Dundalk Football Club is greatly saddened by the passing of Kevin Murray (front row, second left), a league winner with us in 1967 and once described by the Dundalk Democrat as “the man with three lungs”. He was 84.
We send our heartfelt condolences to Kevin’s wife Catherine, sons Kevin, Ciaran and Darren, his wider family and many friends at this difficult and very sad time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Player Profile (from dundalkfcwhoswho.com)
Kevin Murray (born: 8 April 1940) arrived at Oriel Park for the 1966/67 season after spending two years at Bohemians, and the midfield dynamo would go on to miss only five competitive matches in his first three seasons with the Lilywhites.
Lining out at inside right, he drove the squad in his first season to a fistful of medals (three wins and two runners-up) including the League Championship, defending, fetching, providing the linkage between wing halves and forwards, penalty and free-kick taker, always available to score vital goals and inevitably to be found wherever the action was.
After the departure of Jim Burke, Murray reverted to right-half with Mick Millington switching to left-half. Sometimes employed as a defensive sweeper, his true role was as an aggressive, storming, attacking wing-half.
For four full seasons, he was the heartbeat of the team, ever driving both himself and his teammates during the club’s most successful era since its 1926 introduction to the League of Ireland. He rarely missed a game until a knee operation in October 1969 knocked him out for three months.
Early in 1970/71, he and Millington departed for Glentoran, signed by the Glens Board over the head of irate manager Peter McParland, after a shock European Cup loss to Waterford. But after 20 games, Kevin was on the move again, this time to Saint Patrick’s Athletic.
His St Pat’s league tally of 13 goals in 1972/73 was exceeded only by proven goalscorers Terry Harkin (Finn Harps) and Alfie Hale (Waterford) with 20 each, and Johnny Matthews (14), all three playing with the clubs that finished in the top two spots.
Transfer-listed by the Saints, he spent the 1973/74 campaign with second-from-the-bottom Shelbourne (league record 17 appearances, six goals), where his penalties and free-kicks provided most of his six goals.
His last League of Ireland involvement came in April 1975, with only four games remaining in the 1974/75 Championship, when Athlone manager Amby Fogarty took him on-loan from Glenmore Celtic, amidst some controversy, to help the Midlanders’ successful push for the league runner-up spot and qualification to compete in the UEFA Cup.
Across ten League of Ireland seasons, he scored 55 league goals, with four clubs, Bohemians, Dundalk, St Pat’s and Shelbourne. He had the distinction of scoring the first Dundalk goal in the new turned-around Oriel Park, when he netted from a penalty in the August 1966 4-1 defeat of Drogheda in the inaugural Donegan Cup match.
What They Said About Him
Glasgow Rangers programme: Moves with rhythm and intelligence, reads the game with shrewdness and foresight, joins the attack when Dundalk forwards surge, making them one of the highest-scoring teams in Europe.
Honours:
5 Wins: League, Shield and Top Four 1966/67; 2 City Cups 1967/68 & 1968/69.
5 Runners-Up: League 1967/68; 2 Shields 1967/68 & 1968/69; City Cup & Leinster Cup 1966/67.
Kevin’s Death Notice (RIP.ie)
Murray, Kevin (Finglas Park, Dublin and Carnlough Road, Cabra) – 5th December 2024. Passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle against cancer, through which he showed great bravery and dignity.
Devoted, beloved husband and best friend of Catherine, adored and cherished father of Kevin, Ciaran, Darren and the late Patrick. He will be very sadly missed by his family, grandchildren Sarah, Gareth, Craig, Amy, Lily and Holly, daughters-in-law Teresa and Anne, nieces, nephews, relatives, a wide circle of friends and neighbours.
May he Rest in Peace
Reposing at the Fanagan Kirwan Funeral Home, Ballygall Road West, on Tuesday evening (10th December) from 5pm until 7pm. Removal on Wednesday morning (11th December) to Our Mother of Divine Grace Church, Ballygall for 10am Funeral Mass with burial thereafter in Dardistown Cemetery.
Family flowers only please. Donations if desired, to Irish Cancer Society.
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