Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny hurler)

Eoin Murphy

Eoin Murphy in action for Kilkenny against Galway in the 2015 National Hurling League at Pearse Stadium
Personal information
Irish nameEoghan Ó Murchú
SportHurling
PositionGoalkeeper
Born6 August 1990
Kilkenny, Ireland
Height1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
OccupationStudent
Club(s)
YearsClub
2007–Glenmore
Club titles
 FootballHurling
Kilkenny titles1
Colleges(s)
YearsCollege
Waterford IT
College titles
Fitzgibbon titles1
Inter-county(ies)
YearsCounty
2011–Waterford
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles2
All-Irelands3
NHL3

Eoin Murphy (born 6 August 1990) is an Irish hurler who plays as a goalkeeper for the Kilkenny senior team.[1]

Born in Glenmore, County Kilkenny, Murphy first excelled at Gaelic games during his schooling at New Ross Vocational College. He 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 sides. He joined the senior panel during the 2011 championship. Murphy later became a regular member of the starting fifteen, and has since won one All-Ireland medal and two National Hurling League medals.

Murphy has been a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions. At club level he is a one-time championship medallist in Gaelic football with Glenmore.

Playing career

Club

In 2009 Murphy was at wing-back as Glenmore reached the final of the county football championship. A 2–7 to 0–10 defeat of Muckalee gave Murphy a coveted championship medal.[2]

University

During his studies at the Waterford Institute of Technology, Delaney was an automatic inclusion on the college hurling team. In 2004 he was captain as Waterford IT faced University College Cork in the decider. Murphy's redeployment in the centre-back position proved a masterstroke, as Waterford triumphed by 0–17 to 0–12.[3]

Minor, under-21 and intermediate

Murphy first played for Kilkenny in 2008 when he joined the minor side. He won his sole Leinster medal that year following a 1–19 to 0–12 defeat of Wexford. Kilkenny later faced Galway in the All-Ireland decider. After going twenty-six minutes without scoring in the second half, substitute Danny Purcell scored 1–1 in the final staged to sneak a 3–6 to 0–13 victory to give Murphy a coveted All-Ireland medal.[4]

The following year Murphy was a member of the Kilkenny under-21 team. He won a Leinster medal that year following a 2–20 to 1–19 defeat of Dublin.

By 2010 Murphy had joined the Kilkenny intermediate team. He won a set of Leinster and All-Ireland medals as a non-playing substitute that year, as Kilkenny triumphed.

Murphy was a full member of the starting fifteen the following year, and found a regular position in the half-forward line. A 2–19 to 2–8 defeat of Wexford, with Murphy top scoring with 1–7, gave him a first Leinster medal on the field of play.[5] Clare provided the opposition in the subsequent decider, however, Murphy's side were denied following a 2–13 to 1–11 defeat.[6]

Senior

By 2011 Murphy was a member of the extended Kilkenny senior hurling panel. In his first season he collected a set of Leinster and All-Ireland medals as a non-playing sub.[7][8]

Murphy was promoted to second-choice goalkeeper behind David Herity in 2012. He added a second All-Ireland medal to his collection that year, once again as a non-playing sub.[9] He later collected a sixth All-Star.

After impressing as a goalkeeper during several games in the 2013 league campaign, Murphy was included on the starting fifteen for the final against Tipperary. A 2–17 to 0–20 victory gave Murphy a coveted National Hurling League medal.[10][11]

In 2014 Murphy collected his second league medal, as Kilkenny secured a narrow one-point 2–25 to 1–27 extra-time victory over Tipperary.[12] An elbow injury in the subsequent provincial campaign ruled him out of the Leinster final and All-Ireland semi-final victories, however, he was restored to the starting fifteen on 7 September 2014 when Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider.[13] 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> The replay on 27 September 2014 was also a close affair. Goals from brothers Richie and John Power inspired Kilkenny to a 2–17 to 2–14 victory.[14] It was Murphy's first All-Ireland medal on the field of play.

Honours

Player

Glenmore
Waterford Institute of Technology
Kilkenny

References

  1. ↑ "Profile: Eoin Murphy". Kilkenny GAA website. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  2. ↑ Knox, John (12 October 2009). "Glenmore go to the top of the football pile". Kilkenny People. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Cormican, Eoghan (3 March 2014). "Magnificent Waterford IT cup kings again". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  4. ↑ Larkin, Brendan (8 September 2008). "Purcell power the difference". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Spillane, Trevor (7 July 2011). "Cats clock up Leinster four-in-a-row as Slaneysiders challenge fades out". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "Clare clinch title". Hogan Stand. 29 August 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "The Kilkenny 2011 Championship adventure". Irish Independent. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  8. ↑ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (5 September 2011). "The greatest of champions reclaim crown". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  9. ↑ Cummiskey, Gavin (30 September 2012). "Cats show up for King Henry's ninth". Irish Times. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  10. ↑ Foley, Cliona (4 May 2013). "Herity in battle to look after No 1 as poacher Murphy turns goalkeeper". Irish Independent. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  11. ↑ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (6 May 2013). "Fennelly goals keep cool Cats in driving seat". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  12. ↑ "Reid fires over winners as Kilkenny edge out Tipp". RTÉ Sport. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "Murphy to miss Leinster final". Hogan Stand. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Kilkenny too strong for Tipperary in All-Ireland final replay". RTÉ Sport. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.