Willie Murphy
Encyclopedia
Willie 'Long Puck' Murphy (1915–1977) was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Ballincollig
and was a member of the Cork senior-inter-county team from 1939 until 1949.
. He first tasted success in 1926 at the age of 11, winning his first county school shield medal with Ballincollig. At the age of 15, Murphy played junior hurling with the club. He later joined the senior team and played in three consecutive county finals
in the 1940s without victory. Murphy continued playing local hurling until the mid-1950s. Murphy also played with the club's football team and was part of the first Ballincollig team to play Senior Championship in 1941. (1941 Senior Footballers)
with the senior hurlers playing at right half-back. Cork then faced up to Kilkenny
in the famous “thunder and lightning final”, however, Murphy’s side lost by a point.
In 1940 and 1941, Murphy captured back-to-back National Hurling League
titles with Cork. It was the beginning of a great era for Cork hurling. Later in 1941 Murphy won his very first All-Ireland
medal. It was an unusual championship as many games were cancelled due to the outbreak of a foot-and-mouth disease epidemic. Following the All-Ireland final Cork actually lost to Tipperary
in the delayed Munster final. In 1942, Cork gained their revenge on Tipp with an emphatic victory in the Munster final. It was Murphy’s second Munster title and this was later converted into a second All-Ireland title. Murphy made it a hat-trick of victories in 1943, capturing his third Munster and All-Ireland titles. In 1944, Cork were attempting to capture an unprecedented fourth All-Ireland title in-a-row. No team in the history of the championship had won more than three consecutive titles. The year got off to a good start when Cork defeated Limerick
after a replay to win the Munster Championship. It was Murphy’s fourth Munster medal. Cork later had a huge victory over Dublin
to win their fourth consecutive All-Ireland. Murphy and eight of his Cork team-mates set a new record in Gaelic Athletic Association
history by becoming the first men to capture four consecutive All-Ireland titles. It is a record which has never been equalled.
Five-in-a-row proved to be a bridge too far for Cork, however, they returned in 1946 with Murphy winning his fifth Munster title. This was once again converted into an All-Ireland title, Murphy’s fifth in all. Another Munster title was captured by Cork in 1947, however, Murphy’s side lost out to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. In 1948, he won another National League title and in 1949 Murphy played his last game for Cork. It was a Munster semi-final defeat by Tipperary.
for Railway Cup games. Between 1940 and 1948 he won seven medals in all, only failing in 1941 and 1947.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. He played 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 his local club Ballincollig
Ballincollig GAA
Ballincollig GAA is a Gaelic football and hurling club based in the town of Ballincollig, County Cork, Ireland. The club is affiliated with the Cork GAA board and plays in the Muskerry divisional competitions...
and was a member of the Cork senior-inter-county team from 1939 until 1949.
Nickname
Willie Murphy was given the nickname long puck due to his perceived ability to score a point from more or less any where on the pitchClub
Murphy played his club hurling with his local club in BallincolligBallincollig GAA
Ballincollig GAA is a Gaelic football and hurling club based in the town of Ballincollig, County Cork, Ireland. The club is affiliated with the Cork GAA board and plays in the Muskerry divisional competitions...
. He first tasted success in 1926 at the age of 11, winning his first county school shield medal with Ballincollig. At the age of 15, Murphy played junior hurling with the club. He later joined the senior team and played in three consecutive county finals
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
in the 1940s without victory. Murphy continued playing local hurling until the mid-1950s. Murphy also played with the club's football team and was part of the first Ballincollig team to play Senior Championship in 1941. (1941 Senior Footballers)
Inter-county
Murphy had a three year stint with the Cork minor hurlers. Subsequently Murphy played at junior level for Cork before joining the senior side in the mid-1930s. In 1939, Murphy won his first Munster ChampionshipMunster 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....
with the senior hurlers playing at right half-back. Cork then faced up to 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...
in the famous “thunder and lightning final”, however, Murphy’s side lost by a point.
In 1940 and 1941, Murphy captured back-to-back 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...
titles with Cork. It was the beginning of a great era for Cork hurling. Later in 1941 Murphy won his very first 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. It was an unusual championship as many games were cancelled due to the outbreak of a foot-and-mouth disease epidemic. Following the All-Ireland final Cork actually lost to 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...
in the delayed Munster final. In 1942, Cork gained their revenge on Tipp with an emphatic victory in the Munster final. It was Murphy’s second Munster title and this was later converted into a second All-Ireland title. Murphy made it a hat-trick of victories in 1943, capturing his third Munster and All-Ireland titles. In 1944, Cork were attempting to capture an unprecedented fourth All-Ireland title in-a-row. No team in the history of the championship had won more than three consecutive titles. The year got off to a good start when Cork defeated 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...
after a replay to win the Munster Championship. It was Murphy’s fourth Munster medal. Cork later had a huge victory over 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...
to win their fourth consecutive All-Ireland. Murphy and eight of his Cork team-mates set a new record in Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
history by becoming the first men to capture four consecutive All-Ireland titles. It is a record which has never been equalled.
Five-in-a-row proved to be a bridge too far for Cork, however, they returned in 1946 with Murphy winning his fifth Munster title. This was once again converted into an All-Ireland title, Murphy’s fifth in all. Another Munster title was captured by Cork in 1947, however, Murphy’s side lost out to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. In 1948, he won another National League title and in 1949 Murphy played his last game for Cork. It was a Munster semi-final defeat by Tipperary.
Inter-provincial
Murphy also lined out in the blue and white of MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
for Railway Cup games. Between 1940 and 1948 he won seven medals in all, only failing in 1941 and 1947.