Murphy played as a goalkeeper with Bradford City and Wimbledon where he played for 5 seasons. Murphy did not play in a league match for Wimbledon, but he appeared in Intertoto Cup matches.[2] In 1999 Murphy moved back to Ireland where he played for a season with Dundalk before returning to play his final 2-year stint in England with Kidderminster Harriers in 2000.[3] Murphy won eight Republic of Ireland under-21 caps and one B cap. He was also called up to the senior team by manager Mick McCarthy for an away international friendly match against Wales in 1997, although he remained an unused substitute.[2]
Murphy subsequently returned home to Trim, County Meath where he began playing Gaelic football for Trim GAA. In 2005, he was called up to the senior Meath county squad under Seán Boylan. He made his senior inter-county debut on 9 January in an O'Byrne Cup match against Kildare. He made his championship debut in 2006 v Louth. Apart from a brief exit from the squad in 2009 Murphy played until the age of 35 and retired in 2011. In 2012, he was appointed Meath goalkeeping coach. He was an all star nominee in 2007.