Willie Murphy (Cork hurler)

Willie "Long Puck" Murphy (1915–1977) was an Irish hurler who played as a right corner-back for the Cork senior team.

Murphy joined the team during the 1939 championship and was a regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement after the 1949 championship. During that time he won five All-Ireland medals, six Munster medals and three National League medals. Murphy was an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions.

At club level Murphy was a three-time county club championship runner-up with Ballincollig.

His son, Eddie Murphy, played hurling with Kerry.

Playing career

Club

Murphy played his club hurling and Gaelic football with Ballincollig and enjoyed much success in a career that lasted over twenty years.

Murphy made his debut with the club's junior hurling team in 1930 and immediately became a regular fixture in defence. He subsequently won back-to-back intermediate championship medals in 1934 and 1935 as Ballincollig defeated Kinsale and St. Columb's in the respective deciders.

In 1939 Murphy won a third intermediate championship medal as Ballincollig defeated Ballinora by 4–6 to 4–4. The following year he won a junior football championship medal with Ballincollig, giving the club dual senior status.

Murphy's side subsequently earned the unwanted distinction of losing three successive championship deciders to Glen Rovers and St. Finbarr's (twice) between 1941 and 1943.^[1]

Inter-county

Murphy first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with the Cork minor hurling team. He made his debut as a goalkeeper in 1930, however, his three seasons on the team bore little fruit in terms of success.

Having just left the minor grade in 1932 Murphy joined the Cork junior hurling team. He was a late addition to the team for the provincial decider and a 1–4 to 1–2 defeat of Clare gave him a Munster medal.

In 1939 Murphy made his senior debut as Cork made a breakthrough in the provincial championship after nearly a decade in the doldrums. A narrow 4–3 to 3–4 defeat of Limerick gave Cork the title and gave Murphy his first Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Kilkenny. In one of the most iconic championship deciders of all-time, played on the day that World War II broke out, the climax of which was played in a ferocious thunder storm. While a draw looked likely as the hour drew to a close Paddy Phelan sent a seventy-yard free in towards the Cork goalmouth. The sliotar was gobbled up by the defence and cleared, but only as far as Jimmy Kelly who sent it straight over the bar for a one-point lead. Immediately after the puck-out the referee blew the whistle and Cork were defeated on a score line of 2–7 to 3–3.^[2]

Although defeated in the All-Ireland decider, Cork continued their breakthrough in 1940. An 8–9 to 6–4 defeat of Tipperary in the decider gave Murphy his first National Hurling League medal. He added a second winners' medal to his collection in 1941 following a defeat of Dublin.

An outbreak of foot and mouth disease severely hampered the 1941 championship. As a result of this Cork were nominated to represent the province in the All-Ireland series. Murphy was at corner-back in the final against Dublin, however, it turned into a one-sided affair thanks to contributing goals from Johnny Quirke and Ted O'Sullivan. At the full-time whistle Cork had won by 5–11 to 0–6. It was one of the most one-sided championship deciders of all-time, however, it did give Murphy an All-Ireland medal.

Murphy added a second Munster medal to his collection in 1942 as Tipp were downed by 4–15 to 4–1. The All-Ireland final was a replay of the previous year with Dublin providing the opposition once again. The game was a close affair with just a point separating the sides at the three-quarter stage. In the end Cork won comfortably enough by 2–14 to 3–4 and Murphy collected a second All-Ireland medal.

A 2–13 to 3–8 defeat of Waterford in 1943 gave Murphy a third Munster medal. He later lined out in a fourth All-Ireland decider with Antrim becoming the first Ulster side to qualify for a final. Unfortunately, the occasion got to the Glensmen as Cork built up an unassailable 3–11 to 0–2 half-time lead. The final score of 5–16 to 0–4 gave Cork their second-ever hat-trick of All-Ireland titles while it also gave Murphy a third All-Ireland medal.^[3]

In 1944 Cork were attempting to capture a fourth All-Ireland title in-a-row. No team in the history of the hurling championship had won more than three consecutive titles. The year got off to a good start when Cork defeated Limerick by 4–6 to 3–6 after a replay to give Murphy a fourth Munster medal. For the third time in four years Cork faced Dublin in an All-Ireland decider. Joe Kelly was the hero of the day and he contributed greatly to Cork's 2–13 to 1–2 victory. It was a remarkable fourth successive All-Ireland medal for Murphy.^[4]

Five-in-a-row proved to be a bridge too far for Cork, however, the team returned in 1946. A 3–8 to 1–3 defeat of Limerick gave Murphy his fifth Munster medal. Under the captaincy of Christy Ring, Cork subsequently faced old rivals Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. While some had written off Cork's chances, they took an interval lead of four points. With ten minutes remaining Cork's lead was reduced to just two points, however, goals by Mossy O'Riordan and Joe Kelly secured the victory. A 7–6 to 3–8 score line gave Murphy a fifth All-Ireland medal.

Cork retained their provincial dominance in 1947 with Murphy picking up a sixth winners' medal following a three-point victory. The All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year with Kilkenny providing the opposition. The stakes were high for both sides as Cork were aiming for a record sixth championship in seven seasons while Kilkenny were aiming to avoid becoming the first team to lose three consecutive All-Ireland finals. In what has been described as one of the greatest deciders of all-time, little separated the two teams over the course if the hour. A Joe Kelly goal put Cork one point ahead with time almost up, however, Terry Leahy proved to be the hero of the day. He converted a free to level the sides again before sending over the match-winner from the subsequent puck-out. With that the game was over and Murphy's side were beaten by 0–14 to 2–7. It was the fifth time that Kilkenny had pipped Cork by a single point in an All-Ireland final.

Murphy won a third National League medal at the start of 1948 following a 3–3 to 1–2 defeat of Tipperary. Cork later faced an on-point defeat by Waterford in the provincial decider.

A thrilling Munster quarter-final replay defeat by Tipperary in 1949 brought the curtain down on Murphy's inter-county career.

Inter-provincial

Murphy also had the honour of being selected for Munster in the inter-provincial series of games. He made his debut with the province in 1940 and was a regular until his retirement in 1949.^[5]

In 1940 Murphy lined out in his first inter-provincial decider. A 4–9 to 5–4 defeat of fierce rivals Leinster gave Murphy his first Railway Cup medal.

Munster surrendered their title to Leinster the following year, however, the province went on to dominate the rest of the decade. Defeats of Leinster (1942, 1943), Connacht (1944) and Ulster (1945, 1946) gave Murphy five successive Railway Cup medals.

Six-in-a-row proved beyond Munster, however, the team returned to the final again in 1948 with Murphy as captain. A 3–5 to 2–5 defeat of Leinster gave Murphy his seventh and final Railway Cup medal while he also had the honour of lifting the cup.

Post-playing career

In retirement from playing Murphy maintained a keen interest in hurling. He was instrumental in the foundation of a new club in Bishopstown in 1957.^[6]

Murphy later served as a selector with the Cork senior hurling team. He was part of the management set-up in 1966 when Cork claimed the Munster and All-Ireland crowns.

Honours

Team

Ballincollig

• Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship (3): 1934, 1935, 1939
• Cork Junior Football Championship (1): 1940

Cork

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (5): 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (6): 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947
• National Hurling League (3): 1939–40, 1940–41, 1947–48
• Munster Junior Hurling Championship (1): 1932

Munster

• Railway Cup (7): 1940, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1948 (c)

References