Down legend John is much mourned

Down legend John is much mourned

27 May 2020

TRIBUTES have been paid to Down great John Murphy who died last week.

The father-of-four from Newry, who passed away peacefully on Thursday, was a member of the Down side which won the All-Ireland title in 1968.

He was also a member of the management team which brought the Sam Maguire Cup back to Down in 1991 and 1994.

The funeral service in Newry on Friday was strictly private owing the coronavirus restrictions.

The cortege stopped at Pairc Esler to allow mourners pay their tribute to the Newry Shamrocks clubman.

Among them were members of the Down 1968 team, including Sean O’Neill and Colm McAlarney.

A former pupil of Abbey Grammar School, he later managed St Killans GAA in Whitecross, Co Armagh, and was part of the management team which brought three Down senior championships to Mayobridge from 2004 to 2006.

Down GAA described John, who scored a goal in the 1968 final against Kerry, as a “great ambassador for Down”.

Down GAA said: “The GAA world in Down is a poorer place with the loss of a man who gave outstanding service and commitment to his county on and off the field of play across five decades.

“We in Down GAA have been privileged that John Murphy was part of our story. He was a man of integrity and a man of honour; someone who lived the dream of playing for his county, winning an All-Ireland, scoring that famous goal and then of helping to shape two Down teams to win All Irelands.

“He enjoyed the reunions with playing colleagues from those great days and of growing older with the boys of 91 and 94, He had his favourite seat in the stand at Pairc Esler and watched the next generations give of their best for both Down and Newry Shamrocks.

“Men like John Murphy helped to make Down the proud GAA county that it is today. He was man who loved his football. He loved his county, his club and most of all he loved his family.

John is survived by his wife, Veronica, children Niamh, Fiona, Gavin and Karl, and the family circle.