Picture: John Reidy
One of the best-known members of An Garda Siochana in Kerry has hung up his cap and tunic and retired from the force after a great career.
Connie Murphy graduated from the Garda Training College in Templemore, Co Tipperary in 1991 and was initially based in Ballymun, Dublin before returning to more familiar territory.
He was stationed in Ballyheighe and Ballybunion for a number of years as well as in Listowel and, in latter years, he was the Garda based in Farranfore, a busy base given its proximity to Kerry Airport and being the busy artery between Killarney and Tralee, Limerick and beyond.
Connie was an outstanding sportsman who excelled in a number of codes.
Picture: Eamonn Keogh
A wonderfully talented and versatile footballer, he was equally comfortable in defence or in attack but was probably at his most influential at midfield.
Blessed with great pace and stamina with a real eye for goal, he was a stand-out performer, in all age groups, with his beloved Dr Crokes and he was at centre forward when the won the Kerry Under 21 Championship in 1986, beating Castleisland Desmonds in the final.
Connie and his late father, Liam, had the unique honour of both winning seven East Kerry senior football championship (O’Donoghue Cup) titles with the black and amber, thus ensuring their names will be side by side in the club’s history books for future generations to read about.
Connie was the man-of-the-match in the 1992 All-Ireland Club Championship final in Croke Park when a powerhouse display in the middle of the park inspired Crokes to a narrow victory over Dublin champions Thomas Davis in a thriller.
Not surprisingly, Connie’s club form in the 1980s caught the attention of the Kerry senior selectors and it wasn’t long before Mick O’Dwyer handed him the green and gold jersey, becoming a mainstay in the squad from 1987 through to the mid-1990s
Picture: Eamonn Keogh
He played for Kerry, usually at centre back or wing back, in 50 league and 15 championship games and one of the greatest moments in his sporting career was when he won a prestigious All-Star award in 1989, at the age of 24.
Connie’s name would often crop up in table quizzes when a name was sought for a player who won an All-Ireland but never a senior inter-county All-Ireland.
He also tried his hand at management and took charge of the Kerry junior footballers for a spell.
Connie was also a great basketball player and played at national league level, initially with St Vincent’s and later with St Paul’s in Killarney, lining out alongside the legendary Paudie O’Connor in a star-studded team.
He is married to Yvonne (McCarthy), they have a daughter, Leah, and they live in his native Killarney.
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