Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny hurler)

Eoin Murphy (born 6 August 1990) is an Irish hurler who plays as a goalkeeper for the Kilkenny senior team.
Born in Glenmore, County Kilkenny, Murphy was introduced to hurling by his parents who had played hurling and camogie at all levels with Glenmore and Kilkenny. He enjoyed All-Ireland success at inter-county vocational level with New Ross Vocational School while simultaneously coming to prominence at underage levels with the Glenmore club. An All-Ireland medal winner in the junior grade, Murphy has also won Leinster and championship medals in this grade, as well as a championship medal in Gaelic football.
Murphy arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Kilkenny minor team, before later joining the under-21 and intermediate sides. He joined the senior panel during the 2011 championship. Murphy later became a regular member of the starting fifteen and has won four All-Ireland medals, four Leinster medals and three National Hurling League medals.
Murphy has been a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions. At club level he is a one-time championship medallist in Gaelic football with Glenmore.

Club

In 2009 Murphy was at wing-back as Glenmore reached the final of the county football championship. A 2–7 to 0–10 defeat of Muckalee gave Murphy a coveted championship medal.

University

During his studies at the Waterford Institute of Technology, Murphy was an automatic inclusion on the college hurling team. In 2014 he was captain as Waterford IT faced University College Cork in the decider. Murphy's redeployment in the centre-back position proved a masterstroke, as Waterford triumphed by 0–17 to 0–12.

Minor, under-21 and intermediate

Murphy first played for Kilkenny in 2008 when he joined the minor side. He won his sole Leinster medal that year following a 1–19 to 0–12 defeat of Wexford. Kilkenny later faced Galway in the All-Ireland decider. After going twenty-six minutes without scoring in the second half, substitute Danny Purcell scored 1–1 in the final staged to sneak a 3–6 to 0–13 victory to give Murphy a coveted All-Ireland medal.

The following year Murphy was a member of the Kilkenny under-21 team. He won a Leinster medal that year following a 2–20 to 1–19 defeat of Dublin.

By 2010 Murphy had joined the Kilkenny intermediate team. He won a set of Leinster and All-Ireland medals as a non-playing substitute that year, as Kilkenny triumphed.

Murphy was a full member of the starting fifteen the following year, and found a regular position in the half-forward line. A 2–19 to 2–8 defeat of Wexford, with Murphy top scoring with 1–7, gave him a first Leinster medal on the field of play. Clare provided the opposition in the subsequent decider, however, Murphy's side were denied following a 2–13 to 1–11 defeat.

Senior

By 2011 Murphy was a member of the extended Kilkenny senior hurling panel. In his first season he collected a set of Leinster and All-Ireland medals as a non-playing sub.

Murphy was promoted to second-choice goalkeeper behind David Herity in 2012. He added a second All-Ireland medal to his collection that year, once again as a non-playing sub. He later collected a sixth All-Star.

After impressing as a goalkeeper during several games in the 2013 league campaign, Murphy was included on the starting fifteen for the final against Tipperary. A 2–17 to 0–20 victory gave Murphy a coveted National Hurling League medal.

In 2014 Murphy collected his second league medal, as Kilkenny secured a narrow one-point 2–25 to 1–27 extra-time victory over Tipperary. An elbow injury in the subsequent provincial campaign ruled him out of the Leinster final and All-Ireland semi-final victories, however, he was restored to the starting fifteen on 7 September 2014 when Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider. In what some consider to be the greatest game of all-time, the sides were level when Tipperary were awarded a controversial free. John O'Dwyer had the chance to win the game, however, his late free drifted wide resulting in a draw> The replay on 27 September 2014 was also a close affair. Goals from brothers Richie and John Power inspired Kilkenny to a 2–17 to 2–14 victory. It was Murphy's first All-Ireland medal on the field of play.

Murphy won his first Leinster medal on the field of play in 2015 following a 1-25 to 2-15 defeat of Galway in the provincial decider. It was Kilkenny's 70th provincial title. Kilkenny renewed their rivalry with Galway once again in the All-Ireland decider on 6 September 2015. The team struggled in the first half, however, a T. J. Reid goal and a dominant second half display, which limited Galway to just 1–4, saw Kilkenny power to a 1–22 to 1–18 victory. It was Murphy's second successive All-Ireland medal and his fourth overall.

Kilkenny continued their dominance of the provincial series again in 2016. A 1-26 to 0-22 of Galway secured a second successive Leinster medal for Murphy, his fourth overall.

Player

Glenmore

• Kilkenny Senior Football Championship (1): 2009

Waterford Institute of Technology

• Fitzgibbon Cup (1): 2014 (c)

Kilkenny

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (4): 2011 (sub), 2012 (sub), 2014, 2015
• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (4): 2011 (sub), 2014 (sub), 2015, 2016
• National Hurling League (3): 2012 (sub), 2013, 2014
• All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship (1): 2010 (sub)
• Leinster Intermediate Hurling Championship (2): 2010, 2011
• Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2009
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (1):2008
• Leinster Minor Hurling Championship (1): 2008