Coventry City's Kieren Westwood was named in goal at the RDS, as coach Giovanni Trapattoni was without the services of injured first-choice keeper Shay Given.
Trapattoni named an otherwise full-strength squad, clearly looking to build confidence in the side ahead of the qualifying campaign for the 2012 European Championship.
Murphy did not come off the bench during the win, which was secured through two first-half goals from the Wolves forward Kevin Doyle and Stoke City's Liam Lawrence.
He has just one senior international cap to his name, playing the final 16 minute of Ireland's 2-2 draw with Turkey at Lansdowne Road in September 2003.
The Republic are back in action on Friday night when they take on Algeria at the same venue, with Murphy hoping to be given the nod ahead of Westwood or Ipswich's Brian Murphy.