Denis Murphy (hurler)
Encyclopedia
Denis Murphy is an Irish
retired sportsperson. He played hurling
for his local clubs Grenagh
and St. Finbarr's
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1960 until 1969.
in 1939. He came from a farming family that had no previous hurling tradition. Murphy was educated locally and later attended St. Colman's College in Fermoy
where his hurling skills were developed. He played at corner-forward on the college’s unsuccessful Dr. Harty Cup
team in 1956, the year he did his Leaving Certificate
. Murphy later attended University College Cork where he won a Fitzgibbon Cup
winners' medal with the college’s hurling team in 1959.
club in Cork. In 1958 he won a mid-Cork junior hurling title with the club. Murphy later joined the famous St. Finbarr's
club on the south side of Cork city wher ehe enjoyed further success. It was 1965 before Murphy played in his second county final. UCC
were the opponents, however, victory went to 'the Barr's' by a huge margin and Doolan collected his first senior county championship
title. St. Finbarr's later represented Cork in the provincial club championship. A 3-12 to 2-3 defeat of Waterford's Mount Sion gave Murphy a coveted Munster
club title. Murphy won a second county title with 'the Barr's' in 1968.
1966, however, was a successful year as Cork defeated Waterford
by two goals, giving Murphy a coveted Munster
winners' medal. This victory allowed Cork to advance directly to the All-Ireland final. Kilkenny
were the opponents and were installed as the red-hot favourites. The game has gone down in Cork folklore as one of their sweetest championship victories. Colm Sheehan
scored two goals while a John O'Halloran
free struck the crossbar and rebounded into the net. Eddie Keher
fought back for 'the Cats', however, at the full-time whistle Cork were the champions by 3-9 to 1-10. It was Murphy's first All-Ireland
winners' medal and a first for Cork in twelve years.
Cork lost their provincial crown in 1967, while 1968 was also an unsuccessful year. In 1969 Murphy was appointed captain of the Cork senior hurling team and, unlike the previous two years, it was a successful season. He began the year by guiding his county to a National Hurling League
victory over Wexford
. Cork later qualified for the Munster final with Tipperary
providing the opposition. In the only eighty-minute provincial decider between these two great rivals, Cork emerged victorious by 3-10 to 3-8. It was Murphy's second Munster winners' medal. Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final, with Murphy leading his team out in Croke Park
. Once again Kilkenny were to be Cork’s opponents in the championship decider. Murphy’s side had the upper hand for much of the game, however, Kilkenny came storming back into the game in the last quarter of an hour and went on to win the game by 2-15 to 2-9. It was hugely disappointing for Murphy and it turned out to be his last game for Cork. He retired at the relatively young age of thirty having won every honour at senior level.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition and enjoyed much success. He first lined out with his province in 1964, however, arch-rivals Leinster
were the victors in the final of the competition. It was a similar story in 1965 as Leinster triumphed once again. In 1966 Murphy finally captured a Railway Cup winners' medal as Munster defeated the eastern province by two points. In 1967, however, Munster were once again defeated by Leinster. Murphy was listed on the Munster for the final time in 1969. That year his province won the competition again as Connacht
fell heavily. It was Murphy's second Railway Cup title.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
retired sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
for his local clubs Grenagh
Grenagh GAA
Grenagh GAA is a Gaelic Football and hurling club based in the village of Grenagh in Cork, Ireland. The club participates in Cork GAA competitions and in Muskerry board competitions...
and St. Finbarr's
St. Finbarr's GAA
St. Finbarr's National Hurling and Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Togher area of Cork city, County Cork, Ireland....
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1960 until 1969.
Biography
Denis Murphy was born in Donoughmore, County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1939. He came from a farming family that had no previous hurling tradition. Murphy was educated locally and later attended St. Colman's College in Fermoy
Fermoy
Fermoy is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is situated on the River Blackwater in the south of Ireland. Its population is some 5,800 inhabitants, environs included ....
where his hurling skills were developed. He played at corner-forward on the college’s unsuccessful Dr. Harty Cup
Dr. Harty Cup
The Dr. Harty Cup is a hurling competition for schools in the province of Munster in Ireland. The cup is presented to the winners of the Munster Colleges Senior "A" Hurling Championship. Players have to be under the age of 19 to compete. The winning team represents Munster in the Dr. Croke Cup...
team in 1956, the year he did his Leaving Certificate
Leaving Certificate
The Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
. Murphy later attended University College Cork where he won a Fitzgibbon Cup
Fitzgibbon Cup
The Fitzgibbon Cup the championship for top division of university hurling in Ireland. It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
winners' medal with the college’s hurling team in 1959.
