Paraic O’Leary

Former Father Murphys Hurler | 2012–2013

In this edition of Murphys Memories, we catch up with Paraic O’Leary, who represented Father Murphys during the 2012 and 2013 seasons while living in Kingsbury. Originally from Wexford and a member of Shelmalier GAA Club, Paraic joined the Murphys to continue playing hurling while living in London and quickly became part of a close-knit group both on and off the pitch.

👤 Player Snapshot

🏠 Home Club	Shelmalier
📍 County	Wexford
🏑 Years with Father Murphys	2012–2013
🇬🇧 Lived in London	Kingsbury
💜 Why did you join?	To play hurling while living in London and a bit of crack.

Q&A

Why did you join Father Murphys?

To play hurling while living in London and a bit of crack.

Favourite on-field memory?

Winning the McCullagh Cup against McCurtains in Scrubs.

Favourite off-field memory?

The celebrations in the Shamrock after the cup final.

Best player you played alongside?

Tommy Moore – unbelievable goalkeeper and an even better drinker.

What are you up to now?

Living and working in Wexford and back playing hurling with Shelmalier.

Any message for current and future Father Murphys players?

Enjoy every minute. The friendships you make and memories you create will stay with you for life.

🏆 Murphy Moment

“Winning the McCullagh Cup against McCurtains in Scrubs will always be my favourite memory in a Father Murphys jersey.”

📧 Suggest Our Next Murphys Memories Guest

Know a former Father Murphys player we’d love to feature? Email  secretary.fathermurphys.london@gaa.ie your suggestion or volunteer to take part.

Thanks to Paraic O’Leary for sharing his Murphys memories.

Once a Murphy, Always a Murphy.

The Father Murphys got their Intermediate Hurling Championship campaign off to the perfect start with an impressive second-half performance to overcome Cú Chulainns at McGovern Park on Sunday.

The Murphys made the ideal start when Matt Murphy opened the scoring inside the first 20 seconds. However, the East London side responded almost immediately with the game’s opening goal to edge in front. The sides exchanged points in an entertaining opening period before a superb individual goal from wing-back Aaron O’Gara swung the momentum back in the Murphys’ favour. O’Gara started the move himself, combined brilliantly with teammates through a series of handpasses, and finished confidently from close range to the net. By the midway point of the first half, the Murphys had established a 1-08 to 1-02 lead.

The Murphys finished the opening half strongly, with standout performers Alan Griffith and Michael Burke leading the charge. Griffith, who finished the day with an outstanding tally of 2-05, grabbed the Murphys’ second goal with another close-range finish, while Burke was in excellent form throughout, splitting the posts consistently from both placed balls and open play. At the interval, the Murphys held a commanding 2-12 to 1-04 advantage.

The Murphys continued to move the ball with pace and purpose after the break, with scores coming from all over the field. At the back, Aaron Coughlan produced another commanding display at centre-back and capped his performance with a superb long-range point. He was well supported by the returning Niall Lynam and the ever-reliable Paul Ryan in the corner.

Up front, Tom Foley struck for the Murphys’ third goal after one of his trademark surging runs before finishing clinically to the net. Alan Griffith then completed his brace with his second goal of the afternoon as the Murphys’ dominance continued. Their slick passing and excellent teamwork improved as the game went on, creating a series of well-worked scores, with Burke and Griffith once again applying the finishing touches.

The final goal of the afternoon came from Eoin O’Leary, who reacted quickest after Adam O’Callaghan broke the ball and calmly finished to the corner of the net from a tight angle. O’Callaghan then deservedly got on the scoresheet himself moments later, finishing off another excellent team move with a fine point.

It was an encouraging opening performance from the Murphys, who will now turn their attention to their next championship fixture against Granuaile on Saturday, 15 August, at 3.30pm. The venue is yet to be confirmed, so be sure to follow the Father Murphys across all of our social media channels for the latest updates.

