SOCCER/EUROPEAN UNDER-19 CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS:IT ONLY takes a couple of minutes in conversation with Seán Murray to easily forget the 17-year-old Watford first-teamer is the second youngest member of Paul Doolin's squad competing at the European Championship finals in Romania.
After all, this is the teenager who thought better of a lucrative transfer to Manchester City 12 months ago and took his recent breakthrough campaign at Watford in his stride. His international rise has been impressive too, with two corners from him on Wednesday night setting up both goals in the 2-1 win against Greece.
It might be enough to faze someone of a school-going age but the Londoner who declared for Ireland through his Cabra-born grandparents last year doesn’t indulge the extravagant lifestyle associated with such in-demand talent.
“The only reason a young player like me would leave Watford for a big club is for the money,” affirms Murray, who made his league debut against Championship victors QPR in April.
“Money isn’t important for me at this stage of my career. I live at home with my parents and I’m happy with that for now.
“Around the time of the interest (from Manchester City), my then Watford manager Malky Mackay told me that my chance in the first team would come and he was true to his word.
“Over the years, Watford has been a club that ended up selling their best young players and, if I play more in the first-team, it could benefit them in getting a better fee for me in the future.”
It seems surprising then that England would allow a prospect of Murray’s ability to slip from their grasp. Playing for the Republic of Ireland, though, was always in the mind of the youngster from his tender years when visiting Ireland became an annual occurrence.
“England never took any interest in capping me at underage level,” he explained. “I came over to Ireland a lot when I was younger and my grandparents were a major influence, so I was delighted to get my first call-up last season for my under-17 debut against Hungary.
“I’ve really been made welcome in the squad. Just because I was the new lad coming to the set-up earlier in the season didn’t mean I was treated any differently.
“I think we’re a really tight group as we’ve been together on this trip for 11 days now, since we met up for the pre-tournament training camp in Rome. Before the games we have our own meetings, so we can talk about things and listen to clips on the match to get ready.”
Known more as central midfielder at Vicarage Road, Doolin has instead utilised the creativity of Murray to feed crosses from the wing.
It worked a treat against Greece as, apart from his two goals assists, himself and colleague Matt Doherty at full back were effective down the right flank.
“I had lots of space and especially with Matt Doherty as he kept helping me with his runs forward. It is a good partnership, because when I come inside he is going around the back of me and he can also give me an option to sit back.”
“I played three pre-season games for Watford in central midfield before joining up with the squad. It is a completely different position. However, I like playing on the wing because you get more time on the ball, to take players on and create more opportunities.”
Doolin has cautioned his players against complacency approaching this evening’s tie against a fancied Czech Republic side that opened their campaign by defeating host nation Romania 3-1.
With the top two in the each of the four-team groups advancing to the semi-finals next Friday, Ireland are in a commanding position to progress and could do so by claiming another three points in Mogosoaia.
“We’ve got a good start, but we don’t want to give any air of being cocky. One game can change everything,” said the former Cork City and Drogheda manager.
“You can lose a game and still qualify in this tournament. Also, if you win a game it doesn’t mean you are through . . .”
A draw in today’s match – being televised live on Eurosport – may suit both nations going into Tuesday’s final round of fixtures which sees Ireland meet a Romanian side who qualified for the finals as hosts. With no major injury concerns, Doolin may opt to keep faith with the same starting line-up that served him so well in the win over Greece.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (probable): McCarey (Wolves); Doherty (Wolves), Egan (Sunderland), OConnor (Blackburn), Williams (Aston Villa); Murray (Watford), Carruthers (Aston Villa), O’Sullivan (Blackburn Rovers), Hendrick (Derby County), Forde (Wolves); Murphy (Bray Wanderers).
