also claimed his first winners' medal. After missing out on a place on Tipperary's championship team in 1961, Murphy joined the extended panel the following year. He made his senior championship debut on 30 June 1963 in a 4-7 to 1-11 Munster semi-final defeat of Cork. Tipperary were later beaten by Waterford in the provincial decider. Tipperary bounced back in 1964 with Murphy collecting a National Hurling League medal following a 4-16 to 6-6 defeat of New York. Tipperary later cantered casually past Cork by fourteen points in the provincial decider, giving Murphy, who was captain of the team, a Munster medal. The All-Ireland final on 6 September 1964 saw Kilkenny enter the game as firm favourites against Murphy's side. John "Mackey" McKenna scored Tipp's first goal after ten minutes as the Munster champions took a 1-8 to 0-6 interval lead. The second half saw Tipperary score goals for fun, with Donie Nealon getting a hat-trick and Seán McLoughlin another. Kilkenny were humiliated at the full-time whistle as Tipperary triumphed by 5-13 to 2-8. It was Murphy’s sole All-Ireland medal while he also had the honour of collecting the Liam MacCarthy Cup. Later that same year Murphy sustained a serious injury in a club game against Roscrea when he fell awkwardly and damaged his knee cartilage. The injury "brought the curtain down" on Murphy's hurling career at the young age of twenty-four. Honours Player Thurles Sarsfields Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship (8): 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 Tipperary All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (1): 1964 (c) Munster Senior Hurling Championship (1): 1964 (c) National Hurling League (1): 1963–64 Oireachtas Tournament (3): 1960, 1961, 1963 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (2): 1956 (sub), 1957 Munster Minor Hurling Championship (2): 1956 (sub), 1957 References 1940 births 2018 deaths Thurles Sarsfields hurlers Tipperary inter-county hurlers All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winners