Daryl Murphy, an Irish professional footballer, was born on March 15, 1983 in Waterford. He is known as “Smurph” in the football world, and can play as a striker as well as a midfielder. He won his first call-up to the Ireland national football team in 2007 and since then he has earned 8 international caps.
Daryl Murphy started his career in football by joining the youth ranks at Luton Town in 2000 and signed with Waterford United, an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland, in 2002. After staying with the Blues for three seasons, he transferred to Sunderland in 2005 by signing a deal at the Stadium of Light. In the same year, he was sent on a month loan to loan to the Sheffield Wednesday football club. Daryl Murphy played four games for the club before being recalled to Sunderland, and went on to win the ‘League of Ireland Young Player of the Year’ award in 2005.
Daryl Murphy netted his first Premier League goal on February 12, 2006 in a match against Tottenham Hotspur, and it helped Sunderland equalise the match with the Spurs when the game was just about to end. His impressive performances in the pre-season matches won him a place in the starting eleven in 2006. During the 2006-07 season, he was a part of the Sheffield Wednesday team that played at the Coca-Cola championship and Daryl Murphy scored 10 goals in the tournament. His first goal of the ten came on the first day of the 2006-07 season in a match against Coventry City and was followed by another one on August 12 in a clash with Plymouth Argyle.
On November 28, 2006 Daryl Murphy netted his third goal of the season in a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers, and followed it with goals in succeeding games against Norwich City and Luton Town. His remarkable displays on the field made him one of the first choice strikers of Roy Keane, the manager of Sunderland, and he also netted an important goal at the close of the match against Stoke City resulting in a 2-2 draw.
On the last day of the 2006-07 season, Daryl Murphy scored a brace against Luton Town and on February 9, 2008 he scored a spectacular goal against Wigan Athletic at the Stadium of Light. It was a left-footed strike from 25+ yards, which could not be interrupted by anybody and went straight to the net. This goal was picked out by Match of the Day viewers as Goal of the Month for February.
On April 26, 2008 Daryl Murphy scored the winning goal in a 3-2 victory over local rivals Middlesbrough, when he came on as a substitute and was instrumental in helping Sunderland secure its status in the Premiership for the next season. As of August 2008, Daryl Murphy has featured in 85 matches for Sunderland and has netted 14 times
