It's a phrase much bandied about but Bride Rovers GAA Club's pro John Arnold said Brian Murphy's retirement from Cork senior county hurling really is "the end of an era".

He was speaking within minutes of the news breaking before noon on Wednesday that the double All Ireland medal winner is to leave Cork hurling. He intends staying on at Bride Rovers where his three brothers also play.

John Arnold said it's the end of an era because Brian's retirement severs the last link with the All Ireland team of 2004. "He need have no regrets. He was one of the best servants of Cork hurling ever. To have played at that level for ten years was an outstanding achievement."

"It's an awful loss for Cork. He brought experience to an inexperienced team, helping them get to the All Ireland final last year," John Arnold said.

Brian captained Cork for the first time last year when regular captain Pa Cronin was absent. Their defeat of Clare took them to a Munster decider with Limerick. He fought back from a shoulder injury he received in a club game to play on the starting Cork team facing Clare again in the All Ireland final in September. John Arnold says that was the mark of an outstandingly dedicated player.

The 32-year-old Rathcormac natives hurling career was in the ascendant from the time he arrived on the inter-county scene at 17, playing with the minor team then going on to line out with the U21 and intermediate sides. It was with the intermediate side that he won his first All Ireland medal. He says that 2003 final is his most memorable game.

His début as a senior player came in the 2003 National Hurling League. He won the All-Star Young Hurler of the Year award in his first season. He is credited with contributing substantially to the Cork team's success over the next decade winning two All-Ireland medals and two Munster medals. 

He also has an All-Star award to his name. At club level with Bride Rovers he won Munster and county medals at intermediate level.

"We are extremely proud too of what he has done for us, he has been a very big part of our success" John Arnold said of Brian's involvement with Bride Rovers. "Brian's father and grandfather before him played for Bride Rovers and the club that came before it and I hope he will continue to play for us."

His resignation was a lively topic of conversation on Wednesday and one thing is for sure - Brian Murphy and his tremendous contribution to Cork hurling will be talked about often in the years to come as he goes down in the annals of the county's proud hurling history.

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