WEXFORD YOUTHS’ CAPTAIN fantastic Kylie Murphy has landed the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League [WNL] Player of the Month award for June/July 2021.
The Wexford star has been in scintillating form recently, keeping her side in the title race with four goals in six wins over the past two months.
Murphy and her team are keeping the pace with reigning champions Peamount United and challengers Shelbourne, currently four points off the joint-top sides.
Involved in the WNL since its inaugural season in 2011, the Laois native has secured legendary status in Wexford, and in WNL circles in general at this stage, having skippered her side to four league titles, three FAI Cup crowns and Uefa Champions League football — scoring a hat-trick in Europe while she was at it.
Straight-talking, honest and modest, always wearing her heart on her sleeve on and off the pitch, Murphy feels Wexford have made improvements this year, but still have a lot of work to do.
Youths have reaped the rewards of playing the dynamic midfielder in a more advanced position, though she was keen to stress that it’s a team effort as she collected her accolade.
“I’ve probably played in the six or the eight for most of my career with Wexford,” she explains.
“I’m really enjoying being in the box a lot more, I’d like to be scoring a lot more goals. I’ve had some chances and unfortunately not put them away, but it’s really exciting to be playing that bit higher up.
“I feel like every player should have that responsibility to get the team over the line. It doesn’t matter who is scoring. Am I happy that I’m scoring? Yeah, absolutely. But once they’re going in it makes no odds to me; once the goals are going in and we’re putting points on the board.”
Praising the impact of SSE Airtricity and the increase of coverage, Murphy is relishing this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash against Shelbourne.
“A win at the weekend for us would be absolutely massive, and I think it would probably blow the league right open. We’re not one of the top two teams at the moment, we’re just hanging on, but we’re still there and we’ll keep fighting to the end.”
She was selected as Player of the Month ahead of her team-mate Ciara Rossiter and Shels midfielder Ciara Grant in the top three from the voting process.
Peamount striker Eleanor Ryan Doyle (May) and Galway’s Rachel Kearns (April) took earlier SSE Airtricity WNL Player of the Month awards.
