The Father Murphys will be hosting a medal night to celebrate the historic 2024 season, along with the recent Division 2 title success in 2025.

Please join all club members in Ruislip on July 18th as we present the players with their medals for the five trophies won over the past year.

The Murphys began 2024 with a Ronan Cup victory over St. Gabriels, winning 1-18 to 1-16. This was followed by another triumph in the McCullough Cup against Fulham Irish.

The biggest moment came when we beat Fulham once again in the Intermediate Final, 2-14 to 1-12, securing a return to Senior Hurling in London.

But the journey didn’t end there. The team went on to claim the club’s first All-Britain Championship title with a win over Fullen Gaels, earning the right to compete in the All-Ireland Series back home in Ireland.

The campaign concluded in Derry against a strong Ballinascreen side, but it still marked one of the most successful years in the club’s history.

The club warmly invites you to join us in celebrating the incredible efforts of our players, management, and committee members.

Like most of Ireland’s best stories, the tale of the Murphys begins in a pub. 

On 13 November 1958, a gaggle of Wexford men congregated at the Robert Peel in Kilburn, then a hub of London’s thriving Irish community. Over a few pints, they conspired to form a hurling club that would represent their county in the capital’s growing and competitive hurling championship. 

An era of mass emigration from the newly established Irish Republic, half-a-million people are estimated to have left the country in the 1950s. Many of them chose London as their destination. The new club – like the pub itself, which was run by Ferns-native Larry Kehoe – would become a way of helping exiles settle in their new home. 

The Wexford origins of the club were proudly on display from the outset. The county’s purple and gold colours were quickly adopted by the new committee, while a record of the first meeting noted that the club’s name came down to a choice between Fr Murphy’s – named for the leader of the 1798 Rebellion which took place almost exclusively within the county’s borders – and the Harriers, a club based in Wexford Town. 

Within months the club was up and running, taking to the field for the first time in early 1959. Those early efforts were boosted by a princely war chest of £28 that members raised by raffling off a bottle of whiskey and a pair of nylons at an inaugural dance. 

The band of exiles almost notched a rare double in their first season, led to a junior hurling championship by captain Thomas Ryan. It was only at the final hurdle that the junior football team finally tasted defeat. 

Success bred success. 1960 saw the newly promoted intermediate hurlers capture a league and championship double, before a senior league title was won in 1961 – just two years after the club was born. 

We remained competitive over the following decades. But despite claiming a deluge of silverware in cup and league competitions,  a senior championship remained frustratingly elusive. 

The Murphy’s have long boasted a reputation as a hard working and battling team, perhaps first evidenced in a 1971 newspaper report from an abandoned Collins Cup clash with Brian Borus where a “slight flare-up” reportedly brought “spectators running onto the field”. A mighty scrap ensued, and the game was swiftly abandoned with the Murphy’s reported to be firmly in the driving seat. 

By their very nature, London hurling clubs tend to have a vast turnover of players. But one of the Murphy’s longest serving members is Josie O’Leary. He first lined out for the club in the early 1968, and he was named as the British hurler of the year in 1977. Since then, Josie has held almost every role in the Murphys – from selector to president. 

But he notes – slightly sadly – that many of the rivals he came up against through the 70s and 80s have since fallen away. Some of the early rivals mentioned in newspaper reports from the time – like Borus – have long since folded, with Josie noting that the roster of 20 clubs he faced during his career has since halved. 

As the new millennium dawned, the Murphy’s proved that good things come to those who wait. Victory in the 2000 senior championship final – ending a 42-year-wait for success – sparked a period of domination for the club. Co-led by Josie O’Leary, they seized four titles in six years and were only narrowly pipped for another in 2004. 

Darren Howlin – still soldiering with the Murphys 25 years on, albeit now as a converted full-forward – remembers how the tightly knit panel came together to finally break the 40-year curse. 

“It wasn’t a big panel, but we all trained together and socialised outside of it, we all got on well so it was a good unit. We said ‘fuck it, we’re not going to lose another one’. It was togetherness and everyone put the shift in – if you missed training there was a valid excuse.” 

For the Howlins, the success was a family affair. Darren’s late father Jim left Rathnure as a 15-year-old, joining the Murphys in the 1970s. In 2003, at the age of 58 – and despite having lost an eye in a hurling related accident – he claimed a county senior medal after lining out earlier in the campaign to make-up the number for one clash. 

“We were short – we were already through but we had to play Sean Traceys,” Darren recalls. “He went in and scored two goals, so we beat Sean Traceys and he got his senior medal after all that time as a player.” 

