Adam Murphy

Murphy began playing with his local side Donnycarney United before moving to top Dublin academy Belvedere where he played from U8 to U15 level where he impressed League of Ireland club St Patrick's Athletic to sign him in January 2020. He initially captained the club's U15 side before quickly moving up through the U17 and U19 sides.[1] He was called up to train with the first team at aged 15 during 2021 after the club had opted to pay for private schooling for him at The Institute of Education in order to allow him also train during the mornings.[2] On 20 October 2021, Murphy captained the club's U19 side away to Crvena Zvezda in the UEFA Youth League.[3] He was part of the side that won the League of Ireland U19 Division in 2022.[4] In February 2023, Murphy featured in a Sky News report on how young Irish footballers career paths have been impacted by Brexit.[5]

Murphy signed his first professional contract with St Patrick's Athletic on 7 July 2021, alongside James Abankwah.[6] He was named on the substitutes bench for first team games away to Bohemians in July 2021 and at home to Dundalk in October 2021.[7]

Murphy's senior debut came on 25 February 2022 when he replaced Billy King in the 85th minute of a 2–1 loss at home to Sligo Rovers.[8] His first start at senior level came on 8 April 2022, his 17th birthday, in a 0–0 draw at home to Dundalk in which Murphy impressed in the opening 21 minutes before being forced off with a hamstring injury that would require surgery and keep him out of action for almost the entirety of the rest of the season.[9] That start made him the youngest player to start a game for the club in the modern era at the time (the feat has since been taken by Sam Curtis).[10] His return from injury came on 6 November 2023 in the final game of the season, a 4–0 win over Shelbourne.[11]

Murphy picked up an injury during pre-season for the 2023 season which delayed his progress at the start of the season, having to wait until 17 March 2023 for his first league appearance of the season when he came off the bench against Shamrock Rovers to provide an assist for Jake Mulraney's 89th-minute equaliser in a 2–2 draw at Tallaght Stadium.[12] His first start of the season came on 14 April 2023, in a 3–2 win away to Bohemians,[13] with manager Tim Clancy stating after the game that "From anywhere I've played or managed, he's the best young kid I've ever seen. I rate him that highly, he's exceptional, a really good player."[14][15] On 5 May 2023, Murphy scored the first goal of his senior career, coming off the bench at half time to score the winning goal in a 3–2 win away to Cork City at Turners Cross.[16]