Danny Murphy has had a lot to consider after last Saturday\u2019s loss to Peamount, but as the week has worn on, he considers his initial expectation of a game against the runaway league leaders might have been a little too high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, I had a pop off the players after the game on Saturday and to the press and to be honest, not having a cut off anyone who went before me, but as a staff we\u2019ve not got the girls to the physical level they need to be at, it\u2019s not a lack of desire or effort on their part. I can\u2019t turn around and put everything on them, a lot of these girls are still learning, my job as a coach isn\u2019t just about what I do with them on the pitch, but guiding them on what to do off it, educating them on what they need to do when they\u2019re not at training, giving them gym programmes to stick to, to help them get to the best level they can.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve gone into training on Tuesday and I\u2019ve said to the players \u201cI\u2019ve got to apologise to you, because you\u2019ve been let down, it\u2019s not about just playing football. You are talented players but how effective have we been as a club in getting you to where you need to be. We as a staff have to be accountable for that. We\u2019re not going to leave any stone unturned. I want success, but so do the players and they\u2019re willing to work hard, they just need that guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe things that we need to do as a team and the aspirations that we have as a club, and from the group of players, we\u2019re not quite there physically yet. Technically we are, we\u2019ve got great footballers, but can we play it to the standard and the tempo I want for 90 minutes. I think that the players want it too, they want to get better and win games. We have work to do, but that\u2019s my job, I have to work with the players to get them physically fitter and stronger because I know the football is there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The visit of Treaty offers an opportunity to go into the mid-season break on a high, the Shannon-siders are bottom of the table, but Murphy takes nothing for granted. \u201cI\u2019ve rewatched their last three games this week, I\u2019d seen them on LoI TV through the season. Where they are now compared to where they were at the start of the season, there\u2019s a big difference, they\u2019re definitely not a bad team, but they just lack a bit of experience through the squad, they\u2019re physical and strong and have some good players. If we don\u2019t turn up on Saturday, knowing that we\u2019re in for a battle, then we\u2019re in for a very tough game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a Munster Derby, a lot of former City girls on their team, there\u2019s more here than just winning the game. We need to approach the game properly, not play the occasion but win our individual and collective battles as a team, if we do that, ensure we come out on top in one to ones, then the result will take care of itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tickets for the match are available online via TicketCo here<\/a>, and will also be available on the gate prior to kick-off!<\/p>\n\n\n\n