The Father Murphys picked up their first piece of silverware of 2026 by defeating Fulham Irish in the Ronan Cup Final in Ruislip. A strong first-half performance in front of goal, led by full forward Ryan Meyler, laid the foundations as the Murphys reclaimed the Ronan Cup for the first time since 2024.

In a frantic start to the game, it was Fulham Irish who hit the ground running with two early scores. However, the Murphys were quick to respond, with Tom Foley levelling the game through two excellent points. The Murphys then built on this momentum, with the aforementioned Meyler finding the back of the net following a superb team move. The scores continued to flow for the Murphys, with excellent team play being finished off by Michael Burke, Eoin O’Leary and Alan Griffith.

At the other end of the pitch, the half-back line of Aaron Roche, Aaron Coughlan and Aaron O’Gara began to take control. It was Coughlan who delivered a pinpoint pass to Meyler, who rounded his marker before finishing to the net. Fulham, however, responded with a goal of their own and added two further points to keep themselves in the contest. As half-time approached, the Murphys finished strongly with a brilliant individual goal from wing forward Cillian Corkery, followed by a 21-yard free from Meyler. This left the half-time score at 4-10 to 1-6 in favour of the Murphys.

The second half was a more evenly contested affair, with Fulham and the Murphys trading points for much of the half. At the back, goalkeeper Charlie O’Sullivan produced several outstanding saves to deny Fulham, while full back Ronan Keane and corner backs Paul Ryan and Conor McAreavey were outstanding in defence. At the other end, Meyler added another goal from a 21-yard free, while the score of the day was saved until the closing stages as Matthew O’Donnell raised the white flag with a superb effort from the 65.

It was a tremendous team performance from the Murphys as they continued their impressive start to 2026. Training continues at Wasps FC as preparations turn to the Intermediate Championship, which gets underway on August 2nd against Cú Chulainns. The management team of Sean, Darren and Tony would greatly appreciate your support on the day

The 2026 Division 1 league campaign marked a historic chapter for Father Murphy’s GAA Club, as the hurling team played its first competitive fixtures at the club’s new home grounds at Wasps FC in Acton. A busy July saw the Murphys host all four of their league games at their new venue, where they proved they were more than capable of competing at the highest level of London GAA.

The league campaign began with a tough test against a strong Sean Treacy’s side, one of the favourites for this year’s Senior Championship. The Murphys matched their opponents throughout a fiercely contested first half and trailed by just four points at the interval. Sean Treacy’s found another gear after the break, however, with their clinical goal-scoring proving the difference as they eventually pulled away for the win.

The second league game brought another landmark moment as the Murphys recorded their first-ever victory at their new home, overcoming Robert Emmets in another thrilling encounter. Much like recent meetings between the sides, the game went right down to the wire before the Murphys edged it on a scoreline of 2-18 to 3-14.

It was a superb team performance from start to finish. In defence, Ronan Keane and Aaron Coughlan were outstanding, while Charlie O’Sullivan impressed between the posts. At the other end of the field, Ryan Meyler was in excellent form alongside Cillian Corkery and Michael Burke. With the game hanging in the balance, the Murphys finished strongly, producing some excellent team scores that were clinically finished by Burke and Eoin O’Leary to secure a memorable first home win.

A depleted Murphys side faced last year’s league champions, Brother Pearse, in the third round. Despite missing several players, the team battled bravely throughout. Captain Matt Murphy and Aaron O’Gara led by example as the Murphys finished the game strongly, with the final score reading 3-18 to 2-08.

The fourth and final league fixture came just seven days after their previous outing, with last year’s championship runners-up Kilburn Gaels providing the opposition. The Murphys more than held their own in an entertaining first half that saw the sides trade scores throughout. Aaron Roche and Brogan Campbell impressed in defence, while Alan Griffith and Tom Foley were influential in attack, creating a number of excellent scoring opportunities. The game remained finely balanced until the closing stages, when Kilburn Gaels finished strongly with a series of late scores to claim a 3-14 to 0-13 victory.

