Heard the one about the two Kerrymen? Sarsfields' Bryan glad to have brother Evan involved
Sarsfields' Bryan Murphy (far left) at the launch of the Co-op SuperStores Cork Hurling Championships with Conleith Ryan of Bride Rovers, Darragh O'Sullivan (Ballinhassig), Aghabullogue's Seán Feury, Tomas Sheehan from Kilbrittain and Jack Kearney, Kilshannig. Picture: Jim Coughlan
Murphy brothers playing for Sarsfields is far from a new phenomenon – though the newest pair of siblings to do so have a unique element.
Bryan, a 33-year-old Garda detective based in Cobh, played for his native Causeway and won the Kerry SHC with them in 2019 before transferring to Sars in 2021 after his inter-county career ended.
Two more county medals have followed – as well as a Reardens All-Star hurling team selection – and now he has been joined at the Riverstown club by his brother Evan.
The younger Murphy, 26, still plays for the Kingdom and, while he is currently recovering from injury, the return of him, James Sweeney and Cathal McCarthy bolster the Sars options ahead of their championship defence. Older brother Bryan is glad to have Evan alongside him.
“He's working and living in Cork with the last while,” he says, “he was in college in MTU.
“I suppose it just made sense, the travel was killing him, and he picked up a few injuries.
“He's just coming back there now from injury, he tore his hamstring again having just back from the ACL, but he should see some championship time, hopefully all going well.
“Obviously, having that connection is, it's probably a comfort when you do join a new club, having your brother on the squad.
“I won't say that I went to him and approached him and told him to transfer to Sars – he's an independent thinker himself!”
Charleville provide the opposition for Sars in Castletownroche tomorrow evening, a game which is a repeat of last year’s semi-final where the champions had to come good in the second half.
The regaining of the Seán Óg Murphy Cup has since been followed by a fourth straight RedFM Hurling League title.
The constant hunger for success is built upon consistent high performances. While Murphy knows that Charleville won’t be easy – and Douglas and Newtownshandrum cannot be taken lightly, either – the focus on the next task at hand ensures that they remain grounded.
“I suppose, we look at the likes of Conor O'Sullivan, Daniel Kearney, Craig Leahy,” he says.
“They're the fellas you aspire to, even the younger fellas coming into the group, they look at these fellas, they've won, whatever, six counties now at this stage, but they just bring a constant hunger to the panel and a constant high standard.
“They're the fellas that drive the group – the management can take you so far, but you're getting the fellas on the field and the fellas coming on to really drive the team to the next level.
“The group that we have at the moment, we, kind of, don't look too far ahead. Obviously, we'll do savage work on Charleville because they're a very strong opposition.
“We had a tough game against them in the quarter-final last year and we know what they’ll bring. We found it tough against them in the league even this year as well, and they'll obviously have Darragh Fitzgibbon to add back into that, who’s obviously one of the best hurlers in the country.
“We know the challenge that's ahead of us, yeah, but we'll take it on a game-by-game basis and our feet won't leave the ground.
“Our goal is to win that first championship game and take it as it comes from there.”
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