Tommy Murphy (Gaelic footballer)

Tommy Murphy (1920 to 1985) was a Gaelic footballer from County Laois, born in Graiguecullen on 5 November 1920 and educated at nearby Knockbeg College in Carlow. He played for the Laois minors when he was just 15 and came to prominence in 1937 when he played his first senior championship match against Offaly; although only a 16-year-old schoolboy, he lined out against Kerry in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final that same year. During the late 1930s and 1940s he was a household name all over Ireland. He won Leinster provincial medals in 1937, 1938 and 1946 and in all won eight Laois Senior Football Championship medals and two Railway Cup medals for Leinster. His last game for Laois was against Wexford in the 1953 Championship, and two years later he played his last game for his club, Graiguecullen. For many years he worked as a land steward.