The Murphys’ Division 1 status for 2027 will be decided once the remaining league fixtures are completed. Regardless of the final standings, it has been a historic and hugely encouraging month for the club. The team has not only settled into its new home at Wasps FC but has also recorded its first competitive victory there, creating another memorable milestone in the continued growth of Father Murphy’s GAA Club.

Father Murphy’s continued their winning start to the 2026 season with an impressive performance against Cú Chullainns in the Ronan Cup semi-final in Scrubs on Thursday night.

The Murphys started brightly and got on the scoresheet early through Ryan Meyler and Eoin O’Leary. That fast start set the tone for the evening as they built a commanding early lead and never looked back. Full forward Meyler led the scoring with three first-half goals. The first was a long-range effort that found its way all the way to the net, while the second was a delightful lob over the advancing goalkeeper.

At the back, debutant Ronan Keane and club stalwart Aaron Roche were in fine form, both heavily involved in launching attacks and creating scores at the other end. The first half was played at a high tempo, with the Murphys moving the ball well through midfield before finishing clinically in front of goal. Midfielder Matt Murphy, along with wing forwards Michael Burke and Jack Carroll, also added their names to the scoresheet. By half-time, the Murphys had built a commanding 3-16 to 0-3 lead.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with defenders Aaron Coughlan and Brogan Campbell keeping Cú Chullainns at bay while also helping to create a number of well-worked team scores. Half-time substitutes Colin Maher, Aaron O’Gara and debutant Brendan Hassan all made an instant impact with finely taken points.

Midfielder Tom Foley’s hard work throughout the game was rewarded with five minutes remaining when excellent teamwork involving Daniel Greene and Eoin O’Leary led to Foley finishing smartly to the net.

The Murphys now advance to the Ronan Cup Final, where they will face Fulham Irish. The game is set for Wednesday, 20th May, in McGovern Park, Ruislip, and all support for Sean, Tony, Darren and the players would be greatly appreciated.

1. Chris Weller
2. Joseph Walshe
3. Shaun O’Sullivan
4. Ronan Keane
5. Paul Ryan
6. Aaron Coughlan
7. Aaron Roche
8. Tom Foley
9. Matt Murphy
10. Michael Burke
11. Eoin O’Leary
12. Jack Carroll
13. Daniel Greene
14. Ryan Meyler
15. Darren Howlin

Subs

Aaron O’Gara for Aaron Roche

Colin Maher for Daniel Greene

Brogan Campbell for Joseph Walsh

Brendan Hassan for Ryan Meyler

Daniel Greene for Michael Burke

Father Murphys 0-06 vs 1-17 Kilburn Gaels

Father Murphys came up short in their final group game of the Senior Hurling Championship, losing out to Kilburn Gaels in challenging conditions at a rain-drenched McGovern Park.

The wet weather made for a physical and scrappy affair, with scores hard to come by early on. Both sides exchanged long-range efforts in the opening half, with John Kehoe in fine form for the Murphys, notching four well-taken points. Defences were largely on top, with Paul Ryan and Alan Griffith standing out for their respective sides.

Kilburn edged ahead as the half progressed, leading 0-9 to 0-4 approaching the break. Sean Howlin responded with a fine point for Murphys, but Kilburn struck a crucial goal on the stroke of half-time to extend their advantage to seven points.

As the weather worsened after the restart, scoring chances became increasingly scarce. Kilburn managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over with a series of long-range points, keeping Murphys at arm’s length.

