A former championship-winning Antrim footballer-turned popular club coach will be remembered as an “absolute gent” following his death.
Chris Murphy, who played for the county in the 1990s, died on Sunday following a short illness.
A member of CLG Naomh Pól, the west Belfast man helped the club to three senior football championship wins in the same decade.
In the early 2000s, the father-of-three moved to Lurgan in Co Armagh, where he joined Clan na Gael CLG, becoming its Player of the Year in 2003.
In a statement, a spokesperson for CLG Naomh Pól announced news of his death “with a really heavy heart”.
“Chris played a key role in our most successful period in the 1990s, playing midfield in our senior football championship wins in 1994, 1996 and 1997. Chris also represented the county with distinction for a decade in the same period.
“In recent years, Chris had returned and played an active role in coaching our u14 and u16 boys footballers - something which gave Chris immense pride.”
They added: ”Rest easy, Big Murph. Thanks for the memories.”
A Clan na Gael CLG spokesperson described him as a “strong and fierce competitor”, adding: “His family connections to the Clans continue and his daughter Anna captained our Ladies team to the Junior Championship win in 2019.”
Among tributes posted to social media, Aiden Donnelly said Chris was “an absolute gent with a character as immense as his frame. Chris was some athlete in his heyday, with a booming left-foot.
Donal McManus wrote: “Devastated to hear this news...great player and total gentleman. Rest in peace Big Chris.”
A death notice describes him as the “beloved son of Hugh and Kathleen, much loved father of Ellen-Rose, Anna and John, loved brother of Nuala, adored partner of Anne, also much loved brother-in-law and uncle.”
His funeral will take place on Thursday morning at Belfast’s St Agnes Church, before a burial at Milltown Cemetery.
