Galway hurlers have been something of an enigma in recent years as undoubtedly they possess the players to win an All-Ireland senior hurling title, although they have failed to do so since 1988. Current squad member Richie Murray has been with the panel since 2001 and despite being only 26-years-old; the St Thomas clubman is one of the more experienced players on the panel. The talented midfielder cum forward took time out of his busy schedule to speak to Hogan Stand about his career to date, while he also gave his thoughts on Galway's chances of bring the Liam McCarthy Cup back to the county once again. Richie has seen a lot of changes during his seven years with the squad, in which time he has played under three different managers, Noel Lane, Conor Hayes and current incumbent Ger Loughnane. "I've been fortunate to play under some very good managers during my time with the county. Hopefully Ger can bring us to the next level of winning All-Ireland finals and not just playing in them," said Richie. Having tasted success and defeat at All-Ireland underage level, Richie only has a national hurling league medal to show for his efforts with the Galway seniors and that is a situation he is keen to rectify. "It's every players dream to win an All-Ireland title and of course it is something I'd love to get. I believe there are certainly the players in the county to do so and I'm confident that we can go all the way in the very near future." Even though Galway have been very successful at underage level over the last decade, it has been difficult to transform those triumphs on to the senior stage. "The work has been done at underage level in this county for a number of years now, which is evident in the amount of titles won in the last few years. In saying that, to generate that into senior is hard. It is not only at county level that the work is being done with the kids, but the clubs have played a huge part also." Having suffered defeat in both the 2001 All-Ireland final and the '05 decider, the Galway man knows more than most what it is like to endure such heartache and it is a situation he is keen to avoid again. "You prepare yourself for eight, nine or even ten months of the year for the championship. To reach the final is a huge achievement, but when you lose that all goes out the window. It's a horrible feeling and it stays with you for a very long time." The current Galway squad is very young to say the least, but Richie is in no doubt that there is the right blend of youth and experience available to put in a serious bid for the championship. "About fifty per cent of the current squad is under-21, which is a huge number, but in saying that we have some very experienced players in the likes of Tony Og Regan, Damien Hayes, Fergal Healy and Kevin Broderick to just name a few. I suppose I'm in that bracket myself now," he joked. This is Ger Loughnane's second year in charge and Richie admits that he is hugely respected within the squad given all that he has achieved in the game. "Ger has a lot of respect in the game, not only among us, but with hurling people in general. His knowledge of the game is surpassed by few and he has brought a new freshness to the whole thing. His record speaks for itself and the fact that he is not afraid to change things around has been beneficial to us all." Expectations in Galway with regards winning titles are always high and the double All-Ireland minor winner admits that this does add pressure to the players. "There is no doubt that the expectations in this county are very high and we are expected to deliver the goods every year, but unfortunately that is not the case. Galway people are very passionate about their hurling and as club hurling is so strong down here, you can understand why. We also have some outstanding hurlers in this county, the best in the country and it is disappointing that we have not won more." Richie missed the majority of this year's league campaign through injury and only returned to the fold in the latter stages of the competition, but he has seen at first hand the talent that Loughnane has at his disposal and admits that the players are certainly there. "We have been coming strong in the last few years. It was disappointing to lose to Kilkenny last year and in fairness, we were with them for 60 minutes until they got the two late goals, which really killed us off. There is serious competition for places all over the team and that can only be good for everyone. There are a good crop of lads here at the moment. The Galway squad has been boosted by the arrival of Portumna's Joe Canning, who has been the talk of the hurling world for the past three years following some outstanding performances and Richie admits it has been a major boost to get the youngster on board. "Joe is a tremendous hurler and he is one of the best strikers of a ball that I have ever seen. He has a massive future with the county and will be a great addition to us." Antrim will provide the opposition for the Tribesmen in the first round of the championship, but Richie feels that being placed in either the Leinster or Munster championship would help their cause. "I think it would be beneficial to Galway hurling if we were in a competitive provincial championship. It is sure to bring us on somewhat and give us more competitive games, which is needed." So what are the realistic targets of 2008 for the Galway men, can they go all the way and end a 20-year barren spell without the Liam McCarthy Cup. "I've no doubt in my mind that we can win the All-Ireland championship. The players are there; we have an excellent manager and the belief to go all the way. Kilkenny will be the team to beat again this year, but we've proven that we can beat them in recent years with a bit of luck on any given day." Away from the hurling pitch, Richie works with Murray & Spelman Financial Services Ltd, which is based in the Galway financial services centre in the city. The inter-county star has been with the company for the past year, securing the best mortgage rates for first time buyers, existing mortgage holders and investors among all the mortgage banks. He also advises clients on Pensions, Life cover & Investments. The business employs 25 people in Galway under the guidance of Michael D Culhane managing director. Tweet

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