Seán Óg Murphy

Jackie 'Seán Óg' Murphy (1897–1956) was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1915 until 1929. Murphy captained Cork to the All-Ireland title in 1926 and 1928. His inclusion on the Cork Hurling Team of the Century marks him out as one of his county’s greatest-ever players.

Early life

Seán Óg Murphy was born in Merchant Street, Cork in 1897. The son of a publican, he was educated locally at St. Peter and Paul School before later attending both the South Monastery and the North Monastery secondary schools. At the North Mon Murphy joined the school’s first-ever hurling team before later joining his local club St. Vincent's. Following his education Murphy worked as a claims supervisor with the City of Cork Steampacket Company. He subsequently moved from the northside to the southside of Cork and joined the Blackrock GAA club, the most successful hurling club in Cork.

Playing career

Club

Murphy played his club hurling with Blackrock and his club football with Nils. He had much success with these two clubs in the Cork County Championships. With Nils he won junior football titles in 1913 and 1914. Murphy and his teammate, Sean Shanahan, won several titles. He and Sean remained great friends until Sean's death in 1943. The club stepped up to senior level after the latter win, with Murphy winning further titles in 1915, 1917 (as captain), 1924 and 1925. With his beloved Blackrock hurling team he won county titles in 1913, 1920, 1924, 1925 and 1927. The last three wins featured Murphy as captain of the side.

Inter-county

Murphy showed such great talent as a young hurler that he was drafted onto the Cork team for the 1912 All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. On that occasion Murphy remained on the substitute’s bench as ‘the Cats’ captured their second All-Ireland title on their way to their only three-in-a-row.

Three years later in 1915 Murphy was on Cork’s starting fifteen. That year he collected his first Munster title as Cork defeated Clare by 8-2 to 2-1. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Laois. At half-time Murphy’s side took a 3-0 to 2-2 lead, however, Laois fought back in the second half to claim the victory.

Four years later in 1919 Murphy added a second Munster title to his collection as Limerick were defeated by 3-5 to 1-6. Once again Cork reached the All-Ireland final where Dublin provided the opposition. At half-time Cork were coasting by 4-2 to 1-1. Murphy’s side held onto the lead and won the game by 6-4 to 2-4. It was Cork’s first All-Ireland title in sixteen years and it was Murphy’s first All-Ireland medal.

1920 saw Murphy win a third Munster title as Limerick fell again by 3-4 to 0-5. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a replay of the previous year’s game as Dublin provided the opposition once again. Both sides remained in the game for the majority of the hour, however, a four-goal blitz by Dublin saw that side win by 4-9 to 4-3.

Cork were defeated in the provincial championship for the next few seasons as Limerick and Tipperary came to dominate the competition. In the winter and spring of 1925-1926 the inaugural National Hurling League was played. Cork reached the final of that competition and defeated Dublin, giving Murphy, who was serving as captain, a National League meda.. Cork later proved themselves by reaching the Munster final. Tipperary were the opponents on that occasion and took a 1-2 to 0-0 lead. At that point the game was abandoned and a replay was ordered. The second game was a much tighter affair with both sides finishing level on a score line of 4-1 to 3-4. The third game was also a close affair, however, Cork pulled through to win by 3-6 to 2-4, giving Murphy a fourth Munster title. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Kilkenny at a snow-covered Croke Park in October of that year. Murphy’s side took the lead at half-time and held on to win by 4-6 to 2-0. It was Murphy’s second All-Ireland medal, his first as captain.

Cork retained their Munster title in 1927 with a 5-3 to 3-4 victory over Clare. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Dublin once again. Cork fell behind by 2-3 to 0-1 at half-time; however, they fought back in the second-half. In a team made up of nine members of An Garda Síochána ‘the Dubs’ claimed the victory by 4-8 to 1-3.

In 1928 Cork faced Clare in the Munster final for the second year in-a-row. Murphy was captain for the third year. That game ended in a draw, however, in the replay Cork triumphed with Murphy collecting sixth Munster title. Cork later defeated Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final before lining out against Galway in the championship decider. Galway got a bye into the final without picking up a hurley, however, the game turned into a rout. A score line of 6-12 to 1-0 gave Cork the victory and gave Murphy a third All-Ireland medal. 1928 also saw Murphy lining out with the Irish Hurling Team in the Tailteann Games, Ireland’s answer to the Olympic Games.

In 1929 an injury in a game against Clare ended Murphy’s hurling career. The timing was unfortunate because if he was fit enough to play he would have won another set of Munster and All-Ireland medals.

Provincial

Murphy also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He first played for his province as captain in the inaugural year of the Railway Cup competition in 1927, however, Leinster were the victors on that occasion. Murphy served as captain again in 1928 and 1929 as he collected two Railway Cup winners’ medals.

Post-playing career

In retirement from playing Murphy maintained a keen interest in Cork’s hurling and football affairs. In 1929 he was appointed secretary of the Cork County Board, one of the most demanding jobs in the country. He served in that position until his death.

Murphy also served as a selector on various Cork hurling teams over a period of four decades. While still a player he was a selector on the Cork teams that won the All-Ireland title sunder his captaincy in 1926 and 1928. Even though an injury brought his hurling career to an end Murphy served as a selector as Cork won two more All-Ireland titles in 1929 and 1931. He was a key member of the backroom team again as Cork won six more All-Ireland titles in 1941, 1943, 1944, 1952, 1953 and 1954. As a tribute to Murphy the trophy awarded to the winners of the Cork Senior Hurling Championship is called the Seán Óg Murphy Cup.

Jackie ‘Seán Óg’ Murphy died in 1956. He was posthumously honoured in 2000 when he was named in the full-back position on the Cork Hurling Team of the Century.

Sources

• Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005).
• Cronin, Jim, Making Connections – A Cork G.A.A Miscellany, (2005).

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