EMILY IS GRAD TO BE HERE
EMILY MURPHY has revealed why she held off on declaring for Ireland.
The English-born forward made her debut in Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat to Wales, coming off the bench at half-time.
Murphy, who was capped by England at underage level, had been drafted in previously to a training camp in April 2021.
Shortly after that, the one-time Chelsea prospect moved to the USA on a scholarship, first to North Carolina and then to Wake Forest University, where she continues to study.
Murphy insisted that she wasn’t tempted to contact then-boss Vera Pauw ahead of last year’s World Cup, but instead wanted to wait until afterwards and spoke to current manager Eileen Gleeson (inset).
“I didn’t think it was fair on the girls who’d worked hard to qualify Ireland for the tournament,” she said.
“I wasn’t ready either to make the decision. It was enticing and while I supported every game watching them from home I wanted to prove myself.
“I still had two and half years left in college but was ready once I got my graduation date. Eileen called me and had faith in me.”
Murphy, whose family hails from Westport in Mayo and Rathfarnham in Dublin, will graduate this summer with a masters in political science and global studies.
She will likely return to the English club game once she completes her course.
“I’ve been there for three years and there’s loads that I’ve added to my game,” she said of her time so far in the USA.
“The physical fitness element is much different but the technical and tactical levels are there.”