Father Murphy's
Father
Murphy’s
F
Father Murphy’s were founded as a ladies football
club by members of the Fr Murphy’s Hurling
club, particularly the Howlin family
from Rathnure in Wexford, that was in 1988.
The club grew from humble beginnings,
playing exhibition games at the various
Irish festivals around London.
In 1998 a camogie team was
added and in a very short while
the club went on to be a major
force in London and All Britain
competitions.
In its short existence Father
Murphy’s Ladies have won
four London County Senior
championships,
including
a
three in a row in 2007, 2008 and
2009, together with senior leagues
and Mary Feehan cups. As well
as reaching the All Ireland Club
championships on four occasions, they
also won the Dubai sevens on a trip to the
Middle East in 2008.
The camogie girls have been equally as
successful in an even shorter time, winning the London
Senior championship in 2007 and 2008, then going on to become
the first club from Britain to win a game in the All Ireland club
championship. They have also captured the junior and senior
league as well as winning three International Women’s Day
tournaments in Birmingham.
The Father Murphy’s have been involved in
some astonishing matches over their short
history, coming up from junior ranks to
win their first county championship title
in 2001, convincingly dethroning the
reigning and long term champions
Parnell’s in a downpour at Ruislip,
then dominating London Ladies
Football from 2007 to 2009.
Then after a brief respite,
coming from nowhere in 2012
to reach the All Britain Final, as
complete underdogs, conceding
a goal from a penalty in the first
minute, six points down with
minutes to go and then two wonder
goals to draw the game. The following
year, 2013, there was no mistake,
winning the All Britain Championship in
style, with one of their matches shown on
Setanta TV on route to the final.
Camogie too has had its share of excitement, with
great performances in Dubai, Birmingham and Ireland,
becoming the first team from Britain to win a game in the
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