SP19S1PicNOEL and Stephen Hunt may be in limbo at the moment but it’s a completely
different story with Daryl Murphy. The former Waterford United
striker scored 27 goals for Ipswich Town on their march to the play-offs and
he still has a year to run on his contract with the option of a further
year if he so wishes.
Due to his incredible goal haul he is been linked to a number
of different clubs (including Cardiff City) but he is extremely
happy at Portman Road and indeed in East Anglia. “I suppose it’s
flattering to be linked with other clubs because it proves I must have
done something right during last season. I have heard nothing and I am very
happy at Ipswich. Along with my wife Roseann and our children Caitlyn and
Mason we have moved into a new house and we are settled in the area. The
children are very happy in their schools and that means a lot. Of course I was
bitterly disappointed to lose to Norwich just like all of the lads were. It was
a hard one to take but that’s football”.
Daryl recalled another huge disappointment when he played with Waterford
United.
“I still have regrets about losing the 2004 FAI Cup fi nal with Waterford
United. We were playing well and we were in control of the game but then
the referee failed to see that they were two footballs on the pitch and when
one of our defenders went to clear the illegal ball Longford Town scored
and we never recovered from that. That is one of my other big regrets in
football” stated Daryl who is currently with the Republic of Ireland team
preparing for the massive Euro qualifying game against Scotland.
He is enjoying being back in the fold once again following a lengthy
period in the international wilderness. “I get on very well with Martin
O’Neill and he came to see me play on numerous occasions recently and
has been very good to me. He is a funny man in many ways and he gets full
support from everyone in the squad. I also get on very well with Roy Keane.
I worked with him at Sunderland and at Ipswich and he is a good guy. He
enjoys the banter with the players on the training pitch and if you carry out
what he wants there will never be a problem with Roy” Daryl claimed. He
would like to see the Hunt brothers return to Ipswich at the end of the month.
“The two lads were brilliant both on and off the pitch. I think it’s a wait and
see situation with both the club and the two lads so perhaps we will link up
again. I would like that very much” concluded Daryl.