U16 All-Ireland winner with Kildare scores six goals in Senior Championship match

Catherine Murphy of Kildare during the 2026 AirNav Ireland All-Ireland U-16 A Championship final match between Cavan and Kildare at Páirc Chiarain in Westmeath. Photo by Seb Daly | SPORTSFILE

placeholder image — Catherine Murphy of Kildare during the 2026 AirNav Ireland All-Ireland U-16 A Championship final match between Cavan and Kildare at Páirc Chiarain in Westmeath. Photo by Seb Daly | SPORTSFILE

Athy’s Catherine Murphy has put her name on the map in senior football with a startling championship debut

U16 All-Ireland ‘A’ winner with Kildare Catherine Murphy has made an astounding start to life in Senior Football Championship action this year; scoring all six of her side’s goals against Sallins as the girls in red won their Round 1 encounter 6-11 to 1-8.

Murphy was one of the standout players in that All-Ireland winning Kildare team with immediately eye-catching talent and an incredible ability to beat her opposite number.

The Athy forward is a powerful player and was a nightmare for defenders throughout The Lilies’ title-winning campaign. Murphy picked up six points in the county’s semi-final and final outings but created far more than that for others with her threat in and out of possession.

It is clear that the young player’s presence and quality has carried over over to senior football absolutely instantly with an eye-watering return in their 2026 championship opener.