GAA Features

Jimmy Barry Murphy has once again proved his greatness as a manager this season, but it is his exploits on the playing field that made him a legend in the Rebel County.

JBM will be battling against the odds to guide the latest generation of Cork hurlers to an All-Ireland Final when they take on Galway in the last four on Sunday, but the players under his tutelage could do worse than take a look at the great man in action if they’re looking for a little inspiration.

Barry-Murphy won five All-Ireland titles as a player with the Cork hurlers, starting in 1976 when he scored four points from wing-forward.

Stationed closer to goal later in his career, Jimmy was a prolific goal grabber and after taking a look at this effort in the 1983 All-Ireland semi-final with Galway below, you might be able to tell us how he managed to divert a sliotar travelling somewhere near warp speed to the back of the net.

Barry-Murphy, of course, is one of the best-known dual stars to grace the GAA and with good reason too.

Long before he made his debut for the Rebel senior hurlers, he was doing his stuff with the footballers and starred in the 1973 All-Ireland Final victory over against Galway as a 19-year old. He scored two goals on the day, one of which was a lesson in composure in front of goal and was rightly voted as one of the top 20 GAA moments of all time in 2005.

Is there anything he can’t do?