Man City net another Irish starlet - January 5, 2001
Man City's policy of trawling the four corners of Ireland for players has paid off again with the news that 15-year-old Wexford youngster Paul Murphy will join them over the weekend.
This is the second time in a couple of months that City have beaten off challenges from every other top team in the British Isles for an Irish player.
Murphy starred for Wexford in the Kennedy Cup last year and followed that up with some great displays for Ireland at u15 level which alerted all the top clubs to his talents. He had trials with Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Leeds United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City and Celtic before narrowing down his choice between Liverpool and City.
City won the battle for his signature because the Enniscorthy All Blacks player believes he has a better chance of making it through the grades at Maine Road.
He said: "I felt I'd have a better chance with them. Liverpool just keep buying in players whereas City have to try to bring more players through the ranks."
Paul in currently in Manchester and will sign for City over the weekend where he will join Cobh Ramblers starlet Stephen Ireland, who signed in November. Though Paul will be officially a City player this week he will not move to Manchester until July 1.