The Newcastle United talent has already made eight appearances for the Whites since completing a loan move in January.
He also grabbed a first senior goal in the 4-3 win against Crawley at the Tougsheet Stadium – another personal landmark to add to a collection assembled in double-quick time.
It was not that long ago that Murphy was stirred from his bed by his father with news that his senior footballing journey was about to begin with Galway.
“I remember I got this call one Sunday morning because they needed numbers for an 11 v 11,” he said. “My dad ran into the room and said: ‘Get up, you’ve got to go to [training](http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/jobs). You need to be in at half 10 to train with them.’
“I played in the 11v11 and did well and they wanted me in for pre-season. I had to wait a while for my debut because there was a left-back playing at the time but he got suspended and I got my chance.
“It was weird because if was COVID time and there weren’t many people around at the game. It was probably a good thing in a way because there was less pressure, even though at the same time you want that.
“I loved every minute of it and training with them at that age gives you a massive learning curve. I think the earlier you start training and playing alongside men it’s better for you. You just learn so much.”
Murphy moved from junior to senior football with Galway in the League of Ireland, making his debut in June 2021 against Athlone Town at the age of 16, and going on to feature nine times in a squad that finished second in the league.
To get to that point, admits the youngster, was already a dream come true.
“I was playing Sunday League for my club Corrib Celtic back home,” he said. “The first League of Ireland level is Under-15, so I remember going in for trials and stuff. It’s a massive achievement for anyone at that level to be playing for Galway United, it’s everyone’s aim.
“I remember the Under-15s coach Martin Devlin was massive for me and gave me a lot of confidence. I really enjoyed that whole year with all the lads and I kicked on then.
“I loved my time with the academy and then when I was an Under-17 I went training with the first team regularly for the first time and made my debut under John Caulfield. It was a great time.”
English and Scottish scouts began to pick up on Murphy’s progress, and by the time he was featuring regularly at Galway, offers were starting to emerge to continue his career over the water.
Newcastle United were the first to put down their interest officially and Murphy can recall what convinced him that the North East was the right move for him.
“I went over there four or five times for a look around,” he said.
“There were a few clubs sniffing around but John Caulfield rang my dad one night and said Newcastle are going to bid in the morning. He said: ‘They are going to make an offer and I think it would be a really good move.’
“We met them at a hotel and then flew over the next day to look at the facilities and the training ground and I just got a really good feel for the place.
“Everyone there was so friendly, so nice, and they looked like they really wanted me.
“I had a couple of months to wait until I was 18 and I could actually join but I knew right away that I was going there once I’d looked around.
“I think for everyone in Ireland, that’s their aim. The League of Ireland is growing at the moment and it’s a very good league. The standard is going up but I think over here is where it’s at. The biggest leagues in the world are over there and it’s an unbelievable standard anywhere you play – be it League One, League Two, Championship. I just wanted to come over here and show what I could do.”
Murphy made his Newcastle debut as a substitute against Chelsea in November 2023 and had done enough by the following summer to earn a new contract.
“When you are younger obviously it’s your aim to play in the Premier League,” said the youngster, who has been on international duty with Ireland's Under-21s this week.
“It was an unbelievable day. I remember ringing my mum and dad afterwards and they were so happy.
“Unfortunately, they couldn’t come over for it but it was an unbelievable feeling and I just remember being so happy for days afterwards.
“Thankfully, I made another appearance after that and I want more. When you get a taste, you don’t want to stop.”
Murphy continued as a part of Eddie Howe’s first team squad and had initially been pencilled in to join Bolton on loan in August, only for him to be retained by his parent club as cover.
Things have not gone exactly according to plan for Wanderers this season, and the defender’s arrival coincided with a change in manager at the end of January as Steven Schumacher came in to replace the man who had chased him, and eventually signed him, Ian Evatt.
But the 20-year-old remains confident that the move was the right call, and even though there are high expectations on the players to secure a top six spot, he would have it no other way.
“You can tell this is a massive club just by looking at the stadium,” he told the club. “It’s massive for a team in League One and I know this club shouldn’t really be in League One, it needs to go higher.
“At a club the size of this when you are not going too well there is going to be pressure and people are not going to be happy, which is what you expect and what you want, really. If everyone was buzzing, they were happy, they didn’t really care if we weren’t doing well then it would be concerning.
“But if we can get back to playing well and winning games then the place will be rocking again. This is perfect for me right now.
“It’s a good team and we will be pushing for the play-offs. It’s perfect for me now.
“I wanted to be out on loan probably a year ago. But I’d got into the first team and I’d been training with them at Newcastle, so I wasn’t too displeased not to be out on loan. Now, finally, I think this was the perfect time to come out and show what I can do here at the club as well.”