Darren Murphy on new role with Cork City: Our job in academy football is to develop players
Darren Murphy brings his vast experience to the Cork City U20 role. Picture: Ray Ryan
Former Cork City and Stevenage player Darren Murphy returns to the club to take charge of the Cork City U20 side for 2025.
The ex-Cobh Ramblers first-team manager Murphy is looking forward to taking up the position.
“I worked with the U19s previously at League of Ireland Level with Cobh Ramblers and obviously went to the Cobh seniors then.
“The motivation for taking on the Cork City U20 job is working with some of the best players Munster has to offer.
“Another motivation is working with young players who want to progress in their career, who want to progress into the first team at Cork City or anywhere.
“You are part of that journey. You could be working with a player that could play international football and who could go on to really have a great career.
The City underage system has developed numerous talented players throughout the years. In recent times current Irish underage internationals Mark O’Mahony, Jaden and Franco Umeh and Matthew Moore have emerged from the City Academy before moving to professional clubs across Europe.
In his new role with the U20s side, he'll be crucial in terms of the overall player development aspect of Cork City Football Club.
“It is important for clubs to develop young players and especially in Ireland. One you need them for your first team. And two you know there is that possibility of selling them within your club but also giving them a career.
“That is what we are in it for, is to make sure that these young footballers learn how to go on and progress and have a career in football.
“There are some exciting young players within Cork City at the moment. Getting to work with them and bring on their talents as well is something we want to do as a club and as a coaching team.”
Key to Murphy’s role with the U20s will be his working relationship with City first team manager Tim Clancy.
He is looking forward to developing a strong working relationship with Clancy, who has a good track record of giving young players their opportunities in first-team football.
“Tim has been very welcoming straight away. Which has been a big bonus for me and my team.
“He wants to work with the academy coaches, and he wants to see young players coming through.
“There has been a couple of the U20s involved in pre-season games as well with the first team. Tim touches base with us as well to see how the players are performing within the U20s training sessions, which is really good to see. There is a progression in the club for young players and you want to see that.
“That is something that stands out and it is great to see.”
With the City U20s, he will be assisted by Dean Buckley and Stephen Moynihan, while Alan Barry comes in as strength & conditioning coach. Brendan Hurley will be the side’s goalkeeping coach and Jay Kelly fills the Video Analyst Role.
Outlining what the aims and objectives in 2025 are for the Cork City U20s, Murphy outlines.
“Our job in academy football is to develop the footballers. So that is what we need to do. The more we can help footballers go on and have a career in football is our goal.
“It is great to win matches, and you have to find ways to win because they need to learn that in their development as well and that will be important when they go into first-team football.
“Development is key, but development in the right way. We have to get these players ready to sign that professional contract, to go in and train within that first team environment.”
Murphy is ready and hungry to get to work with the Cork City U20s.
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