New Ipswich Town keeper Brian Murphy wants to play his way into the Republic of Ireland team

 
By Matt Plummer »


Briam MurphyBrian Murphy is dreaming of international football.
And the new Ipswich Town goalkeeper admits that was a major factor in his decision to join the Blues.
Waterford-born Murphy has been capped by the Republic of Ireland at Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 level.
And in a strange twist, on the same day he signed for Ipswich, he was called up for the senior squad’s World Cup play-off matches against France.
He failed to get on but enjoyed the experience – an experience he would love to sample again during his time at Portman Road.
“To get a call-up for the national squad was a nice boost before coming to Ipswich,” said Murphy.
“Not many people here would have known much about me but now hopefully they’ll be thinking ‘he can’t be too bad’.
“I’ll remember it for all the wrong reasons (Ireland’s World Cup dream was left in tatters following a highly controversial goal following a handball by Thierry Henry).
“But it was a great experience and hopefully I can push on and earn more call-ups in the future.
“When I was with Ireland I was training with Shay Given.
“He’s 33 but still wants to work and train. He wants to learn and that’s a target of mine.
“I want to fill his boots one day and that will only come if I do well at Ipswich.”
Murphy feels he has more chance of international recognition playing in England.
“Playing here should help me in that respect,” he said.
“Back home, there’s been a push for me to be involved from the press.
“The manager was at a couple of our games but when you’re in a winning team you don’t always have much to do.
“Hopefully, though, if I do the basics right I can make an impression, as I have with Ipswich.”
Murphy, who started his career under former Town boss Joe Royle at Manchester City, has enjoyed huge success in the last three years during his time with Bohemians.
They won the league title last year – also, ironically, on the same day he officially joined Ipswich – but said: “Now that I’m here I have to prove myself all over again.”