Galway teenager Alex Murphy impresses for Newcastle against Chelsea

Galway teenager Alex Murphy impresses for Newcastle against Chelsea

Galway teenager Alex Murphy played an hour of football against Chelsea yesterday.

Ireland under-19 defender Alex Murphy came on for Newcastle in the 33rd minute of last night’s friendly against Chelsea.

Murphy, who joined from Galway United last summer, impressed Magpies fans with an hour long display that helped their team to a 1-1 draw at the 71,000 capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The 19-year-old missed a portion of last season through injury but when fit captained Newcastle’s under-21 side, despite being a new addition to the academy.

With 32 League of Ireland appearances behind him, Murphy is well adjusted to senior men’s football and the physicality that comes with it – but there is no question that facing stars like Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku in last night’s PL Summer Series fixture presented the biggest test of his career so far.

Murphy pleased with performance against Chelsea

Speaking after the match, Murphy told NUFC TV: “Yeah, I don’t think it can get much bigger than that to be fair, a team like Chelsea. It’s massive.

“Obviously, I didn’t start the game, and I wasn’t expecting to come on as early as I did but once I heard I was coming on, I was absolutely buzzing.

“I was obviously nervous, but when you get on the pitch, it’s just another game really, like you’re playing with your friends at home.

 

“It was an unbelievable test to see [how you will do] up against players who are playing top level in the Premier League. Unbelievable experience.”

Alex Murphy thanks Galway United.

And the young defender made sure to pay tribute to his former club Galway United who gave him an abundance of first team exposure while he was still just a schoolboy:

“I can’t thank Galway enough, like. I was there for two years, I went in when I was 16, and learning off pros there every day is just so valuable, and then when you step in with these lads it’s a step up again.

“But, yeah it’s unbelievable training with the seniors every day, you learn so much and you have to be on it every day.”