Conor McAreavey provided the standout moment of the second half with a brilliant individual score, but it proved to be only a consolation as Kilburn held firm to claim the win

Team

1. Michael Casey
2. Alan Griffith
3. Darragh O’Connor
4. Paul Ryan
5. Conor McAreavey
6. Eoin O’Leary
7. Aaron O’Gara
8. Matt Murphy
9. Aaron Roche
10. Ryan Meyler
11. John Kehoe
12. Jack Cahalane 
13. Sean Howlin
14. Eoin Power
15. Darren Howlin

Subs

Daniel Moloney for Ryan Meyler

Gavin Watchhorn for Jack Cahalane

Danny McCarthy for Darragh O’Connor

Father Murphys 4-13 vs 7-20 Sean Traceys

Father Murphys fell to Sean Traceys in a competitive third-round encounter of the Senior Hurling Championship, with Traceys finishing strongly to secure a deserved victory.

The game began at a blistering pace, with both sides trading early scores. Daniel Burke and Ryan Meyler were on target for the men in purple and gold, keeping Murphys well in the contest. However, Traceys soon struck with two quick goals from well-worked attacking moves, putting them firmly in control.

Murphys responded admirably, with Aaron O’Gara picking out Eoin O’Leary with a pinpoint pass, and O’Leary made no mistake in rattling the net. Burke added another point shortly after, reducing the deficit to three points and reigniting Murphys’ momentum.

Despite this, Sean Traceys regained control, adding two more goals before the break. A late 21-yard free from Meyler trimmed the margin slightly, but the sides went in at half-time with Traceys holding an eight-point lead.

Father Murphys opened the second half brightly with two early frees, showing renewed energy and intent. However, Traceys once again took control in the latter stages and finished the stronger of the two sides.

Ryan Meyler added a late goal for Murphys, and Tom Foley chipped in with a well-taken individual point, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit as Sean Traceys ran out winners.

Team

1. Michael Casey
2. Alan Griffith
3. Mark Gethings
4. Paul Ryan
5. Conor McAreavey
6. Sean Howlin
7. Darragh O’Connor
8. Aaron O’Gara
9. Tom Foley
10. Aaron Roche
11. Daniel Burke
12. Eoin O’Leary
13. John Kehoe
14. Jack O’Connell
15. Ryan Meyler

Subs

Daniel Moloney for Darragh O’Connor

Brogan Campbell for Alan Griffith

Matt Murphy for Conor McAreavey

Jack Cahalane for Ryan Meyler

Conor Moynihan for Aaron O’Gara

Father Murphys 1-9 vs 3-21 Brother Pearse

Father Murphys suffered defeat in Round 2 of the Senior Hurling Championship, going down to a strong Brother Pearse side. Missing several players from the previous week, Murphys fell behind early to one of the championship’s main contenders and were unable to claw their way back, despite a spirited second-half performance.

The sides traded scores in the opening stages, but a powerful finish to the first half saw the Division 1 League champions pull away from the Division 2 winners. Murphys rallied after the restart, with Ryan Meyer, Sean Howlin, and John Kehoe all finding scores, but the gap proved too great to overturn.

Attention now turns to Round 3, where Father Murphys will face Sean Traceys on Sunday, September 7th, in Ruislip. The club is calling on all supporters to get behind the team for this crucial clash.

Team

Father Murphys 3-15 vs 1-22 Robert Emmets

Father Murphys narrowly missed out on a memorable victory in their return to the senior ranks of London hurling, falling to last year’s runners-up Robert Emmets in a thrilling Round 1 clash of the London Senior Hurling Championship at Greenford.

