AFTER getting a taste of first-team action last season, Magpies’ keeper Shane Murphy is eager for even more next term.

The apprentice engineer has been retained by Dorchester boss Mark Jermyn on a one-year deal following a campaign which saw him thrust into the limelight.

Murphy made his county town debut in the Boxing Day derby against Weymouth when Alan Walker-Harris was dropped by then manager Graham Kemp.

The 22-year-old kept the number one jersey for the next four matches before Walker-Harris returned.

A dual registration agreement with New Milton was then scuppered when Murphy fractured his wrist – but now he is fully fit and focused on becoming the club’s first-choice stopper.

“My run in the team last season was definitely a good experience for me,” he told Echosport.

“Starting the Weymouth game gave me a lot of confidence and I was pleased with how I did in those five games.

“I think a lot of people realised I could play at that standard.”

He added: “We’ve been told that when we go into pre-season it will be like a clean slate.

“From what the manager has said, whoever comes back better will play.

“I’m fully fit and raring to go, and my target is to play as much as I can next season.”

Murphy turned down a move to Poole in February as he felt more chances would come his way at the Avenue.

On that decision to stay with the Magpies, he added: “That was a statement from myself to the club that I wanted to stick around for next season.

“It was tempting at the time because they were in a good position in the table but I felt I would get opportunities at Dorchester.”