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Ballymartle snatch All Ireland victory from the jaws of defeat

March 8th, 2011
by Weeshie Fogarty

With just twenty seconds remaining in this year's dramatic All Ireland Intermediate hurling final in Croke Park Cork and Munster champions Ballymartle were trailing that great Kilkennys club Dicksboro by two points. The Cork side's sharpshooter Darren McCarthy faced up to a free under the Cusack stand facing the Railway end or Hill Sixteen goal. He was close to fifty meters out. The ball had to land in the danger area around the square if their dream of All Ireland glory had any chance of being achieved. McCarthy bent, lifted and struck. Supporters from both sides held their collectives breaths as the sliotar curving and dipping all the way from his hurl and to the sheer delight of the Ballymartle supporters finished up in the back of the net. Shortly after this sensational goal the full time whistle went and the celebrations which by the way are still going on then began.

While all this was happening a Kerryman Joe Hallissey from the townland of Bonane just outside Kenmare stood on the side line barely able to watch, as heart pounding the drama of the free unfolded before him. Joe is the Kerryman chairman of this little rural Cork club situated a few miles from Kinsale. Like many more rural clubs dotted around the country the heart of Ballymartle comprises mainly of the local church, a couple of pubs and a few scattered homes. When I spoke to Joe last week and put it to him that they were steeped in luck to come away with a win he immediately disagreed. 'I never lost faith in the lads Weeshie and the reason is simple, we had come back from the dead in a few other games before this". And then he added "I always felt with Eddie Murphy as manager it would take a super side to stop us this year. He has been the inspiration, the driving force, and the main man responsible for this historic victory. I am utterly convinced without Eddie we would never have achieved this great win. He brought that extra little bit that we so desperately needed to go the whole way".

So what inspired the Bonane native to go after the Tralee teacher? "I head hunted him, travelled to Tralee to meet him and persuaded him to come to Ballymartle and he has changed everything. I had seen him in action with other clubs on the sidelines of Cork on a number of occasions and said to the lads in our club. We must get this fellow, he might be a little over enthusiastic on the line at times but he certainly has the magic touch". So what exactly is this magic touch? Joe explained.  "Our discipline has improved greatly, we are playing lovely lively crisp hurling and the lads have responded to Eddie beyond my wildest expectations.  He watches DVDs of all the opposition's games and has every player studied to the last detail. He leaves nothing to chance. The whole voyage to our All ireland win was handled in a hugely professional way".

Eddie Murphy is one of those amazing enthusiastic, hugely passionate and very intense people who simply live for their involvement in the GAA. It really is no surprise that he is in huge demand from clubs all over Munster. His deep knowledge, great love and understanding of the game without doubt comes from his late father. Willie "Long Puck" Murphy in a career which lasted from 1939-1949 Willie won five senior Al Irelands with Cork, eight Railways Cups and three National Leagues. He played at corner back in 37 championships appearances for the rebel county. The old adage" the apple never falls far from the tree' was never more appropriate in this instance. Eddies achievements as manager/coach/trainer is astonishing. To list his magnificent winning achievements would simply take a publication on its own.

He has coached every Kerry hurling team from under fourteen right up to senior, a remarkable achievement and was coach to the seniors when they beat Waterford away in the historic 1993 win away and also when the hurlers were promoted to division one of the national league in 1995. All Ireland and Munster wins are a common occurrence with Murphy on the line. Ten All Ireland victories involving Kerry under age sides, IT Tralee and the latest with Ballymartle. It's a very rare occurrence to have one man steering his teams to football and hurling titles but Eddie has done this and rates his football win with his school Gaelcholaiste All Ireland Vocational Senior B win in 2006 as one of his sweetest. Bishopstown secured his services a few years ago and again as Joe Hallissey previously described "that magic touch" was displayed as the Cork club won premier intermediate and premier under twenty one hurling titles.

He has been hugely successful in his own county of Cork and since 2006 he has overseen four county championship wins, two league titles and of course Ballymartles Munster and All Ireland wins this year.  I was on the line for Radio Kerry in Tralee in 2004 when 10, 000 spectators sat enthralled as Limerick were put to the pin of their collars to beat Kerry in the Munster senior hurling championship. The one abiding memory I took away from this was the sight of Eddie Murphy as Kerry coach constantly pacing up and down the line hurley in hand urging on the Kerry men.

Eddie Murphy is one of those unbelievably driven, intense, passionate GAA men whose lives are simply wrapped up in their sporting involvements. Men like Mick o Dwyer, Jack o Connor, Billy Morgan, Mickey Harte, John Myler, John Evans, Johnny Culloty, are just a few who readily come to mind. Meet and discuss hurling or football with Eddie or any of those mentioned here and the one thing that will remain etched in your mind despite everything else is their amazing deeply ingrained love for the GAA. However Eddie is honest and open enough to stand back discuss and confront his own failing as he described to me when we chatted recently. "I am probably too passionate at times on the line and I definitely need others with me and on the stand to direct me when the pressure is on. However if I ever lose my passion then I will pack it in. Maybe at times I am too driven, but that's my way Weeshie, that's my nature". 

And so the story of this Cork man who came to teach in Kerry back in 1985 goes on and on. Where will it end? Eddies one great ambition naturally is to prowl the side lines of Croke Park on All Ireland day preferably as coach to some Cork team whatever age that my be. Don't rule it out. Behind every great GAA activist is an even greater lady. Eddie is married to Deirdre daughter of staunch Austin Stack man Tony Breen, a Kerry fanatic (they gave him a season ticket for Kerry games as a Christmas present) and they have one daughter Eabha. Ballymartle go senior in Cork this year Joe Hallissey has persuaded Eddie to stay with them and no doubt when his tenure with these lads is over a new challenge will arise. What will that challenge entail? One thing is certain who ever fall under the passion and driven personality of "Long Puck" Murphy's son won't be far away from achieving their hurling dreams.



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