Mick Murphy (Tipperary hurler)
Encyclopedia
Michael 'Mick' Murphy is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played senior hurling
with Tipperary
from 1960 until 1964.
, County Tipperary
in 1940. He grew up on the same street as the legendary Jimmy Doyle
and they quickly became best friends. They both played hurling together and later they sat beside each other at school when they attended Thurles
CBS
. It was here that Murphy's hurling skills were nurtured and he won Dean Ryan Cup and Croke Cup medals. He missed out on the chance of winning a Harty Cup medal because he had left the school to work.
club. The club had much success in the 1960s and Murphy won several Tipperary SHC
titles on that great team.
minor team in the mid-1950s. He won an All-Ireland
medal with the minors in 1957, however, he had to wait another few years to be considered for the senior team. Murphy played junior hurling with Tipp in 1959. He joined the Tipp senior team in 1960, however, he couldn't command a regular place on the team. When he did play Murphy played in the half-forward line.
He was a substitute when Tipp won Munster and All-Ireland titles in 1961 and 1962. He was appointed captain of the team in 1964 and guided the side to National Hurling League
and Munster Championship
victories. In the All-Ireland final Murphy's side easily defeated Kilkenny
and he won his first, and only, All-Ireland
medal.
Later that same year Murphy sustained a serious injury in a club game against Roscrea
when he fell awkwardly and damaged his knee cartilage, thus bringing down the curtain on a short but glittering hurling career at the young age of 24.
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,...
sportsperson. He played senior 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...
with 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...
from 1960 until 1964.
Early life
Mick Murphy was born in ThurlesThurles
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...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
in 1940. He grew up on the same street as the legendary Jimmy Doyle
Jimmy Doyle
James 'Jimmy' Doyle , is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with the famous Thurles Sarsfields club from 1956 until 1975 and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1957 until 1973...
and they quickly became best friends. They both played hurling together and later they sat beside each other at school when they attended 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...
CBS
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
. It was here that Murphy's hurling skills were nurtured and he won Dean Ryan Cup and Croke Cup medals. He missed out on the chance of winning a Harty Cup medal because he had left the school to work.
Club
Murphy played his club hurling with the famous Thurles SarsfieldsThurles Sarsfields GAA
Thurles Sarsfields is a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling club located in the town of Thurles in Tipperary, Ireland. The club was founded in 1881...
club. The club had much success in the 1960s and Murphy won several Tipperary SHC
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
titles on that great team.
Iner-county
Murphy quickly came to the attention of the inter-county selectors and he joined the TipperaryTipperary 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...
minor team in the mid-1950s. He won an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
medal with the minors in 1957, however, he had to wait another few years to be considered for the senior team. Murphy played junior hurling with Tipp in 1959. He joined the Tipp senior team in 1960, however, he couldn't command a regular place on the team. When he did play Murphy played in the half-forward line.
He was a substitute when Tipp won Munster and All-Ireland titles in 1961 and 1962. He was appointed captain of the team in 1964 and guided the side to 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...
and Munster Championship
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....
victories. In the All-Ireland final Murphy's side easily defeated 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...
and he won his first, and only, 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....
medal.
Later that same year Murphy sustained a serious injury in a club game against Roscrea
Roscrea GAA
Roscrea GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club is located in the town of Roscrea in North County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland. The club's ground ground shares its name with St. Cronan's BNS in Bray, Co. Wicklow. The club's colours are red and white and they play at Páirc Naomh Cronáin Roscrea...
when he fell awkwardly and damaged his knee cartilage, thus bringing down the curtain on a short but glittering hurling career at the young age of 24.