Stephen Molumphy

Stephen Molumphy (born 11 January 1984) is an Irish hurler who played as a midfielder for the Waterford senior team until he retired in 2014.^[1]

Molumphy joined the team in 2006 and became a regular member of the starting fifteen the following year. He has won two Munster winners' medals, one National League winners' medal and one All-Star award. He ended up as an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

At club level Molumphy is a one-time county club championship medalist with Ballyduff Upper.

Playing career

Colleges

Molumphy's early hurling career was nurtured at St. Colman's College in Fermoy. Here he won a Dean Ryan Cup medal before later collecting back-to-back Dr. Harty Cup winners' medals in 2001 and 2002. These provincial wins were subsequently converted into two All-Ireland winners' medals.

University

While studying in the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) Molumphy lined out with the university's hurling team in the Fitzgibbon Cup. He lined out in the final in 2007, however, NUIG were defeated by 2-15 to 0-13 by the Limerick Institute of Technology.^[2]

Club

Molumphy plays his club hurling with the Ballyduff Upper club in Waterford and has enjoyed much success.

In 2005 he won a county intermediate championship medal following a defeat of Passage after a replay.

Two years later Molumphy added a county senior championship medal to his collection as Ballyduff upset the form book to defeat Ballygunner by 1-18 to 1-14.^[3]

Inter-county

Molumphy made his senior championship debut for Waterford during the 2006 championship when he came on as a substitute against Laois.

In 2007 Molumphy collected his first silverware when he won a National Hurling League medal as Waterford defeated Kilkenny by 0-20 to 0-18.^[4] Molumphy later claimed his first Munster winners' medal as Waterford defeated Limerick by 3-17 to 1-14 in the provincial decider.^[5] While Waterford were viewed as possibly going on and winning the All-Ireland title for the first time in almost half a century, Limerick ambushed Molumphy's side in the All-Ireland semi-final.

2008 began poorly for Waterford as the team lost their opening game to Clare as well as their manager Justin McCarthy. In spite of this poor start Molumphy's side reached the All-Ireland final for the first time in forty-five years. Kilkenny provided the opposition and went on to defeat Waterford by 3-30 to 1-13 to claim a third All-Ireland title in-a-row.^[6]

In 2009, Molumphy was named as joint captain of the Waterford senior hurling team. He was selected as Captain again in 2010 and 2011. Molumphy captained waterford in a thrilling Munster final in 2010 in Semple Stadium with Cork providing the opposition. A 2-15 apiece draw was the result on that occasion, however, Waterford went on to win the replay under lights in Thurles after an extra-time goal by Dan Shanahan. It was a second Munster winners' medal for Molumphy and first Munster trophy as captain.^[7]

In January 2013 Molumphy confirmed that he won’t be available to Waterford’s hurlers for the coming year because of overseas work commitments with the army in Lebanon.^[8] In October 2014 Molumphy confirmed his retirement from Inter-County Hurling due to work commitments.

Inter-provincial

Molumphy has also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial series of games. He played with the provincial selection in 2009 and 2010, however, he has yet to win a medal.^[9]

North American Hurling Campaign

In the summer of 2015 Molumphy joined the Tipperary senior hurling team in Boston, USA. He won the North East American county title against Galway in the final.

Personal life

Molumphy is an Infantry Captain in the Irish Army.^[10] He has spent nine months with the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) in Germany, served five months in Chad and served six months in Lebanon. He has served in the 3 Inf Bn in Stephens Bks, Kilkenny, served as an instructor in the Military College in the Curragh Camp and served in the Nordic Battle Group in Sweden. He is currently a Staff Officer in Brigade Operations in Collins Bks, Cork.^[11]

He is married and has two sons, Jack and Fionn.

Honours

Team

St. Colman's College

• All-Ireland Senior Colleges' Hurling Championship (2): 2001, 2002
• Munster Senior Colleges' Hurling Championship (2): 2001, 2002

Ballyduff Upper

• Waterford Senior Club Hurling Championship (1): 2007 (c)
• Waterford Intermediate Club Hurling Championship (1): 2005

Waterford

• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2007, 2010 (c)
• National Hurling League (1): 2007

Individual

• All-Stars (1): 2007

References