Sharks To Put Bite On Mariners
Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Getty Images
Palm Beach Sharks defender Eoghan Murphy is confident he and his teammates can spring an historic upset in tomorrow night’s Westfield FFA Cup clash against Central Coast Mariners.
The fullback has been a constant performer in a Sharks side that dominated the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland competition and believes the club will continue their stand-out season by knocking out the former Hyundai A-League Champions to advance to the Semi Final stage.
“There’s no reason why we can’t beat the Mariners,” Murphy said.
“We’ve got huge confidence from the season that we’ve had. There is no real pressure on us because nobody expects us to win but we are going in to the game with an attitude that we are going to win.”
Despite previously playing youth football at English League side Sheffield Wednesday, Murphy said tonight’s match was undoubtedly the biggest stage he has played on in his still burgeoning career.
“With the coverage that it’s getting and the fact it’s not a friendly, it’s definitely the biggest game I will have played in.”
Still only 19, Murphy was born in Ireland before moving to Australia as a ten year old. From there he played junior football for Mudgereeba before advancing to the Gold Coast and Queensland representative programmes and playing youth football for Gold Coast Stars in the Queensland State League.
He said Sharks’ performances in the Westfield FFA Cup, which sees the club as the sole remaining Queensland club in the competition, had returned the Gold Coast to the fore front of Australian football.
“It shows that there is a lot of talent on the coast and there a lot of people still involved in the game,” Murphy explained.
“We feel like all eyes are on us really and hopefully we can do the state and the city some justice.”
“Hopefully people will take notice and we might get another chance to have a team in the A-League in the next couple of years.”
Many fans have taken note of Murphy’s passion for the club, including his prominent place leading the post-match celebrations – a role he inherited from departed midfielder Rhys Lambert this season.
Murphy said should Sharks win tonight it will be the loudest and proudest rendition of the team song yet.
“I’m not sure I’m as good as Rhys Lambert was, but I get the job done,” Murphy said tongue-in-cheek.
Match Details:
Tuesday, 14 October 2014
Palm Beach Sharks v Central Coast Mariners
Cbus Super Stadium, Robina (QLD)
Kick-off: 6.30pm local (7:30pm AEDT)
Tickets: Available at the venue
TV broadcast: LIVE and exclusive on FOX SPORTS 2 and 2HD
Radio broadcast: Coast-FM 96.3
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PBSvCCM
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