Michael Murphy (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Murphy is an Irish sportsperson. He is the captain of the Donegal senior inter-county team
, and plays his club football with Glenswilly.
, Offaly
by a score of 2-12 to 0-14.
He also experienced success at the county level, as he was a member of Donegal's Ulster Minor Football Championship
winning side in 2006 and an Ulster Under-21 Football Championship
in 2010.
in the final.
In 2011, Murphy led Glenswilly to their first ever Senior County Football title, defeating St. Michael's by 1-8 to 0-9 in the final. Murphy scored 1-7 of his team's 1-8 total in a Man of the Match performance. In the Ulster Club Championship first round he scored a crucial goal from a penalty as
Glenswilly beat Cavan Gaels 1.08 to 0.10.
At the end of the 2009 season, he received the Young Footballer of the year award after scoring 36 points in six All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
appearances, sixteen of them from play.
In 2010 he captained Donegal
to an Ulster Under-21 Football Championship
. They went on to reach the All-Ireland final but lost to Dublin
by a score of 1-10 to 1-8. Murphy missed a penalty in injury time of the second half, which would have won the game for Donegal.
Murphy was named captain of the Donegal
senior team for 2011, becoming one of the youngest skippers in the county's history.
In 2011, Murphy captained Donegal to their first silverware in four years, when they won the NFL Division 2 League title. He scored 1-3 in their 2-11 to 0-16 victory over Laois in the final. Murphy continued his success as captain by leading Donegal to their first Ulster Senior Football Championship
title in 19 years, with a win over Derry
in Clones, scoring a penalty just after half-time in a 1-11 to 0-08 win. Donegal went on to reach the All-Ireland semi-final, where they were defeated by eventual champions Dublin
by two points in a close match.
against Australia. In 2011, he travelled to Australia for his second series where he played an integral part of Ireland's record aggregate 130-65 win. Murphy was considered to be one of Ireland's best performers, finishing as joint-second top scorer with 19 points overall, including the opening goal in the first test. Murphy had previously travelled to Australia for an under-17 international rules series in 2006, despite being a year underage.
Murphy has been the target of Australian rules football clubs since 2007, but had refused all offers until 2009, when he was reported to be considering a move. However, in 2010 he said that he had turned down a move and was not considering it in the future.
, where he studies Physical Education with Biology.
Donegal GAA
The Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Donegal. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.Gaelic football is strongest in the...
, and plays his club football with Glenswilly.
Underage
Murphy played for both his club, Glenswilly, and his school, St Eunan's College as a teenager. In 2007, he captained St Eunan's to the school's fourth McLarnon Cup, and to the All-Ireland Colleges Senior Football Championship 'B' Final, where they were beaten after extra time by perennial football power St. Mary's of EdenderryEdenderry, County Offaly
Edenderry is a town in the north of County Offaly, Ireland. It is near the borders with Counties Kildare, Meath and Westmeath. The Grand Canal passes immediately south of the town through the Bog of Allen and there is a short spur to the town centre....
, Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
by a score of 2-12 to 0-14.
He also experienced success at the county level, as he was a member of Donegal's Ulster Minor Football Championship
Ulster Minor Football Championship
The Ulster Minor Football Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Ulster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Ulster Council. The trophy for the winning side is The Liam Murray Cup. The competition began in 1930, with...
winning side in 2006 and an Ulster Under-21 Football Championship
Ulster Under-21 Football Championship
For the Senior equivalent see: Ulster Senior Football ChampionshipThe Ulster Under-21 Football Championship known for sponsorship reasons as the Cadbury Ulster Under-21 Football Championship is a Gaelic football tournament for players under the age of 21, contested by the nine counties of Ulster in...
in 2010.
Club
Michael Murphy was called up to the Glenswilly senior football team in 2006, and helped them to a Donegal Intermediate Football Championship title. The following year, he was a key member of the Glenswilly side that reached the 2007 Donegal Senior Football Championship final, aged just 18. They were beaten by St Eunan'sSt Eunan's GAA
Naomh Adhamhnáin is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. Their home ground is O'Donnell Park.- History :The club was founded in 1927...
in the final.
