HOW THE HELMET CAME TO HURLING


Post match skirmishes were not unknown in the fiercely competitive world of inter varsity hurling in the 1960s but when a group of UCD players surrounded UCC’s mid-fielder, Micheál Murphy, at the final whistle in Croke Park in 1969, it was curiosity – not animosity – that drew them in. That damp, February afternoon, Murphy had lined out with an exotic piece of equipment, something entirely alien to the game of hurling up to then: he was wearing a Canadian ice-hockey helmet!

This was not Murphy’s first venture into protective headgear, a necessity forced upon him as a result of a fractured skull accidently inflicted in an earlier hurling game. He had tried all types protection to enable him continue his career as an accomplished mid-fielder, despite the serious head injury. (All-Ireland senior colleges medal with The North Monastery and Cork county championship medals with UCC and his home club, Blackrock)

Eventually it was a former UCC classmate, Des Walsh, who posted Micheál a Canadian ice hockey helmet from Ontario and the game of hurling was changed forever.