Club
Murphy began his club hurling career with the GrenaghGrenagh GAA
Grenagh GAA is a Gaelic Football and hurling club based in the village of Grenagh in Cork, Ireland. The club participates in Cork GAA competitions and in Muskerry board competitions...
club in Cork. In 1958 he won a mid-Cork junior hurling title with the club. Murphy later joined the famous St. Finbarr's
St. Finbarr's GAA
St. Finbarr's National Hurling and Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Togher area of Cork city, County Cork, Ireland....
club on the south side of Cork city wher ehe enjoyed further success. It was 1965 before Murphy played in his second county final. UCC
UCC GAA
UCC is a football and hurling club associated with University College Cork. UCC teams play in the Cork Senior Football Championship and Cork Senior Hurling Championship as well as the two main third-level competitions namely the Sigerson Cup in football and the Fitzgibbon Cup in hurling...
were the opponents, however, victory went to 'the Barr's' by a huge margin and Doolan collected his first senior county championship
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
title. St. Finbarr's later represented Cork in the provincial club championship. A 3-12 to 2-3 defeat of Waterford's Mount Sion gave Murphy a coveted Munster
Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for the top hurling clubs in the province of Munster in Ireland...
club title. Murphy won a second county title with 'the Barr's' in 1968.
Inter-county
Murphy first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork senior hurling team in the early 1960s. It was an uncharacteristic dry-spell for 'the Rebels' and their last All-Ireland success in 1954 was becoming a distant memory.1966, however, was a successful year as Cork defeated Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
by two goals, giving Murphy a coveted Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
winners' medal. This victory allowed Cork to advance directly to the All-Ireland final. Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
were the opponents and were installed as the red-hot favourites. The game has gone down in Cork folklore as one of their sweetest championship victories. Colm Sheehan
Colm Sheehan
Colm Sheehan is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Éire Óg and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1965 until 1968.-Club:...
scored two goals while a John O'Halloran
John O'Halloran
John O'Halloran is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local clubs UCC and Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1963 until 1969.-Inter-county:...
free struck the crossbar and rebounded into the net. Eddie Keher
Eddie Keher
Edward Peter Keher , better known as Eddie Keher, is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game....
fought back for 'the Cats', however, at the full-time whistle Cork were the champions by 3-9 to 1-10. It was Murphy's first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
winners' medal and a first for Cork in twelve years.
Cork lost their provincial crown in 1967, while 1968 was also an unsuccessful year. In 1969 Murphy was appointed captain of the Cork senior hurling team and, unlike the previous two years, it was a successful season. He began the year by guiding his county to a National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
victory over Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
. Cork later qualified for the Munster final with Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
providing the opposition. In the only eighty-minute provincial decider between these two great rivals, Cork emerged victorious by 3-10 to 3-8. It was Murphy's second Munster winners' medal. Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final, with Murphy leading his team out in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
. Once again Kilkenny were to be Cork’s opponents in the championship decider. Murphy’s side had the upper hand for much of the game, however, Kilkenny came storming back into the game in the last quarter of an hour and went on to win the game by 2-15 to 2-9. It was hugely disappointing for Murphy and it turned out to be his last game for Cork. He retired at the relatively young age of thirty having won every honour at senior level.
Inter-provincial
Murphy also lined out with MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition and enjoyed much success. He first lined out with his province in 1964, however, arch-rivals Leinster
Leinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
were the victors in the final of the competition. It was a similar story in 1965 as Leinster triumphed once again. In 1966 Murphy finally captured a Railway Cup winners' medal as Munster defeated the eastern province by two points. In 1967, however, Munster were once again defeated by Leinster. Murphy was listed on the Munster for the final time in 1969. That year his province won the competition again as Connacht
Connacht GAA
The Connacht Council are a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Connacht.-Constituent counties:*Galway*Leitrim*Mayo*Roscommon*Sligo-Special counties:...
fell heavily. It was Murphy's second Railway Cup title.