Armagh’s Andrew Murnin on the rule change that would best reward attacking sides

In a world where most inter-county stars now a days reap the benefits that come with playing the game, Andrew Murnin is most definitely different.

The St Pauls Lurgan man is cut from a different cloth. He loves playing football, he hates the attention that comes with it. You see, Andrew is a shy soul, he doesn't crave the limelight, he wants to play football and go home, quietly. No fuss; no hassle. The Armagh full forward broke into the starting team in 2017, he had a stellar year which resulted in the Orchard men making an unexpected run to the All-Ireland quarter finals. 2018 was expected to be a big year for them, unfortunately though the team was hit by a number of key absentees before the season had began. Influential forwards Jamie Clarke and Stefan Campbell opted to take a year out. Things looked to be doom and gloom within the county, Andy tells me, the mooed within the camp was different though.

"It was disappointing, yeah, to lose key players after season where we had made such progress, but the boys just got on with things. The mood in the camp has been excellent."

With the absence of Clarke in particular, somebody had to step forward. Murnin was that man. His league performances this year were outstanding, Armagh coasted to promotion and the 27-year-old picked up the MOTM award in the final. A poor opening round performance against Fermanagh meant they had to take the long route yet again, but they rallied with wins over Westmeath, Sligo and Clare before succumbing to Roscommon one game away from the Super 8s. It was the fourth year in a row that this side have failed to progress in Ulster. Yet their qualifier record has been exemplary. Why is this?

"Honestly, I believe it is because Geezer has us trying to actually play football. Lots of people are saying that our side isn't built for the Ulster championship, and whilst I disagree with that, I do believe we are trying to play the game the right way, which some teams aren't."

Andrew - who is now an accountant with Jones Peters in Banbridge - was a major part of Armagh minors All-Ireland victory in 2009. Operating around centre forward his performances were stand out en route to Croke Park, where he ended his underage career picking up a Man of the Match award in the final against Mayo. His performance was so legendary that colourful analyst Joe Brolly dubbed him, 'The Lurgan Rioter" in his post match review. This was something I believed the Lurgan man would not have been happy with.

"I did think it was funny, I don't mind him saying it, but again it was the attention afterwards that made me uncomfortable."

Normally a man of the match award in an All-Ireland final would ensure a quick progression into the senior side, but it took Andrew until 2015 to make his senior championship debut for Armagh. A stint in America, followed by a bad run of injuries meant the young starlet never got his opportunity for another six years. There was even a rumour going around that former Down captain Paddy O'Rourke rang him in the airport on his way to a lads holiday to try and get him to join the squad mid-championship.

"Yeah, that was true, but I had been on the go for basically two full years and I actually wanted the break, so I turned I had to say no. They got beat in the next round anyway so it all worked out."

His eventual call-up to the county squad came after an amazing year playing for his club St Pauls. He spent 2012 & 2013 on the sidelines, but came back roaring in 2014 to drag his club to an Intermediate championship title. Gaels all over Ulster where raving about his final performance, the game was streamed live on Armagh TV, Murnin started the game at full forward where he wreaked havoc, in the second half he came out to midfield and dominated that sector, before switching to full back in the final few minutes in order to ensure victory. It was the complete performance. Outside of Lurgan not many knew his name before that game. The truth, though, is that in the town he is loved by all. Lurgan has four GAA clubs. The rivalry is mammoth. There is almost a tendency to kick each other when you are down or not want a rival club member to succeed. With Murnin it is different, due to his shy nature and lack of ego everybody wants him to be successful. The fact that it took six seasons to get him onto the senior side certainly rubbed many up the wrong way. I ask him about his love of the quiet life. How does he cope with everyone wanting him to be available for presentations.

"I don't mind that at all, I will tell any club that I am happy enough to go down and present a 100 medals and take a 100 photographs, just don't ask me for a speech."

This did not surprise me as when I originally contacted Murnin about doing an interview he politely declined, thinking I was asking him to be a guest on The GAA Hour podcast. So, what does he make of Brolly, Spillane, Parkinson raving about his performances over the last two years.

"It makes me cringe a bit to be honest. Like its nice that everyone is saying really nice things about me and my play, but I don't listen to it or watch it. I just want to play the game."

Operating at full forward he has also played midfield for a lot of his career, he claims though that being in full forward line is his favourite position, closer to goals where he can make more of an impact. I wanted to press him on the current state of the Gaelic football, a lot of talk has been made about rule changes and what not, where does he stand on this.

"If I had to change anything, it would be rewarding forwards for clean catching a long kick pass. I was against the mark when it was introduced, but it has been a great success, I wouldn't mind seeing something similar added to reward good forward play."

With the Super 8 series having just ended, the jury is still out on whether it was a success or not. Does Andy think this is where the future of championship lies.

"No, I don't like the idea of the Super 8s. It's just too many games, we already play enough. If we had of beating Roscommon we would have had to play something ridiculous like six games in seven weeks. You can't bring that championship intensity to the field week in week out like that."

The format is unlikely to change, in 2019 at least, but Murnin will be hoping to be involved again as Armagh seek to go a few steps further.