Premier SHC: Bryan Murphy aims to Kerry on his progress with Sarsfields

Given how well his near-namesakes have fared in Cork hurling history, it’s hardly surprising that Bryan Murphy has enjoyed success with Sarsfields.

His journey is a little different, however: a native of Causeway in Kerry, with whom he won a county SHC in 2019, Murphy transferred after his inter-county career ended four years ago – and since then he has added a Cork senior medal along with Munster honours.

Murphy’s wife Jen is from Glanmire and another point of contact for the the Cobh-based detective was work colleague Ray Ryan, who tragically died earlier this year.

Even so, leaving Causeway was a major wrench in tandem with trying to break in to the Sars team.

“Absolutely, absolutely,” he says.

“I suppose transferring was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. Because leaving your home club – like, my mother was secretary at home, my father was the groundsman.

“Our family was steeped in the club, so obviously, it wasn't something I decided on lightly.

“Then, when you're going into such a high-performance environment like Sars is at the moment, obviously you have to kind of back yourself and do the utmost to get yourself to those standards.

“Personally, I feel like my hurling and everything else has come along with this group of players. Johnny Crowley and Sully are outstanding as well, and they really bring guys on, individually and as a team.

“It wasn't something that I chose lightly but it's a decision I'm happy with.”

For 32-year-old Murphy – who made his Kerry debut as a teenager – the target is to help Sars to more honours and they are the favourites for the title ahead of Sunday’s semi-final against St Finbarr’s at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

They might have been expected to take the top seeding after the group stages and the consequent quarter-final bye that that brings, but instead Blackrock managed to claim that, meaning Sars faced Charleville in a quarter-final.

The Riverstown outfit were certainly made to work for victory in Castletownroche a fortnight ago, but, having come through it, Murphy feels they are better for the experience.

“After the Glen game, it was nearly bittersweet,” he says.

“Obviously, it was great to get the win. We kind of thought we were through to the semi-finals straight away and I think we had a plan in place for those four weeks.

“Hindsight is a great thing when you have the Charleville game now under our belt, a good 60, 65 minutes, better than any challenge game that we would have got.

“I think it's going to maybe solidify the group even more, giving guys that have come into the team more championship minutes that maybe they wouldn't have got.”

They will hope it stands to them against a Barrs side likely to be bouncing after beating champions Imokilly – and doing the same in the football against Castlehaven last week.

For Murphy and Sars, it’s a chance to make another final – since Johnny Crowley returned as manager, they have reached the decider of every competition they have entered, across league and county, provincial and national championships.

To achieve such consistency places demands on players, but the big days out make the effort worth it. For Murphy, with one daughter and a second child due next week, there isn’t much free time, but he’s not complaining.

“It's a full-time gig playing at this level,” he says.

“You're probably training three times a week collectively, you have two gym sessions, you're trying to get in a recovery session. And then obviously you're at home, you're trying to work as well.

“It is every day of the week, but, come here, it's a good complaint to have because once you're fit, you're healthy.”