Leeside legend Juliet Murphy inducted into Ladies Football Hall of Fame
Juliet Murphy, Cork football legend, was the guest speaker at The Echo Women in Sport Awards at the Metropole Hotel last February. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Leeside legend Juliet Murphy will be officially inducted into the Ladies Gaelic Football Association’s Hall of Fame at the TG4 All-Star awards night, in association with Lidl, on Saturday, November 15.
The Donoughmore and Cork magician’s inclusion is a fitting recognition of a career that not only delivered unprecedented success on the field, but also inspired a generation of players who followed in her footsteps.
Juliet’s career spanned almost two decades at the highest level and, during that time, she established herself as one of the finest midfielders in the sport, and one of the greatest players of all time.
Her leadership and consistency were vital as the county rose to unprecedented heights, beginning with their breakthrough All-Ireland title in 2005.
That first triumph was particularly symbolic for Murphy, who captained Cork to victory and lifted the Brendan Martin Cup for the first time in the county’s history. She went on to lead Cork again in 2006 and 2007, leading them to a remarkable three-in-a-row. In total, Juliet collected eight All-Ireland senior medals, an achievement that places her firmly among the game’s greats.
Beyond All-Ireland glory, her honours list is formidable: six TG4 All-Star awards, a TG4 Players’ Player of the Year accolade in 2011, multiple league crowns and countless Munster titles. At club level, she was a senior All-Ireland club medallist with Donoughmore in 2001 and 2003.
Yet statistics only tell part of the story. Murph was renowned for her intelligence, vision, and composure in the middle third of the pitch. She could dictate the tempo of games, excelled in the aerial battle, and was a reliable free-taker in high-pressure moments. For many observers, she was the heartbeat of the Cork team that went on to dominate the sport.
Her influence stretched well beyond her playing ability. Teammates have often spoken of her calm authority and her capacity to inspire belief when it mattered most. Whether leading Cork out in Croke Park or guiding younger players in training,
A natural to all things athletic, she began playing ladies football in primary school, and she also played basketball with Ireland from 15 to 21 years of age. Murphy's primary school was St Lachteen’s in Donoughmore, before she moved on to Coachford Community College for Secondary school and Cork IT for third-level education.
As a young girl, she was indebted to the late Seamus Twomey, who was principal at St Lachteen’s, for the outlet to play football with the boys. Her brother, Ollie, was another formative influence, as they were close in age and would play football together.
Parents, Mike and Mary, were also huge supporters and as she progressed to playing club football with Donoughmore, she looked up to Hanora Kelleher and Sheila Kiely, who were inspirational in different ways.
Juliet and her partner, Brian, are proud parents to Moss (7) and Sophia (6), and Juliet is currently working as deputy principal at Scoil Bhríde in Midleton.
In 2013, Murphy featured in an outstanding episode of Laochra Gael, in which her late, great former inter-county manager, Eamonn Ryan, spoke so fondly about her. She was hugely inspired by Ryan during Cork’s remarkable era of dominance.
Juliet Murphy's induction into the LGFA Hall of Fame recognises not only her remarkable collection of medals and awards, but also her role as a pioneer and role model for the growth of Ladies Football in Ireland. She is a true legend whose legacy will inspire future generations for years to come.
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