Murray content with talent coming through the ranks

Roscommon senior hurler, Cian Murray, feels that the county’s production line is beginning to reap rewards ahead of his side’s Nickey Rackard Cup opener against Louth in Dr. Hyde Park on Saturday (throw-in at 3 p.m.).

The county’s flagship hurling side will hope to repeat the trick after beating Louth in last year's competition. If they are to do so, it is likely that the younger generation will lead from the front.

With Seán Canning and Micheál Hussey, in particular, continuing to develop, Murray believes that Roscommon, who have reached the last two Richie McElligott Cup (All-Ireland U-20 B hurling) finals, are bringing through the required talent to raise the standards within the senior set-up.

“We would have quite a few 20s on the panel and they are all very good hurlers. They are going well so far this year and were unlucky not to win their final last year against Derry. Hurling in the county is definitely improving. It is not simple for us with only seven hurling clubs but there are very good hurlers in the county,” he acknowledged.

“Two years ago, we got to the Nickey Rackard final against Tyrone and were unlucky not to win it. We were there or thereabouts, and we have brought through a lot of lads since then, so I think there is a nice mix there in the squad. Hopefully, we can go on and win it this year if things go our way and we get the results we want,” he continued.

The Athleague player made his competitive intercounty debut this year in the opening Division 2B game against London.

Although the change in speed and physicality has been noticeable according to the 23-year-old, he feels that lining out with Athleague against many of his new intercounty team-mates has helped him come to terms with the rise in standard.

“It is a big challenge to make that step-up. From underage, the speed and the physicality are the big things, but it isn’t too bad. With Athleague I would have been training with some of those lads. You are building up to senior and you are not just thrown straight in.

“The step isn’t too bad in fairness. It is a high level of hurling. This year, we were in (Division) 2B but it is only going to drive on the county. We were relegated but you have to be playing in these divisions to develop hurling here. That is the way it is going to have to be in order to drive it on and get Roscommon back up to a high level of hurling.” 

With the top two teams in the six-county competition progressing through to the final, Murray wants his side to be competing in the national decider in early June.

“To be honest we are just focusing on Louth. We are taking it one step at a time but we really want to be in the final. We have to win our first game and build from there. We want to be in the final, first of all, and give it a good rattle if we are there. I think we are more than capable of getting there, and winning it if we get things right”, he concluded.