GAA Moments 4

1973. If I could I would have chosen twenty Jimmy Barry Murphy GAA moments in hurling, football and management. But the man we later came to know as God in Cork first came to national prominence in 1973.

He was nineteen, I was nine, and in the All Ireland Football Final against Galway JBM just looked the part. On a day when Cork wore all white with a red trim, to avoid a clash of colours, Jimmy Barry Murphy was the epitome of cool. The crew cut, the sideburns, the confidence - Barry Murphy had it all. Jimmy took a long fisted pass from Ray Cummins and in one sleek movement turned his way out of a tackle.

Then - and almost in slow motion -a teasing toe to hand that had the Galway defence, Michael O Hehir and the entire crowd wondering what the Boy Wonder would do next. With a swagger J B M planted the ball past the Galway defence and into the net at the Hill 16 end of the ground. But that's not all. The new King of Cork then raised his arms upwards to the heavens and a star was born in one iconic moment

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