Emily Murphy has lauded Poland captain Ewa Pajor’s quality as ‘second to none’ ahead of her Ireland sides meeting with Poland in December.

After another successful nights work at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for Emily Murphy and her Irish team-mates, ended in a 4-0 win against Kazakhstan, the Brighton striker spoke to the media and The Halfway Line was there to hear from her.

Murphy says Ireland  ‘had to remain professional’ against ‘a very different Kazakhstan’

It is a position Ireland may not find themselves in again in a hurry, taking an eight goal lead into the second leg of a knockout tie. Even so, Ireland were frustrated for large periods of the opening period of the second leg on Tuesday night before finding their flow in the second half, Murphy was asked how she reflects on the night in Cork,

“I think from the outside it looked like it [the tie] was done and dusted, but our prep was the exact same” Murphy affirmed. “We had to remain professional and we started the game, I think slower than we did in the first leg, but we also faced a very different Kazakhstan. They were a lot deeper in the second leg.

“So for us, it was just about working out what worked and what didn’t and how we could break them down. Sometimes it meant going around, sometimes it meant going through, but it was continuously knocking on the door and when the goals came, they came in a few more. I think that was massive for us. We also [had] different partnerships on the pitch would have also played a role in that.”

‘I can’t complain’ beams Emily Murphy about strike partners influence

One of the hallmarks of the Carla Ward era has been getting the best out of her strikers, principal among them is Emily Murphy, perhaps Ireland’s stand-out player of their League A campaign. Alongside her are Kyra Carusa, Abbie Larkin and Amber Barrett who all continue to impress under Ward.

The Halfway Line asked Murphy about her understanding with those three players up front,

“I have the luxury of being good friends with all of them” Murphy beamed. “Larko [Abbie Larkin] and I get on very well. We’re similar in age, which helps. We look to each other for being very similar personnel in terms of looking for the ball in behind or maybe coming to feet, and I feel as though we work quite well together.

“With Larko or Abbie, you never know what you’re gonna get in terms of she can take a player on, she can cut back, and I think that’s a really exciting thing about her. She’s the ability to change a game and make a game.

“Alongside Amber, the quality she brings in holding the ball up, Kyra is the same. I have a luxury of players to play with, so I can’t complain on that front.”

World Cup was ‘in my head’ in Brighton move says Murphy

Undoubtedly Murphy has come a long way in a short period of time, regular football at Newcastle saw her hit double figures for goal involvements at senior level in England for the first time. That earned her a move to the South Coast in Brighton, and The Halfway Lane asked her to reflect on that progress,

“I think going into the summer window, as a player looking to move clubs, it was definitely a moment of reflection because it was the choice of club, the World Cup had to be in my head” Murphy said. “It was about playing and it’s about putting myself in the best position but I’ve still got plenty more to give.

“So I think when I’m confident and I’m enjoying myself, I think that’s when I play my best football, and Carla knows that, and the girls know that. And hopefully the fans have seen that, but I won’t get ahead of myself just yet.”

Ewa Pajor’s quality ‘second to none’ says Emily Murphy

When the Ballon d’Or Féminin rolls around again this year Ewa Pajor is a name that will be foremost on the lips of football fans. After a brace for Poland against Belgium last night saw Pajor’s nation through, Murphy’s Ireland will once again face Poland, this time for a place at the World Cup. The Brighton attacker was asked for her thoughts on the Polish captain,

“Her quality speaks for itself” Murphy said. “I think her playing for Poland, I don’t think people would recognize the name as much as her playing for Barcelona. The quality she has is second to none.

“We played her in the pre-season at Barcelona, and she’s unbelievable. You’ve got to give credit where credit’s due, and fair play to her. That’ll be a threat that we’ll try and minimise but you’ve already got me thinking about Poland, and I need to try and enjoy tonight.

If you follow Emily Murphy on social media you’ll no doubt be enjoying her interior design skills as she makes her new place in Brighton a home. The feature of it: a wall full of football shirts, The Halfway Line asked Murphy how it was all coming along,

“One of the girls from Kazakhstan actually just asked for my jersey, so I’ve got another jersey to hang up on the wall” she smiled.