The team – led by Josie O’Leary and Jim Dunne – also captured an All-Ireland sevens title in Kilmacud during that period of success. 

As the years have passed, the football side of the club has stalled – though it still remains a key part of the women’s club. Their football team was founded in 1988 and still flies the flag to this day, joined by a camóige team in 1998. In 1999, the Murphy’s became the first club in London to field men and women’s sides in both codes. 

The Murphys still retains its links with Wexford. Our senior team is coached by Gavin Watchorn of the Duffry Rovers club, while players from the Shelmaliers, St Mary’s Rosslare, Faythe Harriers and Ballyhogue have all lined out in 2025. 

But as the years have gone by, the exclusively Wexford nature of the club has faded slightly. The current panel includes players hailing from all over Ireland and the UK, with players from less traditional counties like Armagh now sporting the purple and gold. A successful underage structure has seen an increasing number of London-born players lining out too. 

The 2024 season saw the men’s team win an All-Britain title after a dominant run to an intermediate championship in the capital. The surge came to an end in Derry, after the team were finally bested by St Colm’s, Ballinascreen in the Ulster Championship. 

The 2025 season has seen a revival of the club’s second team – led by Darren and Sean Howlin – which will compete in the intermediate championship, while our first team will be in the hunt for success at senior level again. They will be hoping to replicate 2021’s run to a county semi-final at the very least. 

Father Murphys 1-12 vs 1-0 Thomas MacCurtains

After a 1.12 to 1.00 win over Tomas Mac Curtains last Saturday the girls are now in the final of the All Britain Camogie Final. They will play Green Isle ón Saturday 26th July 2025 with all support for the players and management will be greatly appreciated.

Father Murphys 7-15 vs 4-2 Graunaile

Father Murphys maintained their perfect start to the league with a clinical display in front of goal, seeing off a youthful Graunaile side on a hot Wednesday evening in Greenford.

Despite the sweltering 28°C heat, the match was played at a lively tempo from the outset. The Murphys struck early through well-taken points by Ryan Meyler and Des Coyne, setting the tone for the evening. However, Graunaile responded quickly, capitalising on a long-range effort that dropped short and was eventually bundled into the net to level the contest.

That early setback only spurred the Murphys on. Full forward Ryan Meyler regained the lead with a composed finish after expertly rounding his marker. He didn’t stop there—adding two more goals either side of a Des Coyne strike to complete a first-half hat trick and put the Murphys firmly in control.

At the other end, the defence stood strong, with the returning Seamus McMahon and Brogan Campbell marshalling the back line effectively. In midfield, Dan Greene and Conor McAreavey increasingly dictated the tempo, launching wave after wave of attacks. Just before the break, the ever-dangerous Meyler turned provider, setting up Eoin O’Leary to calmly slot home the Murphys’ fifth goal. A late Graunaile free found the net, leaving the half-time score at a commanding 5-8 to 2-0 in favour of the Murphys.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Substitute Tom Lyons and corner-forward Adam O’Callaghan added their names to the scoresheet with two more well-taken goals. To their credit, Graunaile continued to battle and notched up two additional goals of their own. They nearly had a third, but Sean Howlin produced a smart save to deny them.

The Murphys finished strongly, with impactful contributions off the bench from former underage players Barnaby Hartley and Dan Maloney. The result capped another impressive performance from Gavin and his team as they look to build momentum in the league.

Next up, Father Murphys face Cu Culhainns on Thursday, June 27th at The Scrubs, with throw-in at 7:15 PM. All support is greatly appreciated.

Starting Team
1 Sean Howlin
2 Brogan Campbell
3 Jack Cahalane
4 Alan Griffith
5 Matt Murphy
6 Paul Ryan
7 Seamus McMahon
8 Conor McAreavey
9 Dan Greene
10 Tom Foley
11 Eirean Quilkin
12 Eoin O’Leary
13 Des Coyne
14 Ryan Meyler
15 Adam O’Callaghan

Subs
Barnaby Hartley
David O Flynn
Dan Maloney
Tom Lyons
Danny McCarthy
Conor Moynihan

Father Murphys 5-22 vs 1-12 Kilburn Gaels

Father Murphys extended their unbeaten run with an impressive victory over Kilburn Gaels B on Sunday in Greenford, showcasing a blend of clinical finishing and solid defending.

Kilburn Gaels started brightly, racing into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead with a series of long-range points and frees. However, Murphys soon took control. Jack Cahalane opened their goal tally with a smart ground strike, followed by a sharp finish from Eireann Quilkin from a tight angle.

