Bill Murphy was a hurling giant, unaware of his own greatness

BUFFERS ALLEY legend Bill Murphy sadly passed away on Sunday morning.

In 1982 the club played a Leinster championship match on the October Bank Holiday Monday against Ardclough from Kildare and, as was the norm at the time, I was talking to the late, great Syl Murphy in the clubhouse.

Syl said to me that I got a score that reminded him of Bill Murphy. Syl went on to say ‘that is the greatest compliment I can pay you, but you have a long way to go before you are as good as Bill’.

After the breakthrough county final in 1968, the local paper stated that Bill will go on the record as one of the greatest club hurlers of all time, having scored two goals and three points in the last ten minutes of a final that they trailed by eight and seemed destined to lose.

I am always struck by the loyalty and camaraderie of the ’68 men, and Joe Doran pays a wonderful tribute to Bill on the Alley website, referring to a score-laden career which lasted almost 20 years at adult level.

Bill was pre-deceased by his son, Barry, who represented the Alley with such honour both on and off the field for many years and was a source of such pride to his father.

Barry’s loss last year at a young age, coming so quickly after his loving wife, Majella, has left so many of us struggling to come to terms with the situation, as he was his father’s son - a gentleman who was so kind and considerate to one and all.

Bill Murphy - who was also pre-deceased by his wife, Nancy - was a hurling giant who above all was humble and unaware of his own greatness.

His grandson Liam, his wonderful extended family including his only surviving sister, Mary, his club, his friends and devoted carers at Valentia Nursing Home are left heartbroken by his passing.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

The late Bill Murphy (second from right, front row) with his colleagues on the Buffers Alley team, winners of the club’s first-ever Senior hurling title when they defeated Faythe Harriers by one point (5-6 to 4-8) in Bellefield on December 8, 1968. Back (from left): Tom Donohoe, John Doyle, Michael Kinsella, Joe Murphy (capt.), Larry Harney, Pierie Butler, Liam Murphy, Henry Butler. Front (from left): Mick Butler, Bill Doran, Paddy Kavanagh, Jack Hall, Colm Doran, Joe Doran, Bill Murphy, Tony Doran.