Donal Murphy

{{About|the football player|the Irish accordionist|Dónal Murphy}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Donal Murphy

| image =

| fullname = Donal Patrick Murphy

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|2|23|df=y}}

| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland

| height =

| position = Winger

| youthyears1 = 1970–1973

| youthclubs1 = Coventry City

| years1 = 1973–1975

| clubs1 = Shamrock Rovers

| caps1 = 45

| goals1 = 17

| years2 = 1975–1978

| clubs2 = Coventry City

| caps2 = 43

| goals2 = 10

| years3 = 1977

| clubs3 = → Millwall (loan)

| caps3 = 3

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 1978–1980

| clubs4 = Torquay United

| caps4 = 85

| goals4 = 20

| years5 = 1980–1982

| clubs5 = Plymouth Argyle

| caps5 = 48

| goals5 = 9

| years6 = 1981–1982

| clubs6 = → Torquay United (loan)

| caps6 = 3

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 1982

| clubs7 = Blackburn Rovers

| caps7 = 3

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 1982–1983

| clubs8 = Drogheda United

| caps8 = 13

| goals8 = 1

| years9 = 1983

| clubs9 = Bohemians

| caps9 = 6

| goals9 = 1

| years10 = 1983–1984

| clubs10 = Drogheda United

| caps10 = 19

| goals10 = 6

| years11 = 1984–1985

| clubs11 = UCD

| caps11 = 24

| goals11 = 5

| years12 = 1985

| clubs12 = Home Farm

| caps12 = 2

| goals12 = 1

| years13 = 1985–1986

| clubs13 = Shelbourne

| caps13 = 12

| goals13 = 0

}}

Donal Patrick Murphy (born 23 February 1955) is an Irish footballer who played as a winger in the League of Ireland and Football League.

Career

After three seasons as an apprentice at Highfield Road the Republic of Ireland national football team youth international moved to Shamrock Rovers in October 1973. He made his League of Ireland debut on 4 November at Richmond Park and scored on his home debut at Milltown the following week.[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1973/1112/Pg005.html The Irish Times – Monday, 12 November 1973 – Page 005]

His goal scoring exploits earned him the Player of the Month award in September 1974.[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1974/1004/Pg003.html#Ar00309 The Irish Times – Friday, 4 October 1974 – Page 003]

In February 1975 Murphy was called up to a Republic of Ireland national football team training session under Johnny Giles.[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1975/0123/Pg003.html#Ar00307 The Irish Times – Thursday, 23 January 1975 – Page 003]

In September 1975 he was part of the Rovers squad that toured Japan.[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1975/0814/Pg003.html#Ar00301 The Irish Times – Thursday, 14 August 1975 – Page 003]

The following month he re signed for Coventry.[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1975/1003/Pg003.html#Ar00308 The Irish Times – Friday, 3 October 1975 – Page 003]

After seven years in England he came home to sign for Drogheda United in October 1982 on a three-month contract and scored on his debut at Dalymount Park.[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1982/1025/Pg004.html#Ar00403 The Irish Times – Monday, 25 October 1982 – Page 004] At the end of his short contract he signed for Bohemians[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1983/0225/Pg003.html#Ar00306 The Irish Times – Friday, 25 February 1983 – Page 003] in February 1983 and scored the winner against the Hoops on his debut.[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1983/0228/Pg003.html#Ar00301 The Irish Times – Monday, 28 February 1983 – Page 003]

His last game for Bohs was as a substitute in the 1983 FAI Cup Final.

Murphy re signed for Drogheda in July 1983[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1983/0707/Pg003.html#Ar00300 The Irish Times – Thursday, 7 July 1983 – Page 003] and played twice against Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Cup.[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1983/0929/Pg003.html#Ar00308 The Irish Times – Thursday, 29 September 1983 – Page 003]

In July 1984 he transferred to UCD and again played twice against English opposition in European competition, this time against eventual winners Everton F.C. in the 1984–85 European Cup Winners' Cup.[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1984/1003/Pg003.html#Ar00304 The Irish Times – Wednesday, 3 October 1984 – Page 003]

Following six months at Home Farm he moved to his fifth Dublin club, Shelbourne, in August 1985[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1985/0810/Pg004.html#Ar00404 The Irish Times – Saturday, 10 August 1985 – Page 004] and was part of the first Shels squad ever to be relegated.