Murray capture would be a massive boost for Dundalk
JIM MALONE CUP
IT would be unwise for Dundalk supporters to read too much into Friday’s facile Malone Cup victory over neighbours Drogheda United at Oriel Park, for the Division I side part-timers were no match for the champions, especially in the first half after the home side opened at full throttle and took their foot off the peddle when they were 5-0 ahead after just half an hour.
True, Dundalk looked mightily impressive in that opening period for the pace at which they moved and the sharpness in their play, even in this their first game of the season, left the Drogheda players floundering.
Perhaps Drogheda were a little foolish to go toe to toe with the champions in that opening half, and wisely in the second tightened up considerably and will take some comfort from the fact that they won the half, scoring the only goal to give the result a much more respectable score line of 5-1 than the opening exchanges had promised.
Most interest for the good turnout of loyal Dundalk fans centred on the chain of command within the new coaching structure; the shape of the team; and the per- formances of newcomers, Sean Murray and Daniel Kelly.
After Friday there can be little doubt that Head coach, Vinny Perth is calling the shots for he hugged the touchline, barking the instructions, with Ruaidhri Higgins and John Gill in the background, while there was no discernable change in the playing system deployed by the new coaching team and which was so successful during Stephen Kenny’s reign.
The starting line-up on Friday contained just the one new face, Sean Murray who was obviously on trial as he is still on a three-year contract with Danish Superliga club, Vejle Boldklub whom he joined from Colchester United in July last.
The 26-year-old midfielder was born in Abbots Langley, England but is Irish qualified having played under-17, under-19 and under-21 with the Republic of Ireland.
At one period in his career Murray was considered one of the brightest prospects in football for he joined Watford’s youth system aged 9, and despite interest from Manchester City, signed his first professional contract with Watford in 2010.
Over the following five seasons with Watford he played 75 times, scoring 11 goals, but following major investment in the Vicarage Road club by the Pozzo family that brought the influx of new players, Murray’s first team appearances were restricted, and after an initial loan period at Wigan he joined Swindon Town in 2016 on a one year contract, making 18 appearances and scoring once.
The following season, 2017-18, he was off to Colchester United where he played almost every game, 53 in total, scoring three times.
In June, 2018 he failed to agree a new deal with Colchester and moved to the Danish Superliga side the following month on a three year contract and has made seven appearances with the side.
He qualifies to play for the Republic of Ireland through his Irish grandparents, and at under-21 level he secured nine caps, scoring on his debut in an away 4-2 win in Italy.
His surprise inclusion in the Dundalk side on Friday night was a bonus for supporters, for few anticipated that he would play since he is still a Vejle Boldklub player and no transfer fee has been agreed.
As trials go - and if his appearance could be classified as a trial - it was impressive for he linked the play exceptionally well, was heavily involved in creating the opening for a number of the Dundalk goals, has good composure on the ball, good feet, provides an additional welcome option from his dead ball deliveries and lasted the pace very well, even though he has only played the seven times since July.
Allowance has to be made of course for the quality of the opposition, for he was given time and space that normally would be at a premium in League encounters, but he took his chance well to impress Vinny Perth and his staff, and looked as if he could be a good addition to the squad.
The other newcomer making an appearance on the night was winger, Daniel Kelly, signed from Bohemians, and it was ironic in many ways that he made his debut for Dundalk on the same week-end that the winger he replaced, Dylan Connolly made his full debut for AFC Wimbledon, starring in their shock 4-2 win over West Ham in the FA cup.
Kelly was introduced as a second-half substitute for John Mountney and showed some flashes of his dribbling skills and pace that will excite, and no doubt when he settles into the team will be play a key role for the team.
Connolly’s transfer to AFC Wimbledon surprised Dundalk fans and many in the game, for he never reached the potential he showed at Bray before his move to Oriel Park, but his new club obviously saw attributes in the player that suited them and paid a fee that matched Dundalk’s outlay to Bray.
The winger repaid some of that fee with his performance against