Paul Murphy

Personal information
Irish name	Pól Ó Murchú
Sport	Hurling
Position	Right corner-back
Born	(1989-01-27) 27 January 1989 (age 30) Danesfort, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Occupation	Soldier
Club(s)
Years	Club
2006–present	Danesfort
Inter-county(ies)*
Years	County	Apps (scores)
2009–present	Kilkenny	26 (0–2)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles	4
All-Irelands	4
NHL	3
All Stars	4
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 22:22, 7 September 2015.

Paul Murphy (born 27 January 1989) is an Irish hurler who currently plays as a right corner-back for the Kilkenny senior team.^[1]

Born in Danesfort, County Kilkenny, Murphy first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Kilkenny minor team, before later joining the under-21 and intermediate teams. He joined the senior panel during the 2009 league, however, it was another few years before he established himself on the team. Since then Murphy has won four All-Ireland medals, three Leinster medals and three National League medals.

As a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions Murphy has won two Railway Cup medals. At club level he is a one-time All-Ireland medalist with Danesfort in the junior grade. In addition to this he has also won Leinster and various championship medals.

Murphy is widely regarded as one of the best corner-backs of the current game, and has won four All-Star awards.^[2]

Playing career[edit]

Club[edit]

Murphy plays his club hurling with the Danesfort club and has enjoyed much success in a short career.

In 2006 Murphy won a junior county championship title when Danesfort defeated Tullogher-Rosbercon in the final. It was the clubs first county title in that grade since 1930.^[3] Danesfort later defeated Knockbridge to claim the Leinster junior club title.^[4] Murphy later captured an All-Ireland junior club title following a 2–16 to 2–8 defeat of Clooney Gaels.

Minor and under-21[edit]

Murphy first came to prominence as a member of the Kilkenny minor hurling team in 2006. That year he won a Leinster title following a 4–22 to 1–5 trouncing of Carlow.^[5] Kilkenny were later defeated by Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final.

In 2007 Murphy found himself on the losing side in the Leinster final as Dublin won the title. Kilkenny later lost to Tipp in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Murphy later joined the Kilkenny under-21 team where he enjoyed further provincial success. He won his first Leinster title in that grade in 2008.^[6] Kilkenny later defeated Tipperary in the championship decider to give Murphy an All-Ireland under-21 winners' medal.^[7]

2009 saw Murphy secure a second Leinster under-21 title before later lining out in a second consecutive All-Ireland final. Clare were the opponents and secured a narrow 0–15 to 0–14 victory.^[8]

Senior[edit]

Murphy made his debut with the Kilkenny senior team in a pre-season Walsh Cup game against Dublin in 2009. He failed to make the panel for the subsequent National Hurling League or championship.

In 2011 Murphy was recalled to the Kilkenny senior team and played in a number of league games in what was a disappointing campaign for "the Cats". He later made his championship debut on 11 June against Wexford in a Leinster semi-final. A subsequent 4–17 to 1–15 defeat of Dublin gave "the Cats" a record-equalling seventh successive provincial championship.^[9] It was Murphy's first Leinster medal. Kilkenny subsequently faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider on 4 September 2011. Goals by Michael Fennelly and Richie Hogan in either half gave Kilkenny, who many viewed as the underdogs going into the game, a 2–17 to 1–16 victory.^[10] Murphy collected his first All-Ireland medal, while he later picked up his first All-Star.^[11]

2012 began well for Murphy when he collected his first National Hurling League medal following a 3–21 to 0–16 demolition of old rivals Cork.^[12] Kilkenny were later shocked by Galway in the Leinster decider, losing by 2–21 to 2–11, however, both sides subsequently met in the All-Ireland decider on 9 September 2012.^[13] Kilkenny had led going into the final stretch, however, Joe Canning struck a stoppage time equaliser to level the game at 2–13 to 0–19 and send the final to a replay for the first time since 1959.^[14] The replay took place three weeks later on 30 September 2012. Galway stunned the reigning champions with two first-half goals, however, Kilkenny's championship debutant Walter Walsh gave a man of the match performance, claiming a 1–3 haul. The 3–22 to 3–11 Kilkenny victory gave Murphy a second All-Ireland medal.^[15] He later collected a second successive All-Star.

2012 saw Murphy begin the year by picking up a National League medal following 3–21 to 0–16 trouncing of Cork.^[16] After losing the Leinster final to GAlway, both sides subsequently met in the All-Ireland decider and Galway nearly pulled off a victory courtesy of goals from Joe Canning and Niall Burke. A 2–13 to 0–19 draw was the result, a first drawn All-Ireland final in over half a century.^[17] The replay saw Kilkenny claim a 3–22 to 3–11 victory, with Murphy picking up a second All-Ireland winners' medal.^[18]

Kilkenny's dominance continued in 2013, with Murphy winning a second National League medal following a 2–17 to 0–20 defeat of Tipperary in the decider.^[19]

In 2014 Murphy collected his third successive league medal, as Kilkenny secured a narrow one-point 2–25 to 1–27 extra-time victory over Tipperary.^[20] He subsequently secured a second Leinster medal, as a dominant Kilkenny display gave "the Cats" a 0–24 to 1–9 defeat of Dublin.^[21] On 7 September 2014, Kilkenny faced Tipperary in what was Murphy's third All-Ireland decider. In what some consider to be the greatest game of all-time, the sides were level when Tipperary were awarded a controversial free. John O'Dwyer had the chance to win the game, however, his late free drifted wide resulting in a draw.^[22] The replay on 27 September 2014. Goals from brothers Richie and John Power inspired Kilkenny to a 2–17 to 2–14 victory.^[23] It was Murphy's third All-Ireland medal, while a third All-Star award quickly followed.

Murphy won a third Leinster medal in 2015 following a 1-25 to 2-15 defeat of Galway in the provincial decider. It was Kilkenny's 70th provincial title.^[24] Kilkenny renewed their rivalry with Galway once again in the All-Ireland decider on 6 September 2015. The team struggled in the first half, however, a T. J. Reid goal and a dominant second half display, which limited Galway to just 1-4, saw Kilkenny power to a 1-22 to 1-18 victory.^[25] It was Murphy's fourth All-Ireland medal, while he later claimed a fourth All-Star award.

Inter-provincial[edit]

Murphy also had the honour of lining out for Leinster in the Interprovincial Championship. He secured a winners' medal in this competition in 2012 following a 2–19 to 1–15 defeat of Connacht.

Honours[edit]

Danesfort

• 
  All-Ireland Junior Club Hurling Championship (1): 2007


• 
  Leinster Junior Club Hurling Championship (1): 2006


• 
  Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship (1): 2011


• 
  Kilkenny Junior Hurling Championship (1): 2006

Kilkenny

• 
  All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (4): 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015
  


• 
  Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (4): 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016
  


• 
  National Hurling League (3): 2012, 2013, 2014
  


• 
  Walsh Cup (4): 2009, 2012, 2014, 2017


• 
  All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2008
  


• 
  Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship (2): 2008, 2009


• 
  Leinster Minor Hurling Championship (1): 2006

Leinster

• 
  Interprovincial Championship (1): 2012
  

Individual[edit]

• 
  All-Stars (4): 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015

References[edit]