Murphy first came to Gaelic football prominence as a goalkeeper with the Macroom club that won four County Championship titles in five seasons between 1909 and 1913.
He joined the Cork senior football team as a goalkeeper in advance of the 1909 Munster Championship.
Murphy subsequently lined out in the 1911 All-Ireland final which saw Cork claim their second ever title after a 6–06 to 1–02 defeat of Antrim.
[citation needed] Born in Inchigeelagh, County Cork, Murphy followed in his father's footsteps and worked as a carpenter.
One of his sons, John A. Murphy, was Emeritus Professor of Irish History at University College Cork and senator.