The death has occurred of former Gaeil Colmcille and Meath footballer Joe Murphy peacefully at his home.
Joe a former publican and Undertaker right up to his death was one of the greats and arguably one of Gaeil Colmcille’s greatest ever players picking up two Meath Senior Football Championships in the late 60s defeating Kilbride in 1966 in a second replay after drawing twice 1-07 to 1-07 and 3-02 to 1-08 and eventually winning 0-08 to 0-06,
1966 Meath Senior Champions. Back Row L/R: Vincent Cahill, Brian Caffrey, Paddy Ward, Robin Caffrey, Morgan Walsh, Michael Campbell, Francis Ward, Jimmy Murray, Joe Murphy, Fintan Ginnity Sr. Front Row L/R: Des Ferguson, Larry McCormack, Tommy Hickey, Dick McInerney, Phil Fay (C), Harry Campbell, Greg Hughes, Tommy Smith
Two years later Joe was a Meath Senior Champion when he was apart of the team that comfortably beat Walterstown 3-17 to 1-04 in the 1968 final.
1968 Meath Senior Champions, Back Row L/R: Francis Ward, Paddy Ward, John Griffin, Jimmy Murray, Gerry McManus, Greg Hughes, Aidan Carry, Des Ferguson. Front Row L/R: Vincent Cahill, P Carry, Dick McInerney, Harry Campbell (C), Joe Murphy, G Lynch, Tommy Hickey
Joe lined out for Meath in the 1970 All-Ireland final at Full-Forward losing out to Kerry team that boasted the likes of Mick O’Connell, Jon O’Keefe and Dan Joe Crowley, with Kerry winning on the day 2-19 to 0-18 in the first ever 80 minute final.
In the same year in Leinster Football Championship, Meath beat Carlow, Kildare and a strong Offaly side (that went on to win the 1971 All-Ireland) in the Leinster final by a single point in a high scoring 2-22 to 5-12 win, Joe scoring a 0-01 from full forward.
A question that was frequently asked in Kells “Who was the hardest man in Kells?” And the answer always was Joe Murphy the Undertaker, because when he put you down you stayed down. Well it will take a hard man to put the great Joe Murphy down.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