Driven by a strong defensive unit—including Tommie Mayne-Sheehy, Niall O’Brien, and club stalwart Alan Griffith—the Murphys began to dominate possession. They capitalized on their momentum with long-range scores from John Kehoe, Eoin O’Leary, and Tom Foley, building a commanding seven-point lead midway through the first half.

Quilkin struck again before the break, capping a solo run with a fine finish to the net. The Murphys entered halftime ahead, 3-11 to 0-8.

The second half picked up where the first left off. Defenders Paul Ryan and Darragh O’Connor shut down Kilburn’s attacks, while goalkeeper Adam O’Callaghan’s pinpoint puck-outs launched several scoring opportunities. Full forward Meyler added a fourth goal, with Foley netting the fifth. The highlight of the day came late on, when David O’Flynn fired over a superb long-range point.

Murphys continue their campaign on June 18th. All support for Gavin and the squad is welcomed as they aim to keep their unbeaten streak alive.

1 Adam O’Callaghan

2 Tommie Mayne-Sheehy

3 Mark Gethings

4 Alan Griffith

5 Darragh O’Connor

6 Paul Ryan

7 Niall O’Brien

8 Conor McAreavey

9 Dan Moloney

10 Tom Foley

11 Eirean Quilkin

12 Eoin O’Leary

13 Jack Cahalane

14 Ryan Meyler

15 John Kehoe

Subs

Daniel Greene for Jack Cahalane

David O’Flynn for Mark Gethings

In 1973, a journey began as Tommy Harrell founded the Father Murphy’s Underage section alongside Phil Roche, creating a haven for talented young Gaelic football players. The legacy of their vision continues to inspire us today. Fast forward to 2017, Martin Harrell breathed new life into Father Murphy’s Youth Hurling Team.

Recognising the dwindling presence of this magnificent sport in London and fuelled by a passion to reignite its flame, the club embarked on a mission to introduce a new generation of children to the exhilarating world of hurling. From humble beginnings, we have grown into an extraordinary community.

With squads competing at under 8, 10, 13, 15, and 17 levels, we proudly field teams across all age groups. Since 2017, we have been a consistent presence in the All Britain Championships Hurling Competition and remain determined to leave our mark.

We take immense pride in seeing our young athletes progress to the senior ranks, guided by our dedicated player pathway. The collaboration between our youth and senior teams was instrumental in competing at the GAA World Games in Hurling, ensuring the club’s future and championing London-born hurlers at the highest level.

If your child would like to be part of our vibrant and welcoming community, we invite you to experience the thrill of hurling—where passion meets excellence and dreams take flight.Get in touch or visit a training session—we’d love to welcome you!

To get involved, reach out to

Martin +44 7960 503355
frmurphysyouthteam@yahoo.com

Father Murphys 4-16 vs 4-9 St Gabriels

Father Murphys got their league campaign up and running with an improved second half performance to see off a strong St Gabriels side in East Lane on Tuesday night 27th May. The action started at a high pace with goals at both ends with Padriac O’Conghaile scoring for the Murphys after a good team move. Gabriels got on top and managed to lead by 7 just before a late first half goal from Adam O’Callaghan from a 21 yard free to bring the half time score back to 3-5 to 2-4.

The Murphys however started the second half on form with a early goal through Tom Foley and points from Des Coyne and Eoin O’Leary. Scores went back and forth between the sides and with 5 minutes to go there was 4 points in the game. The Murphys secured the win through a great Tom Foley goal, it was a great team move with Tommie Mayne-Sheehy feeding O’Leary the ball who passed it onto Foley. Foley then soloed from the 45 and finished low to the keepers left from the 21. The Murphys are out next vs Gruanille on Sunday June 1st in Greenford at 11.30 with all support welcomed.

Team

1 Sean Howlin
2 Brogan Campbell
3 Ryan Meyler
4 Tommie Mayne-Sheehy
5 Niall O’Brien
6 Mark Gethings
7 Paul Ryan
8 Jack Cahalane
9 Conor McAreavey
10 Tom Foley
11 Adam O’Callaghan
12 Eoin O’Leary
13 Eirean Quilkin
14 Des Coyne
15 Padriac O’Conghaile

Subs-

Niall O’Brien off
Darragh O’Connor on

Eirean Quilkin off
Conor Moynihan on

Jack Cahalane off
Jack O’Connell on

Adam O’Callaghan off
Alan Griffith on

Tommie Mayne-Sheehy off
John Kehoe on