Murphy first came to prominence as a hurler with Scoil na Trionóide in Doon. Having played in every grade as a hurler, he eventually joined the school's senior team. On 22 February 2014, Murphy was at left corner-forward when Ardscoil Rís defeated Scoil na Trionóide by 2-13 to 0-04 in the final of the Harty Cup.
Murphy joined the Doon club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels, enjoying championship success in under-12, under-14 and under-15 grades. As a member of the club's minor team, he also enjoyed championship success before joining the club's senior team.
Inter-county
Minor and under-21
Murphy first played for Limerick at minor level. On 22 July 2014, he was an unused substitute when Limerick won their second successive Munster Championship title after a 0-24 to 0-18 defeat of Waterford in the final. On 7 September 2014, Murphy was introduced as a substitute for Thomas Grimes in Limerick's 2-17 to 0-19 defeat by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Murphy's second and final season with the Limerick minor hurling team ended with an All-Ireland quarter-final defeat by Galway. Murphy subsequently joined the Limerick under-21 hurling team in 2016 and played during the team's unsuccessful championship campaign. In his second season with the team he won a Munster Championship medal after coming on as a substitute for Tom Morrissey in Limerick's 0-16 to 1-11 defeat of Cork in the final. On 9 September2017, Murphy was named at centre-forward for Limerick's 0-17 to 0-11 defeat of Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.
Senior
Murphy joined the Limerick senior hurling panel in 2018 and made his first appearance for the team during the pre-season Munster League. He made his first appearance in the National Hurling League on 28 January 2018 after being introduced as a 46th-minute substitute for Gearóid Hegarty in a 1-25 to 0-18 defeat of Laois. He made his Munster Championship debut on 20 May 2018 and scored a goal in a 1-23 to 2-14 defeat of Tipperary. On 19 August 2018, Murphy was a member of the extended panel when Limerick won their first All-Ireland title in 45 years after a 3-16 to 2-18 defeat of Galway in the final. On 31 March 2019, Murphy started Limerick's National League final meeting with Waterford on the bench. He was introduced as a 64th-minute substitute for Aaron Gillane and collected a winners' medal following the 1-24 to 0-19 victory. On 2 June2019, Murphy sustained a bad hamstring injury in the final minutes of Limerick's Munster Championship defeat of Waterford. After undergoing a number of scans and an operation, Murphy was later ruled out for the rest of season.
