The Seán Óg Murphy Cup is the current prize for winning the championship. It was commissioned to honour Seán Óg Murphy who served as a hurler, selector and County Board Secretary at various times over a 45-year period. Prior to this, several different cups and trophies had been presented to winning captains. The Seán Óg Murphy Cup is similar in design to the Liam MacCarthy Cup which was constructed to look like a medieval Irish drinking vessel called a mather. The cup bears the Irish inscription: "Croabh Iomána Sinsear, Coiste Chontae Chorcaí de Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, a bhronn an corn seo, 1963, mar cuimhne ar Seán Óg Ó Murchú." Des Kiely of University College Cork was the first recipient of the cup when it was presented to him by the widow of the late Seán Óg Murphy after the 1963 final.