Murphy's juvenile and underage career coincided with a successful period for the Erin's Own club. Beginning his career as a goalkeeper, he won a Cork MAHC title in 1998 following a 1-12 to 1-05 defeat of Ballinhassig in the final.[2] This win earned promotion to the top minor grade, with Murphy claiming a Cork Premier MHC title in 1999 after a defeat of Glen Rovers.[3] It was the first three successive Premier MHC titles, with Murphy also lining out in the victories over Glen Rovers in 2000 and Na Piarsaigh in 2001.[4][5]
Murphy progressed to the club's under-21 team and also had success in this grade. He won a Cork U21AHC title following a defeat of Na Piarsaigh in 2002.[6] Murphy added a second U21HC medal to his collection after a 2-08 to 0-08 defeat of Glen Rovers in 2004, in what was his last underage game for the club.[7]
Just a month after his 17th birthday, Murphy made his senior debut for Erin's Own in May 2000.[8] His first season on the team saw him line out in goal and ended with a 0-14 to 0-11 defeat by Newtownshandrum in the 2000 Cork SHC final.[9] Murphy also played Gaelic football with the club and won a Cork JAFC title in 2005 after a one-point defeat of O'Donovan Rossa in the final.[10]
By the time Erin's Own reached the final again in 2006, Murphy had become an outfield player. He claimed his first winners' medal that year following a 2-19 to 3-14 win over Cloyne.[11] Murphy was appointed team captain the following year and won a second title after a 1-11 to 1-07 defeat of Newtownshandrum in the final.[12][13]
Murphy lined out in his fourth SHC final in 2016, however, he ended the game on the losing side after a 0-19 to 2-11 defeat by Glen Rovers.[14] He stepped away from the Erin's Own senior team at the end of the 2023 season, however, he continued for a 25th season of adult hurling with the club's intermediate team.[15] Murphy was part of the team beaten by Lisgoold in the 2024 IAHC final replay.[16]
Inter-county career
Murphy began his inter-county career as a dual player at minor level in 2000. He won a Munster MFC medal that year before later claiming an All-Ireland MFC medal after a 2-12 to 0-13 defeat of Mayo in the 2000 All-Ireland MFC final.[17] Murphy was again eligible for the minor grade in 2001 but switched codes to hurling. He ended the season by winning an All-Ireland MHC medal after a 2-10 to 1-08 defeat of Galway.[18] Murphy subsequently spent three seasons with the under-21 teams as a dual player and won a Munster U21FC medal in 2004.[19]
Murphy was just out of the minor grade when he joined both Cork's senior teams as a dual player in 2002.[20] He won a Munster SFC medal that year as a non-playing substitute following a defeat of Tipperary in a replay.[21] After ending his dual status, Murphy concentrated solely on hurling in 2005. He won his first Munster SHC medal that year after coming on as a substitute in the 1-21 to 1-16 defeat of Tipperary in the final.[22] Murphy also started the 2005 All-Ireland final against Galway as a substitute but came on for Niall McCarthy to claim a winners' medal following the 1-21 to 1-16 victory.[23] He won a second consecutive Munster SHC medal the following year as an unused substitute.[24] Murphy was also an unused substitute when Cork had a three-point defeat by Kilkenny in the 2006 All-Ireland final.[25]
Murphy was appointed team captain in 2007 as a result of Erin's Own Cork SHC triumph.[26] He lost his place on the starting fifteen during the course of the championship and the captaincy moved to Joe Deane.[27][28] Murphy continued to line out with Cork until 2009.[29]