Dinny Barry-Murphy

Dinny Barry-Murphy (17 July 1903 – 21 August 1973) was an Irish hurler who played as a centre-back for the Cork senior team.

Born in Cloughduv, County Cork, Barry-Murphy first played competitive hurling during his schooling at St Finbarr's College, Farranferris.

He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty when he first linked up with the Cork junior team before later joining the senior side.

Barry-Murphy first appeared for Cork as a member of the junior team in 1923.

He won a Munster medal that year following an 8-4 to 5-1 defeat of Tipperary in the decider.

Barry-Murphy was at centre-forward for the subsequent All-Ireland decider, which was delayed by over a year.

A narrow 3-4 to 3-2 defeat by Offaly denied Barry-Murphy a winners' medal on that occasion.

After provincial defeat the following year, the Cork junior team bounced back in 1925.

Barry-Murphy won a second Munster medal that year following a 6-3 to 4-2 defeat of Clare in the decider.

The subsequent All-Ireland decider, which was once again delayed by almost a year, saw Cork defeat Dublin by 5-6 to 1-0, giving Barry-Murphy an All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship medal.

Barry-Murphy was a regular for Cork during the 1925-26 league, the inaugural running of the competition, and collected a first National Hurling League medal following a 3-7 to 1-5 defeat of Dublin in the decider.

He made his senior debut during the 1926 championship.

Barry-Murphy immediately became a regular member of the starting fifteen, and won four All-Ireland medals, five Munster medals and two National Hurling League medals.

He made his senior championship debut on 30 May 1926 in a 12-3 to 5-2 Munster quarter-final defeat of Waterford.

Barry-Murphy later won his first Munster medal following a three-game saga with Tipperary, culminating in a 3-6 to 2-4 victory for Cork.

On 24 October 1926 he lined out in his first senior All-Ireland decider, as Cork faced Kilkenny for the first time since 1912.

At a snow-covered Croke Park, the first half was even enough with Cork holding an interval lead of one point, however, Kilkenny slumped in the second half, going down to a 4-6 to 2-0 defeat.

It was Barry-Murphy's first All-Ireland medal.

Cork retained the provincial crown in 1927, with Barry-Murphy collecting a second Munster medal following a 5-3 to 3-4 defeat of Clare.

Barry-Murphy began his club hurling career with Cloughduv, however, a merger with various local clubs in 1928 led to the formation of Éire Óg.

The newly formed club, with Barry-Murphy as a key member, entered the senior ranks in their inaugural campaign, winning the championship after a 5-2 to 3-2 defeat of Mallow in the decider.

The All-Ireland-winning captain of 1929, he was an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

At international level Barry-Murphy played for the victorious Tailteann Games hurling team in 1932.

As a member of the Munster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, he won five Railway Cup medals.

At club level Barry-Murphy was a one-time championship medallist with Éire Óg, while he also played with Cloughduv and St. Finbarr's.

His brothers, John, Barry and Neil, all played for Cork, while his grand-nephew, Jimmy Barry-Murphy, is regarded as one of the most iconic players of all-time.

Throughout his career Barry-Murphy made 35 championship appearances.

By 1932 Barry-Murphy had joined the St Finbarr's club, however, after a disappointing few years with the club he rejoined the Cloughduv team in 1935.

In the twilight of his career Barry-Murphy helped Cloughduv to some of their greatest successes.

He retired from inter-county hurling following the conclusion of the 1935 championship.

In retirement from playing Barry-Murphy became involved in team management and coaching.

In 1940 a 10-00 to 5-1 trouncing of Newtownshandrum gave him a highly sought-after championship medal in the junior grade.

The following year Barry-Murphy added a championship medal in the intermediate grade to his collection, following Cloughduv's 6-4 to 3-0 defeat of Buttevant.

This win meant that Barry-Murphy is one of the few hurlers to have made a clean sweep of junior, intermediate and senior championship medals.

He was a selector with three All-Ireland-winning Cork teams between 1941 and 1944.

Born in Cloughduv, County Cork, Barry-Murphy was the second youngest child born to John and Katie Barry-Murphy.

He was educated at the local national school before later boarding at St. Finbarr's College in Cork.

Here he played on all the top college teams and enjoyed much success.

Barry-Murphy later worked as an employer and director with the Cork Farmers Union – a meat processing company.

Dinny Barry-Murphy died on 21 August 1973 following a short illness.