'The day we stop moving forward the chasing pack will catch us'

FAI JUNIOR CUP Defender Ger Murray on what fuels Trim Celtic

Business and sport. Some might argue they are very different dimensions but there are those who see a close connection between the two - and among them is Ger Murray.

The Trim Celtic centre-half works as a business development manager for an UK-based insurance company and he draws the close comparison between achieving success in one sector and the another.

"Just like you have to be in your job you have to be at your best playing football and looking to do more," he said after he took time out to talk to the Meath Chronicle following last Sunday's 3-1 FAI Junior Cup victory over Peamount United. "That's how I am personally and I know it's the same with the rest of the lads in this Trim Celtic set-up."

That desire to improve with every game, every week, every season is, the 25-year-old centre-half insists, one of the reasons why Trim Celtic are enjoying a remarkable run of success. With the Kilmessan Shield and Challenge Cup already in the bag Robbie Horgan's side are now on the cusp of landing a league title. Yet another league title.

Murray says "a culture of winning" has been fostered and developed at the club the whole thing fuelled by a simple but powerful desire among the players and backroom team to get better, and better; to always improve.

"The day we stop moving forward the chasing pack will catch us and we'll start losing our edge, so it's about winning every game and being constantly on the front-foot. I think that's what is driving this group of players. It's a mindset created by everyone within the team, within the entire group, including Robbie (Horgan), the staff, the physios. Everyone aims to be at their best and if we're not at our best there's no point in doing it. As soon as we stand still everyone else will catch us and that's not where we want to be."

Murray is now in his fourth year with the first 11, a skilful centre-back who does his bit to contain opposition strikers and ensure the team has a solid foundation. A strong defence is, after all, the basis of any successful side. The big defender knows that.

On Sunday against Peamount Utd, Murray certainly helped to effectively man the Trim Celtic battlements along with Sam Murray (no relation), Ciaran O'Connell and James Goggins, as well as the eagle-eyed goalkeeper Danny Connell, who made some super-sharp saves.

Murray started out with Celts as a youngster before going away to college for a time. He had a brief spell with Trim Town, captained the Wexford Youths u-19s and turned out for the Longford Town u-17s for half a season. He also played soccer for a high-achieving Crettyard side in Carlow for a time.

Trim Celtic, who won the league and cup double in 2023, have been constantly on the go for the last three years, relentlessly in search of success, and Murray was an ever present until he picked up an injury last season.

"It was about April time, the last kick of a training match I just felt a bit of a problem with my knee," he pointed out.

The story of that injury gives some indication of the hunger, the desire in the player himself to be part of the greater push for success. A hunger that is mirrored by the squad.

"Robbie gave me a couple of weeks off but we were still in the Leinster Junior Cup, I managed to play on, it was only July time last year I got a scan. I had ruptured my ACL. I was still able to play on it, we had a million conversations between Robbie, the medical staff and me about it.

"I played until December time until we could get the double (league and cup) over the line. I got the operation done in Santry and was told it was going to be the guts of a year. Lucky enough I was able to get back before that. My first game back was the Kilmessan Shield final (v Parkvilla) in August. It was an eight-month recovery which is a real testament to the work I did with the physios (Dave Burke and Stephen Weafer)."

Having negotiated the sturdy challenge presented by Peamount on Sunday, Ger Murray & Co can now look to retaining their NEFL Premier title. They have three matches remaining against Parkvilla (away), Carrick (home) and Glenmuir (home).

One of Trim Celtic's traits in cup and league games is the ability to tweak things when needed usually during the interval. Such an ability could be crucial in these crunch games. "Robbie and Craig (Dempsey) are excellent at breaking a game down very simply, at pinpointing opponents' threats, where we can go at them, where we can improve, that approach has helped us in so many games," he adds.

Injuries have forced a number of Trim Celtic players to sit out recent assignments. That might offer some teams an excuse to opt out, to take a step back. Murray, and you suspect all those involved with the Hoops, are not interested in excuses.

"At the end of the year the aim is to collect trophies not excuses. We have a plan in place for games it doesn't matter who is there. Whoever is playing just needs to go and get the job done."

Trim Celtic mean business all right - but then we've known that for some time now.