Ronan Murray

Ronan Michael Murray (born 12 September 1991) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Born in County Mayo, he has played in the Football League for Ipswich Town, Torquay United, Swindon Town, Plymouth Argyle and Notts County, and in the League of Ireland for Galway United, Dundalk, Sligo Rovers and Drogheda United.

Murray was capped by the Republic of Ireland from under-16 to under-21 level.

He is currently playing Gaelic football with Belmullet GAA

Murray started playing for the Erris United youth system at the age of 12.

After being spotted by former Ipswich Town player Robin Turner, he had a trial with Ipswich in the summer of 2007 and agreed to join the club the following year.

Having joined the club's academy, Murray scored a total of 36 goals in 56 appearances for the youth team in his first two seasons with Ipswich.

He also scored 13 times in 29 reserve team games.

Murray signed his first professional contract in 2010 after being among seven academy players offered terms in April.

He scored on his first team debut in a 3–2 League Cup win at Exeter City in August.

Murray came on as a second-half substitute, with Ipswich trailing, to equalise with a "looping header" and was then involved in both David Norris goals to win the game in extra time.

"Of all the strikers at our club, he is probably the most natural goalscorer we've got," said manager Roy Keane.

Describing Murray's goal, he said "it wasn't even a chance and that's what good strikers do."

Murray made his first appearance in the Football League four days later against Burnley, but found first team opportunities limited for the rest of the 2010–11 campaign.

He continued to be prolific for the reserves, scoring 11 goals in 16 appearances that season, and joined Torquay United on loan in March 2011.

He scored once in seven appearances, a "clinical finish" against Cheltenham Town, and was then recalled by manager Paul Jewell in April.

"I really enjoyed my time at Torquay but I'm an Ipswich Town player and want to play games here," said Murray after signing a new one-year contract.

He appeared in the starting line-up for the first time, in his last game of the season, at the end of the month against Preston North End.

Despite scoring nine goals in 10 reserve team appearances the following season, Murray failed to feature in a first team game for Ipswich in 2011–12.

A loan move to Gillingham in September fell through before he joined Swindon Town on loan in November.

"To be honest, we are missing a player like him," said Swindon manager Paolo Di Canio.

"He's a player who doesn't have a high size but he's very mobile. He's quick but he isn't nasty – he has a good character."

Murray scored two goals in ten league and cup appearances, against Southend United and Morecambe, before returning to Ipswich in January.

Ipswich rejected an offer of around £100,000 from Swindon to sign Murray on a permanent deal and gave him a new one-year contract.

He then returned to Swindon on loan for the rest of the season.

"I'm obviously delighted to have been given a new contract here," said Murray.

"It's been great to be involved down there week after week and that's what I need at this stage of my career."

He scored two more goals, against Burton Albion and Barnet, and appeared in the 2012 Football League Trophy Final defeat to Chesterfield.

Murray returned to Ipswich at the end of the campaign having helped Swindon win the League Two title.

"I reckon this is my first season as a regular in the Football League and I am in a team that has won promotion," he said.

"I have learnt that you have to be professional in your preparation, especially if you have a game on Saturday and then Tuesday. You have to recover well and I have learnt how to do that too."

He made his first appearance for Ipswich in nearly 16 months at the start of the 2012–13 season against Blackpool in August.

Murray scored four more goals, in eight appearances, for the club's reserve team before joining Plymouth Argyle on loan in January for the rest of the campaign.

"I'm very pleased to get Ronan in. He comes very highly recommended," said Argyle manager John Sheridan.

"He's a good intelligent footballer who scores goals and he did well when he went to Swindon last year in a promotion-winning side."

Murray scored one goal in 13 appearances for the club, a "close-range finish" against Barnet in March.

At the end of the season, Murray was released by Ipswich when his contract expired.

In five years with the club he scored once in 14 matches.

Murray signed a short-term contract with Notts County in August 2013 after a trial period.

He made an impressive start at his new club, scoring 9 goals as the team avoided relegation to League Two, and his performances earned him a new contract in July 2014.