Bertie Óg Murphy

Bertie Óg Murphy (born 1954 in Glanmire, County Cork) is a former Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Sarsfield's and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1976 until 1984. Murphy served as manager of the Cork senior hurling team from 2001 until 2002.

Playing career

Club

Murphy played his club hurling with the Sarsfield's club in Glanmire and enjoyed some success. He won a county under-21 championship winners' medal in 1975 after Sarsfield's defeated Bandon by 6-3 to 1-7. At this time Murphy was also a member of the club's senior team and spent the best part of twenty years playing in the forwards. In 1988 he played in his only county final, however, Glen Rovers were victorious on that occasion.^[1]

Minor & under-21

Murphy first came to prominence as a dual player on the inter-county scene with Cork in the early 1970s. He first tasted success in 1972 when he captured a Munster minor hurling title following a 4-11 to 0-3 trouncing of Limerick.^[2] The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Kilkenny. A high-scoring game ensued, however, at the final whistle Cork were defeated by 8-7 to 3-9.^[3]

1972 also saw Murphy enjoy much success with the Cork minor footballers. He picked up a Munster title in this code as well as Cork defeated arch-rivals Kerry by 2-14 to 1-14.^[4] An All-Ireland final appearance later beckoned with Tyrone providing the opposition. The game was a close affair, however, Cork were the winners by 3-11 to 2-11.^[5] This victory gave Murphy a coveted All-Ireland minor football winners’ medal and was some consolation for losing the hurling decider two weeks earlier.

By 1975 Murphy joined Cork's under-21 hurling team. He subsequently captured his first Munster under-21 winners’ title following a 3-12 to 2-6 win over Limerick.^[6] The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against fierce rivals Kilkenny. 'The Cats' were the overwhelming winners on that occasion by 5-13 to 2-9.^[7]

Senior

Murphy subsequently joined the Cork senior team and made his debut in the Munster semi-final victory over Tipperary in 1976. It was the beginning of a glorious era for Cork, however, Murphy found it difficult to break onto the starting fifteen. He had a difficult time on the periphery.

After some years in the wilderness Cork bounced back in 1982 and qualified for the All-Ireland final. Following an impressive provincial championship campaign 'the Rebels' were the red-hot favourites, however, arch-rivals Kilkenny surprised. Murphy came on as a substitute in that game, however, Christy Heffernan scored two goals in a forty-second spell just before the interval to take the wind out of Cork's sails. Ger Fennelly got a third goal within eight minutes of the restart, giving Kilkenny a 3-18 to 1-15 victory.^[8]

In 1983 Murphy secured a more permanent place on the team as Cork’s run of provincial success continued. He won a coveted Munster winners' medal that year as Cork trounced Waterford for the second consecutive year.^[9] The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Kilkenny for the second consecutive year also. ‘The Cats’ used a strong wind to dominate the opening half and built up a strong lead. Cork came storming back with goals by Tomás Mulcahy and Seánie O'Leary, however, at the full-time whistle Kilkenny had won by 2-14 to 2-12.^[10]

Murphy remained on the Cork senior hurling panel for another while and won an All-Ireland medal as a non-playing substitute in 1984 following Cork's championship decider defeat of Offaly.^[10]

Managerial career

Murphy first tried his hand at coaching with the Sarsfield's juveniles just as his playing career was coming to an end. He guided the club's young hurlers to back-to-back under-14 'A' hurling championship titles and a Féile na nGael title in the early 1990s.

In the late 1990s Murphy first tasted managerial success on the inter-county scene when he guided the Cork under-21 team to back-to-back All-Ireland medals in 1997 and 1998. He also served as a selector under Jimmy Barry-Murphy when he guided Cork to a senior All-Ireland victory in 1999. Murphy became manager of the Cork senior hurlers in 2002. He had an unsuccessful tenure as coach which culminated in his resignation after just one season in charge as the players went on strike due to the authoritarian nature of the Cork County Board.

References