Murphy first played hurling and Gaelic football to a high standard as a student at Good Counsel College in New Ross.
He lined out in all grades as a dual player during his time there and won Wexford Colleges U14HC and U16HC titles.
He scored 1-02 from right wing-forward when Cloughbawn won the Wexford SHC title in 1993 following a defeat of Rapparees in a final replay.
Murphy made his senior team debut in a National Hurling League game against Limerick in April 1993.
[4] He won a Leinster SHC medal in 1996, before playing at left wing-forward when Wexford beat Limerick in the 1996 All-Ireland final.