Born and raised in Glounthaune, County Cork, Murphy first played hurling and Gaelic football as a schoolboy with Coláiste an Phiarsaigh.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.