Fond memories of Limerick soccer stalwart following his passing
Tommy Murphy passed away following a long battle with illness
A LIMERICK soccer stalwart has been remembered by his younger brother as a “fatherly figure” and a “great businessman.”
Tommy Murphy, who lived at Ennis Road in the city, has gone to his God following a long battle with illness.
A soccer player in the 1960s and 1970s, he represented Limerick for five years, and was in their squad for their 1966 FAI Cup Final against Shamrock Rovers.
From there, he went to Bohemians and was part of the Dublin club’s first side to include professional players in 1969.
As well as a stint with Athlone, Tommy also won one cap for Ireland at U23 level.
Following his soccer career, he worked at Todd’s and set up Lansdowne Manufacturing, which made sportswear and school tracksuits among other things.
Reared in Thomondgate, he married a Dublin woman, Mary, and the pair settled in Ferndale just off Ennis Road.
Pat Murphy, the second youngest of four boys in the family said when their father Patrick passed away, Tommy took on this role.
“He took responsibility. The role of looking after us for want of a better word. To make sure we were going to school, coming in early at night and doing our homework,” he said.
Pat explained how on the soccer field, Tommy played at right full back, but on occasion was roped into playing as a striker up front.
“He was a good player. As well as playing for Limerick and Bohemians in Dublin, he played junior soccer for Fairview Rangers and Shelbourne, which is the same club as my father.”
As an elder brother, Pat used to seek Tommy’s counsel, saying: “I remember him growing up as being a fatherly figure. He was good to get advice off. We would have played together for Shelbourne for a while. I’d have played with Limerick and we would have trained together at Markets Field.”
Tributes to Tommy have been paid from across the business and sporting community in Limerick following his sad passing.
A representative of Hospital firm Munster Packaging penned a tribute on www.rip.ie, as did Dromkeen man Michael Gleeson of Gleeson’s Shoes.
Regional United also paid tribute.
Noel Earlie, former principal of Sexton Street CBS wrote: “I came across him in his clothing business when he supplied school uniforms and you couldn’t meet a nicer, more courteous and obliging gentleman.”
Tommy passed away at University Hospital Limerick last month.
He was laid to rest at Castlemungret cemetery following Mass at Christ the King in Caherdavin. May he rest in peace.