In 2011, Murphy led Glenswilly to their first ever Senior County Football title, defeating St. Michael's by 1-8 to 0-9 in the final. Murphy scored 1-7 of his team's 1-8 total in a Man of the Match performance. In the Ulster Club Championship first round he scored a crucial goal from a penalty as
Glenswilly beat Cavan Gaels 1.08 to 0.10.
Inter-county
He made his Donegal debut in January 2007 against Antrim in the Dr. McKenna Cup.At the end of the 2009 season, he received the Young Footballer of the year award after scoring 36 points in six All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
appearances, sixteen of them from play.
In 2010 he captained Donegal
Donegal GAA
The Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Donegal. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.Gaelic football is strongest in the...
to an Ulster Under-21 Football Championship
Ulster Under-21 Football Championship
For the Senior equivalent see: Ulster Senior Football ChampionshipThe Ulster Under-21 Football Championship known for sponsorship reasons as the Cadbury Ulster Under-21 Football Championship is a Gaelic football tournament for players under the age of 21, contested by the nine counties of Ulster in...
. They went on to reach the All-Ireland final but lost to Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
by a score of 1-10 to 1-8. Murphy missed a penalty in injury time of the second half, which would have won the game for Donegal.
Murphy was named captain of the Donegal
Donegal GAA
The Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Donegal. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.Gaelic football is strongest in the...
senior team for 2011, becoming one of the youngest skippers in the county's history.
In 2011, Murphy captained Donegal to their first silverware in four years, when they won the NFL Division 2 League title. He scored 1-3 in their 2-11 to 0-16 victory over Laois in the final. Murphy continued his success as captain by leading Donegal to their first Ulster Senior Football Championship
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
title in 19 years, with a win over Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
in Clones, scoring a penalty just after half-time in a 1-11 to 0-08 win. Donegal went on to reach the All-Ireland semi-final, where they were defeated by eventual champions Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
by two points in a close match.
International Rules
In 2010, Murphy made his first appearance for Ireland in the International Rules SeriesInternational Rules Series
The International Rules Series is a senior men's International rules football competition between the Australia international rules football team and the Ireland international rules football team...
against Australia. In 2011, he travelled to Australia for his second series where he played an integral part of Ireland's record aggregate 130-65 win. Murphy was considered to be one of Ireland's best performers, finishing as joint-second top scorer with 19 points overall, including the opening goal in the first test. Murphy had previously travelled to Australia for an under-17 international rules series in 2006, despite being a year underage.
Murphy has been the target of Australian rules football clubs since 2007, but had refused all offers until 2009, when he was reported to be considering a move. However, in 2010 he said that he had turned down a move and was not considering it in the future.
Accolades
- Ulster Senior Football ChampionshipUlster Senior Football ChampionshipFor information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
- 2011 (Captain) - National Football League Division 1 Champions - 2007
- National Football League Division 2 Champions - 2011 (Captain)
- Ulster Under-21 Football ChampionshipUlster Under-21 Football ChampionshipFor the Senior equivalent see: Ulster Senior Football ChampionshipThe Ulster Under-21 Football Championship known for sponsorship reasons as the Cadbury Ulster Under-21 Football Championship is a Gaelic football tournament for players under the age of 21, contested by the nine counties of Ulster in...
- 2010 (Captain) - Ulster Minor League & Ulster Minor Football ChampionshipUlster Minor Football ChampionshipThe Ulster Minor Football Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Ulster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Ulster Council. The trophy for the winning side is The Liam Murray Cup. The competition began in 1930, with...
- 2006 - Dr. McKenna Cup - 2009, 2010
- Railway Cup - 2009
- Donegal Senior Football Championship - 2011
- Donegal Intermediate Club Championship - 2006
- Young Footballer of the Year - 2009
Personal
Murphy is currently a student at Dublin City UniversityDublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
, where he studies Physical Education with Biology.