 final hangs proudly from the ceiling in the
front bar.
Murray said: “This place was always a pub and grocery. It’s now
third-generation with my son running it.”
Murray shares a general view on who he believes were the greatest
players he ever saw in action.
“Two players stand out. The late Sean Purcell of Galway and Mick
O’Connell of Kerry were the best players I ever saw in my lifetime.”
However Murray was also a very distinguished and gifted footballer along
with being one of nature’s gentlemen. Despite all his magnificent
achievements in life he still remains modest and shy as well as being
full of life for a man approaching 89.
While Murray bemoans the current plight of Roscommon football he still
remains philosophical about the future.
He said: “We have a fine new manager in John Maughan and things can only
get better and who knows’ I may still live to see ‘Sam’ cross the
Shannon once more.”
John Maughan must be hoping that his new charges will show the same kind
of heart as the great Jimmy Murray whose footballing feats could well be
the inspiration of a long overdue Roscommon revival. |
