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Niall Murray (born 1990) is an Irish Gaelic footballer for Cavan Gaels who previously played for the Cavan county team.

Playing career

Club

Murray joined the Cavan Gaels senior panel in 2008. On 19 October 2008, Murray came on as a substitute as Cavan Gaels defeated Denn in the Cavan Senior Football Championship final, winning his first county title.

On 4 October 2009, Murray came on as a substitute in the county final as the Gaels defeated Denn for the second year in a row.

On 26 September 2010, Cavan Gaels faced Kingscourt Stars in the county final. Murray started at full forward as the Gaels fell to a four-point loss.

Cavan Gaels were back in the county final in 2011, facing Castlerahan on 2 October. Murray started as Cavan Gaels secured another senior championship.

On 13 October 2013, Murray was in the half back line as the Gaels returned to the county final, facing Ballinagh. Ballinagh were winners on a 0–12 to 0-11 scoreline.

On 11 October 2014, Cavan Gaels faced Kingscourt in another county final, with Murray starting in the full back line. A late Micheál Lyng point secured a one-point win for the Gaels, and Murray's fourth senior championship.

It would be 2017 before Cavan Gaels would reach the county final again. On 8 October, Murray was at full back as they faced Castlerahan, coming out five-point winners. The Gaels would later defeat Lámh Dhearg and Derrygonnelly to reach the Ulster Club final. On 26 November, Murray started at full back as Cavan Gaels faced Slaughtneil in the Ulster final. It was Slaughneil's day as they ran out comfortable winners.

Inter-county

Minor and under-21

Murray first played for Cavan at minor level, however he had no success at this grade.

Murray later joined the Under-21 team. On 13 April 2011, Murray was at centre forward in the Ulster Final against Tyrone. A first-minute goal from Murray was decisive as Cavan were winners on a 1–10 to 0-10 scoreline.

Cavan defeated Wexford in the All-Ireland semi-final later that week to reach the final against Galway. On 1 May 2011, Murray started at centre forward in the All-Ireland final. Murray scored a point as Cavan fell to a 2–16 to 1–9 defeat.

Senior

Murray joined the senior squad after the under-21 success in 2011. On 12 June 2011, Murray made his championship debut at wing back in an Ulster quarter-final defeat by Donegal.

On 3 April 2016, Murray scored a point against Galway in the National League as Cavan earned promotion to the top flight for the first time in 15 years. On 24 April, Murray came off the bench in the Division 2 Final against Tyrone, with Tyrone winning by five points.

On 1 April 2018, Cavan faced Roscommon in the National League Division 2 Final. Murray came on as a substitute in the 4–16 to 4–12 loss.

On 18 May 2019, Murray was in the forward line for the Ulster quarter-final against Monaghan, and scored two points in the 1–13 to 0–12 win. Murray scored five point in both games against Armagh as Cavan reached the Ulster final. On 23 June 2019, Murray started the Ulster final as Cavan lost to Donegal.

In February 2020, it was announced that Murray had undergone surgery for a quad injury and would likely miss the rest of the 2020 season. On 18 October 2020, Murray came on as a substitute in a National League loss to Kildare, his first game for Cavan since his injury. Cavan would go on to reach the Ulster Final for the second consecutive year, facing Donegal on 22 November. Murray came on as a substitute as Cavan claimed their first provincial title in 23 years. Murray again came off the bench in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin.

Cavan faced Tipperary in the National League Division 4 final on 2 April 2022. Murray came on as a late substitute in the one-point win. Murray was an unused substitute later that year as Cavan lost the Tailteann Cup Final to Westmeath.

Murray retired from inter-county football after the 2022 season, having made 93 senior appearances for his county in all competitions.

Honours

Cavan

• Ulster Senior Football Championship (1): 2020
• National Football League Division 4 (1): 2022
• Ulster Under-21 Football Championship (1): 2011

Cavan Gaels

• Cavan Senior Football Championship (5): 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017

References

1. "Wheel has come full circle for Murray". The Anglo-Celt. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2022. I started with the Gaels in 2008
2. "Johnston points the way as classy Gaels blow Denn away". Irish Independent. 20 October 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
3. "Cavan SFC: Gaels breeze past Denn". Hogan Stand. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
4. "Regal showing by McCormack as Kingscourt dethrone Gaels". Irish Independent. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
5. "12th title for Gaels". Irish Examiner. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
6. "Gaels left stunned by Ballinagh". Belfast Telegraph. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
7. "Lyng seals the deal to leave Kingscourt seeing stars". Irish Independent. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
8. "Gaels too strong for Castlerahan in Cavan final". The Irish News. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
9. "Cavan Gaels prove much too strong for Lamh Dhearg". The Irish News. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
10. "Cavan Gaels reach a first Ulster SFC final since 1977". The Irish Times. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
11. "Slaughtneil ease to Ulster title beating Cavan Gaels". RTÉ. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
12. "McKiernan leads by example as Cavan finally deliver". Irish Examiner. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
13. "All-Ireland U21FC semi-final: Cavan safely through". Hogan Stand. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
14. "Cavan set up U21 date with Galway". Irish Independent. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
15. "All-Ireland U21 FC final: Galway too strong for Cavan". Hogan Stand. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
16. "Cavan Ulster Championship squad includes 10 Under-21s". BBC Northern Ireland. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
17. "Donegal 2-14 Cavan 1-08". RTÉ. 12 June 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
18. "Cavan back in the top flight after beating Galway". RTÉ. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
19. "Tyrone see off Cavan for silverware". RTÉ. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
20. "Roscommon lift Division 2 title with win over Cavan in eight-goal thriller". The42.ie. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
21. "Cavan into Ulster semis after first championship win over Monaghan in 18 years". The42.ie. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
22. "Cavan and Armagh face semi-final replay after thrilling extra-time battle". The42.ie. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
23. "Cavan end 18-year wait for Ulster final after pulsating replay win over Armagh". The42.ie. 9 June 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
24. "Clinical Donegal dispatch Cavan to go back-to-back in Ulster". The42.ie. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
25. "Cavan's Niall Murray out for season through injury". Sky Sports. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
26. "Cavan rally to rattle Kildare nerves but Lilywhites hold on". RTÉ. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
27. "Cavan shock Donegal to claim Ulster title". RTÉ. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
28. "Dublin beat Cavan at a canter to reach another final". RTÉ. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
29. "Lynch brace crucial as Cavan pip Tipp to Croke Park glory". Irish Examiner. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
30. "Westmeath crowned inaugural Tailteann Cup champions after late flurry against Cavan". The42.ie. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
31. "Careers built on persistence". The Anglo-Celt. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.

• 1990 births
• Living people
• Cavan Gaels Gaelic footballers
• Cavan inter-county Gaelic footballers