Murphy aims to keep Kearns' torch shining brightly in Offaly

OFFALY players embracing, manager Martin Murphy congratulating them individually after Saturday's National Football League Division 3 win over Tipperary in Thurles was about an awful lot more than football.

Still coming to terms with the sudden death of their manager, Liam Kearns last Sunday, Offaly's win was crucial from an emotional point of view. In purely football terms, it didn't matter that much, even though it keeps Offaly firmly in the promotion mix with a game to come against Down next Sunday.

There is general agreement among Offaly supporters that promotion to Division 2 is not that important at the moment; that the step up is too big for them at the moment and another season in Division 3 mightn't be any harm as more exciting young talent emerges next season.

Martin Murphy did not say as much afterwards but he made no bones about the fact that they will be approaching next Sunday's game in Tullamore with one eye firmly on the impending championship date in Longford.

That, however, was not the important thing on Saturday as scenes of raw emotion greeted Offaly's hard earned 2-14 to 0-13 win that relegated an out of sorts Tipperary.

Kerry man Kearns died on Sunday evening, hours after taking charge of an Offaly training session in Faithful Fields. His death was a huge personal blow to the players who had clearly warmed to his management style and his fellow management team, who were working very well with him.

Injury time goals from Ruari McNamee and Anton Sullivan secured a win that was nowhere near as clearcut as the 2-14 to 0-14 scoreline indicates. Offaly were clinging on for dear life to a one point lead deep in injury time but those goals in the 73rd minute finally put the issue to bend.

One of the most experienced managers in Offaly, Gracefield man Martin Murphy was the obvious man to take over the reigns after Kearns' passing. A selector along with Tullamore's John Rouse, Murphy spoke very poignantly about Liam Kearns and what the win meant to Offaly after the final whistle.

“I think today has really given us a huge boost and a huge lift moving on. The man himself, I felt his presence in the last five minutes. Things weren't going all that well but we were in control. They were nipping away at us and coming back into the game. In the last five minutes it just turne for us. In fairness David Dempsey set the ball rolling, winning a ball he shouldn't have won. He kept after it, the goalkeeper was caught up the field and we ended up getting a goal.

“On the balance of play, we were the better team. It has been a very tough week for the management and players as it was for anyone who knew Liam and especially his family. Today is a testament to what he had brought here to Offaly. I think he lit a torch in the Offaly dressing room over the last four months and the bright lights are still shining here even though he is not with us.

“We look forward to moving onto the next game and then prep for the championship I won't say it banishes all the sorrow and sad feelings we have had over the last few days. That won't go for a long time to come. It has been a very difficult week, emotionally for the county and no more so than his family and these lads here treated him like a father figure. He was a beacon, a collosus in the dressing room. When he spoke everyone listened to him. He has set the wheels in motion for this Offaly team to go places and I think the talent is there. There is a lot more players on the periphery and outside who have to come in and he was talking about this for next year. This was a platform he was going to build on this year and the building blocks have already started to be laid. We are over the moon and we are delighted. I want to say again how sorry I am for his family. He was a legend and he will always be remembered in my book and house. I learned a lot from him in the short time I was with him. I am sad but at the same time I am elated so mixed emotions today.”

The Offaly squad and management travelled to Limerick for Kearns' funeral on Thursday and gathered together for a meeting and kick about on St Patrick's Day.

Murphy explained:

“We had a very lean week. We didn't get together out of respect to the man. We got together yesterday for an hour and a half in Faithful Fields and we had a chat. We went through some statistics and analysis on Tipperary. We went out and kicked ball for twenty minutes and had a meal together. We said we would do what we can to honour the man and that is what we did today.

“Promotion is still on the table. Promotion is in the play. At the end of the day, it is all about this performance today and honouring the man that was Liam Kearns.”

Understandably, Murphy would rather not have been taking charge in such tragic circumstances.

“It's not ideal and it's not the way I would like to be stepping into the role. Liam was doing a fantastic job and it is very easy for me to step in and follow through as to where he was. There is a great management team and it is his management team. He set it up. John Rouse, Alan Flynn, these guys are excellent football brains. Paul Fitzgerald who was with him for years in Tipperary. Our stats man Michael Byrne. Alison in the physio's room. We have numerous people who are bringing this all together. Dr Brendan has spoken to the lads this week in relation to their well-being and mental health. We will move on from here. We will try an enjoy this evening, we will toast the man that was Liam Kearns.”

He spoke about placing their emphasis on Longford and the championship.

“Championship is only three weeks away from tomorrow. We have to keep that in mind. I am not saying that if promotion is on the cards, we won't go out and try and win our game next week but we have to go out with Longford in mind two weeks later.”