Incoming Newcastle United star Alex Murphy signed off as a Galway United player in perfect style on Friday evening as his side beat Cobh Ramblers 3-0. The highly-rated defender agreed his Magpies move back in May and will finally arrive on Tyneside in the coming days after playing his final game in Ireland.
Murphy, 18, said goodbye to fellow team-mates and bid farewell to home fans by having a hand in two second-half goals during the comfortable win. The teen grabbed an assist in the 67th-minute with a well-timed cross before helping Galway to their third moments later.
Murphy left the field in the 86th-minute to a standing ovation from the stands before picking up Galway's Young Player of the Month award for June after the full-time whistle. The victory means his side are just one point off league leaders Cork City in Ireland's second-tier.
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Murphy joined Galway United's Academy at 14 and progressed through the ranks to make his first team debut in 2021 aged 16. He captained the Republic of Ireland's under-18 side and was called up by his country's under-19s for the UEFA U19 European Championship Elite Phase qualifiers in March.
”I’m buzzing to join such a big club," Murphy told Galway United's official website. "I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me get to this stage, especially all my coaches at Corrib Celtic, Galway FA and Galway United.”
Newcastle have enjoyed a successful summer of first-team transfer business but are evidently looking towards top youth talents as they look to build for the future, as well as for the present.
Charlie McArthur, 17, from Kilmarnock, and 18-year-old Jordan Hackett-Valton from Spurs have also arrived in recent days. Reports suggest Southampton talent Tyler Dibling, 16, is another the club are looking at this summer.
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