Joe Murphy or “Josna”, as he was commonly known, was a member of a select group of three hurlers who have won All-Ireland senior medals representing the Passage club.

“Josna”, was in a minority of senior All-Ireland medal holders who had not been part of a minor county panel but had still progressed to the top level of the game. It was his last year at under-21 level he was eventually recognised by the Cork selectors and was part of the Cork panel which won the All-Ireland title in 1968.

A year later his outstanding displays at centre-field for Passage hurlers propelled him into the Cork senior squad which reached the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny.

He did not get the coveted All-Ireland medal that year but in 1970 he manned one of the mid-field berths on the Cork team in every game leading up to the All-Ireland final but was unfairly omitted from the starting team which had a comprehensive win over Wexford.

One of the criticisms levelled at modern day hurling is the absence of overhead striking and it could be justifiably claimed that “Josna” Murphy was one of the last exponents of that great skill.