Serial winner Eddie Murphy will embrace Éire Óg challenge: 'He's an encyclopedia of hurling'

There’s great excitement and understandably so out around Éire Óg with serial winner Eddie Murphy coaching the hurling team for the 2026 season.

The Bishopstown native will be working under new manager Diarmuid Kirwan. The Muskerry side have yet to qualify out of the group stage in the Co-Op SuperStores PIHC since winning the grade below in the 2020 campaign.

It’s a big challenge for Eddie, who has enjoyed success more or less everywhere he has gone.

Former Bishopstown hurling boss Robin Murray, who is a long-time friend of Murphy, holds the experienced coach in high-esteem.

“Eddie is a people's person, he would be very passionate about hurling, he's an encyclopedia of hurling,” Murray says.

“He's the kind of guy who gets people with him, gets them on side with him. He's compassionate as well in everything he does. I think he sees the bigger picture as well, and he knows what he wants to do when he goes coaching a team.

“Eddie would be a little bit old school compared to what you see a lot nowadays.

“He's big into hooking, striking, blocking, and first touch. He'll do things you need to know and that you will need in a game.” 

Murray was one of the people who got Eddie back involved with Bishopstown nearly 20 years ago. It turned out to be a fruitful relationship for all involved.

“He came back to Bishopstown in 2006. We had a good team coming through from minor. We knew there was a good team there, and we needed someone to fine-tune them. We approached Eddie. We went out to Kerry and met him. He was delighted to be asked to come back to Bishopstown. What he brought to the club for the next three years was phenomenal success.

“We won the Premier Intermediate title and two U21 counties, which was rarely done. He was involved in all those wins as coach.

“He embraced himself within the club. Eddie would come for training an hour beforehand and would be last to leave.

“He talked the players through what he wants them to do. He'd sit down and talk to the players afterwards and explain where they were going wrong, where they could improve their game.

“He brought enthusiasm to other teams in the club as well. We often had other coaches come in to watch the sessions, just to learn from Eddie.” 

Murray has no doubt that the coach will do well in his latest role. Éire Óg are a sleeping giant in the third grade of Cork hurling.

“Eddie knows the Premier Intermediate grade inside out. He knows what it takes to win it. On top of Bishopstown, he also won the title as coach with Ballymartle and was close with Carrigaline.

“Éire Óg are a young side, they're a young, vibrant club with plenty of youth out there. They've had a certain amount of success coming through the ranks at underage level.

“Eddie will embrace that and he'll bring them together and he'll provide enthusiasm for hurling within the club. If the people in the club buy into what Eddie is doing, it will be an exciting journey.”