Déise’s Murphy bows out with Munster memories

WATERFORD’S Eoin Murphy has announced his retirement from intercounty hurling.

Murphy, who suffered a skull fracture in a club tie in April, will continue playing for his club, Knockanure Shamrocks.

“I’m 100% happy to hang up my boots at inter-county level,” he said after 11 years’ service to the Déise.

“I’m looking forward to spending a few years with the club. It was in the back of my mind to give it one more year with Waterford and I didn’t go back until February, but I felt it could be a good year for us. Even after the injury I wanted to stay involved.

“I knew I probably wouldn’t be playing but I got back training with the county at least.”

Murphy, who won four Munster SHC medals, says he will miss the camaraderie at inter-county level and picked the 2002 and 2004 Munster finals as career highlights.

“There were nights on the way down to Aglish and so on in the depths of January and February, you’d be thinking, ‘this isn’t going to be nice’, but when you had the hard stuff done that night and you walked out afterwards with the lads, whatever endorphins would be released, you’d feel great.

“In terms of high points, 2002 was huge. The first one, after waiting so long since the last title [1963], was sweet, but that particular game petered out a bit and we won comfortably in the end.

“On the other hand, in 2004 against Cork — a team we’d have a lot of memories of getting beatings from — it was different. To beat them by a point that day, that was dreamland.”

Murphy identifies Richie Power of Kilkenny as one of his toughest opponents.

“He was one of the most skilful players I ever marked. It was as if he had Superglue on his hurley, the way he controlled the ball. Damien Hayes of Galway was another tough one to mark.”

Murphy is optimistic about Waterford’s future.

“Obviously we haven’t reached the pinnacle for a player, winning the All-Ireland final, so there’s a bit of distance to go, but I’d be optimistic.

“I’d be confident Waterford will be close enough and contesting All-Ireland finals in the next couple of years.”