In a fiercely contested encounter, the Murphys showed they are more than capable of competing at this level, pushing Emmets all the way before eventually losing out by the slimmest of margins.Murphys made a bright start, registering the opening scores through Ryan Meyler and Des Coyne. However, Emmets, who were beaten finalists last year against St Gabriels, responded with a well-worked team goal. Both sides exchanged scores throughout the first half, with Meyler proving accurate from placed balls.Murphys’ first goal came midway through the half when Ciaran Kelly pounced on a long ball from midfield to finish from close range. Their second goal arrived five minutes before the break, when Kelly turned provider, feeding Eoin O’Leary who soloed towards goal and unselfishly passed to Meyler, who rifled the ball to the net. Despite the Murphys’ efforts, Emmets found success with a series of long-range points and went into the break leading 1-14 to 2-8.The second half began in electric fashion, with Murphys striking their third goal when a long puck-out broke kindly for Meyler, who finished superbly from a tight angle. At the other end, defenders Mark Gethings, Paul Ryan, and Alan Griffith began to get the upper hand, stifling the Emmets attack and launching several counterattacks.Midfield duo Aaron O’Gara and Tom Foley also played a pivotal role, tirelessly breaking up play and winning turnovers that led to scoring chances. The Murphys drew level with 15 minutes to go and traded points with Emmets in a tense final quarter. Scores came through long-range efforts from O’Leary, frees from Barry Burke, and some sharp finishing by Meyler.However, it was Emmets who had the final say, edging ahead with one of the last pucks of the game.

Father Murphys will be back in action in Round 2 of the Championship against Brother Pearse, once again in Greenford, on Sunday, August 17th at 1:30pm. Gavin and the team would greatly appreciate all support on the day.

Team

1 Michael Casey 2 Alan Griffith3 Mark Gethings4 Seamus McMahon5 Darragh O’Connor6 Barry Burke7 Paul Ryan8 Tom Foley9 Aaron O’Gara10 Eoin O’Leary11 Daniel Burke12 Des Coyne13 Ryan Meyler14 Ciaran Kelly15 John Kehoe

Subs

Keefer Roche for O’Connor

Colin Maher for Coyne

Adam O’Callaghan for Kelly

Father Murphys 4-10 vs 1-12 St Gabriels

The Father Murphys secured their first piece of silverware for 2025 on Thursday night overcoming St Gabriels in the Keltic Management League 2 Final. Despite the 30c weather the game was played at a high intensity throughout with the Murphys finishing strong to see off a tough test from the men from St Gabriels.

The Murphys started strong with a great individual score from Eirean Quilkin which was followed up by a goal finished calmy to the net by full forward Ryan Meyler. Gabriels recovered well though and got the next 3 scores to bring the margin back to one. Both team then traded frees with Meyler converting them for the Murphys to keep them in the lead, this lead was then extended through a goal by captain Tom Foley to put the Murphys 4 ahead. By the half time whistle the lead was reduced to 2, 2-5 to 0-09.

The second half was dominated by the defences with the Murphys lead by Darragh O’Connor, Mark Gethings and Seamus Mcmahon keeping the Gabriels scoreless for most of the half. The Murphys then added a third goal through half time sub Colin Maher when a Ryan Meyler shot was saved but it fell to Maher who finished to the net from close range. Gabriels however fought back and got a goal with 10 minutes left to bring them back 5 points. However the Murphys responded quickly, a great turnover from Darren Howlin followed by a long hand pass feed Gavin Watchhorn who was fouled inside the square leading to a penalty. It was Meyler again to finish to the net from the 21 with a low shot to his right. This was enough to see the lads over the line and win by 4-10 to 1-12.

This is the Murphys fifth trophy in over a year, following on from the historic 2024 campaign. To celebrate the club is holding a medal night on July 18th, all support is greatly appreciated.

Starting Team
1 Chris Weller
2 Alan Griffith
3 Mark Gethings
4 Seamus McMahon
5 Matt Murphy
6 John Kehoe
7 Paul Ryan
8 Conor McAreavey
9 Matt Murphy
10 Tom Foley
11 Jack Cahalane
12 Eoin O’Leary
13 Sean Howlin
14 Ryan Meyler
15 Eirean Quilkin

Subs

Aaron O’Gara for Matt Murphy

Colin Maher for Sean Howlin

Darren Howlin for Jack Cahalane

Gavin Watchhorn for Eirean Quilkin

Barnaby Hartley
David O Flynn
Dan Maloney
Mikey O Donoghue
Danny McCarthy
Conor Moynihan