Grace Murray

Grace Murray (born 26 May 1989) is an Irish international footballer who plays for Shelbourne Ladies of the Women's National League (WNL). She made her debut for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team in February 2008.

Grace Murray
Personal information
Date of birth (1989-05-26) 26 May 1989
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Shelbourne Ladies
Youth career
St Dominic's Boys FC
Dundalk City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Dundalk City
St Francis
2011–2013 Peamount United
2014–2015 Newry City
2015– Shelbourne Ladies
International career‡
2008– Republic of Ireland 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:34, 25 January 2016 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:34, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

Club career

After coming through the youth ranks at Dundalk City,[2] Murray represented her hometown club in the 2004 and 2005 FAI Women's Cup finals at Lansdowne Road. In 2004 Dundalk lost 4–1 to UCD. A report in The Irish Times newspaper praised her "great assurance" in Dundalk's 1–0 win over Peamount United in 2005.[3] Murray transferred to St Francis and in August 2010 scored the club's first ever goal in European competition, in a 4–1 win over Portuguese champions 1º Dezembro.[4]

Murray joined Peamount United before the Women's National League (WNL) was formed in 2011 and represented the club in the competition's first season.[5] She had already featured in The Peas' 2011–12 UEFA Women's Champions League campaign, which ended with a defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.[6]

After dislocating her elbow three minutes into the 2012–13 UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying round in Bosnia, Murray was ruled out for six months. She spent time in Canada, then played in the summer season with Northern Irish club Newry City.[7]

Murray helped Newry City reach the 2014 IFA Women's Challenge Cup final, at Clandeboye Park in Bangor, where they were beaten 10–9 on penalties by Linfield after a 2–2 draw.[8] In 2015, she was part of the Newry City team which won the Women's Premier League, with a dramatic last-minute winner over Mid-Ulster Ladies.[9]

For the 2015–16 season, Murray returned to the Women's National League with Dublin-based club Shelbourne Ladies.[10]

International career

Murray made her debut for the Republic of Ireland U-19 team in August 2005, in a 3–2 friendly win over Finland U-19s at Richmond Park, Inchicore.[11] On her competitive debut in October 2005, she scored a "spectacular" free-kick in a 7–0 win over Estonia U-19s at the A. Le Coq Arena.[12]

In March 2006, Murray was called up to the senior national team for the first time, for the 2006 Algarve Cup.[13] Murray won a debut cap in February 2008, as a late substitute in Ireland's 4–1 friendly win over Poland at John Hyland Park, Baldonnel.[14]

Duggan was included in a scholarship programme for current or potential senior national team players in December 2011.[15] While attending Dundalk Institute of Technology, Murray represented Irish Universities at the World University Games, playing in the 2009 tournament in Belgrade[16] and the 2013 edition in Kazan.[17]

References
  1. "Grace Murray - Shelbourne Ladies FC". ExtraTime.ie. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  2. "Girls top in division". The Argus (Dundalk). 4 October 2002. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  3. Kerr, Rory (5 December 2005). "Hoey pounces to seal victory". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  4. "St. Francis make winning European debut". She Kicks. 6 August 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  5. Crossan, David (9 November 2011). "Peamount pair back Irish women's league". UEFA. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  6. "Second-half onslaught polishes off Peamount". Irish Independent. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  7. "Women In Sport – Grace Murray". Elverys Sports Blog. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  8. "Linfield Ladies Win Cup Final Thriller". Irish Football Association. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  9. "Magnificent Newry win title". Newry Democrat. 15 September 2015. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  10. O'Callaghan, Jason (29 September 2015). "New Shels signing Murray looking forward to WNL return". ExtraTime.ie. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  11. "Ireland call-ups for trio". The Argus (Dundalk). 26 August 2005. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  12. "City players excel as Irish girls' team progress in Estonia". The Argus (Dundalk). 7 October 2005. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  13. "Grace honoured with international call-up to Ireland senior squad". Irish Independent. 8 March 2006. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  14. "Grace Murray". SoccerScene.ie. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  15. "FAI womens [sic] scholarships announced". FAI Third Level Football. 6 November 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  16. "World University Games". FAI Third Level Football. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  17. "World University Games 2013". FAI Third Level Football. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
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