'Quite emotional' - Kilkenny's Eoin Murphy explains decision to retire after 15 years
Eoin Murphy, a four-time All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny, has spoken candidly about his decision to retire from inter-county hurling after 16 years with the senior team.
Four-time All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny, Eoin Murphy has opened up on his retirement after 15 years with the senior team, revealing the time was right to step away.
The Glenmore man had a long and distinguished career at inter-county level, winning four All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals, ten Leinster titles and five National Hurling League titles as well four All-Star awards, in 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2023.
However, Murphy announced earlier this month that 2026 would be his last in the black and amber.
“In reality, I probably wasn’t number one this year. That wasn’t a big factor in it, but I’ve played for the previous 15 years, and being a sub-keeper is probably the hardest position there is because you only have one position to be fighting for,” the departed goalkeeper said in an interview with the Kilkenny People and Community Radio Kilkenny Sport, his first public conversation since his retirement.
“If you’re a back, you can mix between numerous other positions. There are essentially five other positions in the backs that you can go for. Sub- goalkeeping is probably one of the hardest positions.
“I’d be really close with Aidan Tallis and Diarmuid Galway as well and you’d never be wishing ill-will or hoping for mistakes because that’s not for the betterment of the team,” he added, praising the pair’s positive contribution to the panel.
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“I’d given so much. I’m 36 now as well, I’ve a little girl at home, and I have other things that I want to focus on outside of an inter-county career because it’s all-consuming.
“You can’t give 90%. You just won’t get anything out of it unless you’re giving 100%. I just felt there were other areas in my life that I wanted to give time back to, my wife Gráinne, and our little one Bríd,” he explained.
“Living back home in Glenmore, you’re gone four evenings a week. You’re finishing up work early enough, 4.30/4.45pm, and you’re gone out the door and not back until after 10pm. You’re getting up and going to work the next day, possibly going to the gym the next evening and facing into the same thing again.
“It wasn’t a sacrifice. I’m not alluding to that. I absolutely gave everything and loved it, but I just thought now was the right time to go.”
Despite being assured in his choice, the former inter-county shot-stopper acknowledged the decision hasn’t fully sank in yet,” the four-time All-Star continued.
“It probably hasn’t sunk in just yet. I think it’ll probably really hit home come January when you’re facing into the league games. That’s really when the excitement for that year starts.
“As much as you have to do the pre-season work and stuff like that, it’s not enjoyable. It’s great being around the team and stuff like that but it’ll really hit home in January, and that’s when I’ll feel the pinch but I’ve made peace with the decision, probably earlier in the year in my own mind, and I’m happy enough with it.
“I’ve given 20 years of unbelievable service between underage, minor, under-21 and 16 years of a career playing senior. As a young fella, that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, and I’ve lived that dream for 15 years, so I’ve no complaints whatsoever,” Murphy explained.
“I made peace with the decision, but at the same time, when it came to leaving the WhatsApp group with the players and actually pressing send on the socials, that was quite emotional,” he revealed.
“That was actually the hardest part. I thought I would find it a little bit easier, but I didn’t. I’m happy enough to admit that because it’s been a massive part of my life.
“For more than half of my life, I’ve been hurling at whatever age group with Kilkenny. It’s been a huge part of my life, and a part of my life that I’ve loved absolutely every second of it. I wouldn’t change a thing.
“Obviously, I would have loved to have won a few more All-Irelands, but I gave it absolutely everything that I had. I’m just happy that I got what I got out of it, and I hope I left the jersey in a fairly good position.”