Paul Murphy

Paul Murphy (born 27 January 1989) is an Irish hurler who plays for Intermediate Championship club Danesfort.

He is a former player with the Kilkenny senior hurling team, with whom he made 94 league and championship appearances in a decade-long inter-county career.

Widely considered to be one of the best defenders of his generation, Murphy was the recipient of four All-Stars.

Murphy first played for Kilkenny when he joined the minor team at the age of 17.

Murphy's adult club career began with Danesfort in 2006, a season which culminated with the club winning the All-Ireland Junior Club Championship.

Equally adept as a Gaelic footballer, he also enjoyed club championship success in that code.

With the Leinster inter-provincial team, Murphy won two Interprovincial Championship titles.

Murphy joined the Danesfort club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels before eventually joining the club's top adult team in the Kilkenny Junior Championship.

On 29 October 2006, Murphy was just 17-years-old when he lined out at midfield in the Kilkenny Junior Championship final.

He scored a point from play in the 2-12 to 2-11 defeat of Tullogher-Rosbercon.

On 10 December 2006, Murphy won a Leinster Championship medal following a 4-11 to 1-05 defeat of Knockbridge in the final.

Murphy first played for Kilkenny as a member of the minor team during the 2006 Leinster Championship.

On 2 July 2006, he won a Leinster Championship medal from right wing-back following Kilkenny's 4-22 to 1-05 defeat of Carlow in the final.

He was switched to right wing-forward when Danesfort faced Clooney Gaels in the All-Ireland final on 11 March 2007.

Murphy ended the game with a winners' medal after scoring two points in the 2-16 to 2-08 victory.

Murphy was again eligible for the minor grade in 2007 and became the first-choice centre-back.

On 1 July 2007, he scored a goal from centre-back in Kilkenny's 2-14 to 1-10 defeat by Dublin in the Leinster final.

Murphy was drafted onto the Kilkenny under-21 team for the 2008 Leinster Championship.

He made his first appearance for the team on 26 June 2008 when he lined out at right corner-back in a 1-20 to 1-11 defeat by Dublin.

On 24 July 2008, Murphy claimed a Leinster Championship medal following a 2-21 to 2-09 defeat of Offaly in the final.

He retained his position at right corner-back for the All-Ireland final against Tipperary on 14 September 2008 and ended the game with a winners' medal after a 2-13 to 0-15 victory.

On 15 July 2009, Murphy won a second successive Leinster Championship medal after lining out at right corner-back in the 2-20 to 1-19 defeat of Dublin in the final.

He retained his position for the All-Ireland final against Clare on 13 September 2009.

Murphy ended the game on the losing side following a 0-15 to 0-14 defeat.

Murphy was again eligible for the under-21 grade in 2010.

He played his last game in the grade on 23 June 2010 when he scored two points from midfield in an 0-18 to 0-12 defeat by Dublin.

Murphy was added to the Kilkenny intermediate team for the 2010 Leinster Championship.

He made his first appearance for the team on 16 June 2010 when he lined out at full-back in a 2-16 to 0-13 defeat of Wexford.

On 7 July 2010, Murphy won a leinster Championship medal following a 1-21 to 0-11 defeat of Dublin in the final.

He wad again selected at full-back when Kilkenny qualified to play Cork in the All-Ireland final.

Murphy ended the game with a winners' medal following the 2-17 to 1-13 victory.

A three-year stint with the under-21 team yielded an All-Ireland Under-21 Championship title, while he enjoyed similar success with the intermediate team before being drafted onto the senior team as right corner-back in 2011.

It was a position he retained for the rest of the decade.

Murphy won his four All-Ireland Championship titles during his first five years on the team, with his performances during his second season earning him a Hurler of the Year nomination.

His other major honours include five Leinster Championship titles and three successive National League titles.

On 16 October 2011, Murphy lined out at left wing-back when Danesfort faced Rower-Inistioge in the Kilkenny Intermediate Championship final.

He ended the game with a winners' medal following a 2-11 to 0-11 victory.

On 28 June 2012, Murphy won a second Leinster Championship medal following a 3-20 to 2-14 defeat of Wexford in the final.

On 1 September 2012, he lined out at midfield when Kilkenny suffered a 2-17 to 3-13 defeat by Tipperary in the All-Ireland final.

Murphy was added to the Kilkenny senior team for the pre-season Walsh Cup.