From sinners to Saints... Murphy and the new breed of Rebel footballer offer real hope going forward

AT the outset of the season, the U20s didn’t even have a management team sorted.
Yet when Keith Ricken took charge he set their sights high. As they were into the Munster semi-final, four wins would see them lift an All-Ireland.
“He knew we’d the talent because every year when Cork were winning minor All-Irelands we were coming up just short, we were often the closest team to them. It was about finding the extra bit to get us over the line in the big games, that belief.”

“I actually never really played soccer apart from on the green or in the front garden but I just went for it.”

“We always had the football, it was putting it all together and getting the right balance in our 15. When you’ve those three inside (Cronin, Cathal O’Mahony and Damien Gore) you know it’s just about getting the right ball into them.”
