MULTI ALL-IRELAND winning goalkeeper Aoife Murray will captain reigning senior camogie champions Cork for the 2018 season.
The experienced netminder has won eight All-Ireland senior medals with Cork, including three triumphs in the last four years and was between the posts when Cork defeated Kilkenny by 0-10 to 0-9 last September.
Last November Murray won her seventh All-Star award and she will now captain Cork this year as she takes over from 2017 leader Rena Buckley.
Cork operate under a system of the county champions nominating the senior captain and last year’s winners Inniscarra have opted for Murray.
“She was always probably one of the people inside in the dressing-room that was a captain without being a captain really,” Cork manager Paudie Murray, brother of the new captain, told Red FM’s Big Red Bench yesterday.
“When you’ve spent 16 years involved with the team and the majority of that probably coming down from Dublin, I think it’s great to see.
“I think it was a nice touch from Inniscarra, as county champions they’re the people that nominated Aoife. I think Rena can’t give the full commitment this year so they’ve given it to Aoife.”
After a lengthy career, Murray had admitted she was undecided over her inter-county future when speaking to The42 last November.
“It’s always a lot harder of a decision to make when you win because obviously you’re feeling more positive and you think, ‘Ah yeah, I could do this for another year’.
“But I am 34, I’m kind of pushing on. Apparently there’s other things outside of camogie as well, people keep telling me about. A summer holiday — it’s something people have told me about!”
The goalkeeper has now decided to commit to the Cork cause again for a 2018 campaign that commences with a league opener on Sunday week against Galway.
Cork boss Murray has committed to staying in charge for a seventh season. He revealed there has been no talk of retirements from last season and explained the thinking behind his own decision to remain at the helm.
“One part of me would like to do something different and challenge myself a different way but still it’s probably hard to walk away from this team to be honest. I’ve enjoyed my time there, nearly probably enjoyed it more than my playing time.
“I’m probably lucky to be involved with such a good bunch of players. I put a lot of thought into it and look I’ve made my decision now and I’m happy with it.”
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