Dickie Murphy
Encyclopedia
Richard 'Dickie' Murphy (born 1961 in Enniscorthy
, County Wexford
) is an Irish
hurling
referee and former player. He played hurling with his local club Raparees and with the Wexford
senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s. Murphy is regarded asone of the best and most popular referees on the inter-county scene. He is married to Jacquie Murphy (née Doyle) and has three sons Cathal, Brian and Ruairi.
minor hurling team in the late 1970s. He enjoyed little success in this grade as Kilkenny
dominated the provincial championship. In 1978 Murphy was also a member of the Wexford under-21 team and he helped the Slaneysiders to victory over arch rivals Kilkenny in the Leinster
decider. He later played senior hurling for Wexford, winning Walsh Cup
and Oireachtas winners' medals, however, he was unable to establish himself in the championship team.
. Murphy went on to referee further Wexford county finals in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1997.
Murphy joined the inter-county panel of referees in 1987, firstly taking charge of National Hurling League
Division 2 games before progressing to Division 1 fixtures the following year. His first big game came in early 1988 when he refereed the Division 1 clash of Tipperary
and Limerick
in Semple Stadium
, Thurles
.
In 1989 Murphy took charge of his first Leinster
senior championship game when Dublin
played Laois
. He was also the referee for that year’s Leinster minor final between Offaly
and Kilkenny.
By 1992 Murphy established himself as one of hurling’s leading officials. That year’s All-Ireland
club semi-final between Kiltormer and Cashel King Cormac's
was the game that propelled him to the top. He was appointed to referee the subsewuent All-Ireland club final between Kiltormer and Birr
before later taking charge of the National League final between Limerick and Tipperary. The utimate honour came his way later that summer when he was appointed to referee the All-Ireland
senior hurling final between Cork and Kilkenny. Since then Murphy has officiated at three further All-Ireland finals. In 1995 he was the man in the middle for the historic match Clare
and Offaly which saw the Clare men take their first championship title for 81 years. Murphy also refereed the 1997 All-Ireland final between Clare and Tipperary, the first involving two teams from the same province. He was reappointed to take charge of the 1998 final between Kilkenny and Offaly, the first involving two teams from Leinster.
As of 2008 Murphy is still very active as an inter-county referee. As well as taking charge of four All-Ireland finals he has officiated at All-Ireland semi-final and quarter-final stages and at provincial finals in Leinster, Munster
and Ulster
.
Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy is the second largest town in County Wexford, Ireland. The population of the town and environs is 9538. The Placenames Database of Ireland sheds no light on the origins of the town's name. It may refer either to the "Island of Corthaidh" or the "Island of Rocks". With a history going...
, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
) is an Irish
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
referee and former player. He played hurling with his local club Raparees and with the Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s. Murphy is regarded asone of the best and most popular referees on the inter-county scene. He is married to Jacquie Murphy (née Doyle) and has three sons Cathal, Brian and Ruairi.
Club
Murphy played his club hurling with his local Raparees club in Enniscorthy. A talented player, he was a substitute on the team which won its only senior county title in 1978. Murphy was still a member of the Raparees team that reached the county senior final in 1993, however, they lost to Cloughbawn on that occasion. He continued to line out for the club at Junior 'B' level until 2000.Inter-county
Murphy first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the WexfordWexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
minor hurling team in the late 1970s. He enjoyed little success in this grade as Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
dominated the provincial championship. In 1978 Murphy was also a member of the Wexford under-21 team and he helped the Slaneysiders to victory over arch rivals Kilkenny in the Leinster
Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship
For the Senior equivalent see: Leinster Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe Leinster U-21 Hurling Championship or for sponsorship reasons the Erin Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship is an U-21 hurling tournament. The first tournament took place in 1964 when Wexford were crowned champions. Wexford...
decider. He later played senior hurling for Wexford, winning Walsh Cup
Walsh Cup
Walsh Cup may refer to:* The Walsh Cup , an inter-county and colleges hurling competition in the province of Leinster in Ireland* The Walsh Cup , a contest between the U.S. Naval Academy and Wisconsin Men's Varsity Eight rowing teams...
and Oireachtas winners' medals, however, he was unable to establish himself in the championship team.
Refereeing career
Murphy's career as a referee began when he was just twenty-four years-old. In 1985 he took charge of his first major game when he officiated at the Wexford Senior Hurling Championship final between Buffer's Alley and Faythe HarriersFaythe Harriers
Faythe Harriers is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Wexford town, Ireland.-History:The history of the Faythe Harriers stretches back to the early 1940s, although the hurling club wasn't formed until 1949. In the late 1930s, the Mulgannon Harriers were the G.A.A...
. Murphy went on to referee further Wexford county finals in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1997.
Murphy joined the inter-county panel of referees in 1987, firstly taking charge of National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
Division 2 games before progressing to Division 1 fixtures the following year. His first big game came in early 1988 when he refereed the Division 1 clash of Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
and Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
in Semple Stadium
Semple Stadium
Semple Stadium, located in Thurles, North Tipperary, Ireland, is the home of hurling for Tipperary GAA and for the province of Munster. It is the second largest stadium in Ireland with a capacity of 53,500....
, Thurles
Thurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
.
In 1989 Murphy took charge of his first Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
senior championship game when Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
played Laois
Laois GAA
The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.-History:...
. He was also the referee for that year’s Leinster minor final between Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
and Kilkenny.
By 1992 Murphy established himself as one of hurling’s leading officials. That year’s All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
club semi-final between Kiltormer and Cashel King Cormac's
Cashel King Cormacs GAA
Cashel King Cormacs GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the town of Cashel, County Tipperary in Ireland. They play their games in Leahy Park, on the Clonmel Road in Cashel....
was the game that propelled him to the top. He was appointed to referee the subsewuent All-Ireland club final between Kiltormer and Birr
Birr GAA
Birr GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the town of Birr in County Offaly, Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with hurling and are one of the most successful club hurling teams in the country.-Honours:...
before later taking charge of the National League final between Limerick and Tipperary. The utimate honour came his way later that summer when he was appointed to referee the All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
senior hurling final between Cork and Kilkenny. Since then Murphy has officiated at three further All-Ireland finals. In 1995 he was the man in the middle for the historic match Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
and Offaly which saw the Clare men take their first championship title for 81 years. Murphy also refereed the 1997 All-Ireland final between Clare and Tipperary, the first involving two teams from the same province. He was reappointed to take charge of the 1998 final between Kilkenny and Offaly, the first involving two teams from Leinster.
As of 2008 Murphy is still very active as an inter-county referee. As well as taking charge of four All-Ireland finals he has officiated at All-Ireland semi-final and quarter-final stages and at provincial finals in Leinster, Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
and Ulster
Ulster Senior Hurling Championship
The Ulster Senior Hurling Championship is the premier intercounty "knockout" competition in the game of hurling played in the province of Ulster. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months. The Ulster Hurling Final is played in July...
.