Born in Dundalk on 28th March, 1985; Paul began his career as an trainee at Leeds United, famous for it's production of young players, especially Irish ones under the leadership of then Elland Road boss David O'Leary.

However, two years after his apprenticeship in Yorkshire had began in 2000, he moved to Leicester City, aged seventeen; on a two year professional contract. Murphy made steady progress during his time at the new Walkers Stadium, with Leicester under the management of Micky Adams. After impressing in the reserves he worked his way up to third choice goalkeeper behind England international Ian Walker and Danny Coyne. Despite failing to break into the first team, he was gaining international recognition and was now the first choice goalkeeper for the Republic of Ireland Under-19 side, and won a number of caps at that level, and also played in a record 10-1 victory over San Marino. Despite this though, City's relegation to the English Championship meant major cost cutting at the Walkers Stadium and alongside thirteen other professionals at the club, Murphy wasn't offered a new deal when his contract ran out.

In August 2004, Murphy returned back to the Republic of Ireland and signed for his home town club on transfer deadline day for the Eircom League, and joined six other new players at Oriel Park signed by Dundalk manager Jim Gannon. However, Murphy couldn't help the 'Lilywhites' of Dundalk finish any higher sixth in the Eircom League First Division in the 2004 season.

With the Eircom League finishing in November, Newry City manager, Roy McCreadie, began a raid on players from South of the border in an attempt to boost his failing Newry side, Murphy joined McCreadie at the marshes with Dubliner, Alan McDermott, released from Shelbourne - three other Dubliners were to follow. However, Murphy and McDermott signed in early December, where ineligible to play for the Border side until the transfer window re-opened the following month. So after a month of patient waiting, Paul made his Newry debut against Linfield at Windsor Park on the 22nd January, but it ended drastically when his mistake cost his team the decisive goal, when another debutant scored the second goal in Linfield's 2-0 win. The other debutant was Shea Campbell, who had just joined Linfield from the Sky Blues.

That was Murphy's only league appearance in Newry colours as on the eve of the January transfer-window closing; Ronnie McFall came in looking for cover for injury plagued goalkeeper David Miskelly at Shamrock Park; and was signed until the end of the current season. Paul was to make a dramatic impact in his first season at Portadown. He made his debut for title chasing Portadown against Tommy Wright's Limavady United side on the 12th March in a 2-0 win. However, he was really thrown to the lions in his third match for the County Armagh side, when they travelled to Dublin to take on Shelbourne in the Setanta Cup - yet despite conceding three goals, the Ports escaped with a miraculous draw thanks to a last minute Wesley Boyle equaliser. Murphy, however, went from strength to strength with a fantastic displays against Linfield in the League and the Irish Cup semi-final against Glentoran and the resulting replay win after the initial scoreless draw. Murphy's season finished on a high as he played all but one of Portadown's remaining games and also claimed the man of the match award in the Ports' 1-0 win at Turner's Cross against Cork City. However, 2004/2005 was to end with Paul winning his first senior medal as he was picked ahead of David Miskelly in the Irish Cup Final against Larne at Windsor Park, where his Portadown team-mates tortured Larne and came away 5-1 winners.

Ronnie McFall was in no hesitation as to offer Murphy a new one year deal to stay at Shamrock Park for another season. The following season, however, was a lot tougher for both Portadown and the goalkeeper himself, as they both struggled to find consistent form. With Miskelly fully fit again, Murphy had to wait until mid-November until his first appearance of the season in a 2-2 draw away to Armagh City. The games that the Dundalk man did play where few and far between, compared to the previous season, a scoreless draw against his neighbouring Drogheda United was of the prominent games he got to play in as Portadown finished lethargically in third behind a rampant Linfield side. With Murphy in limbo over his future, as McFall brought in Distillery goalkeeper, Michael Dougherty as backup for David Miskelly, Paul had to leave Shamrock.

Though, in June of 2006, Murphy became the fifth of Tommy Wright's summer signings despite interest from a number of clubs North and South of the border, as he signed a one-year deal at the Showgrounds; he marked his competitive debut against Crusaders in the League Cup with a clean sheet. He proved to be a good piece of business by Wright as he made 40 appearances for the Sky Blues in his first season.

by Neil Coleman