Donegal ace Michael Murphy in early shake-up for Footballer of Year - Dessie Dolan 

Dessie Dolan says Donegal talisman Michael Murphy is one of the early frontrunners for Footballer of the Year. 

The Westmeath legend was part of the Sunday Game panel alongside former Dublin ace Ciaran Whelan. 

And when attention was turned to Murphy’s influence on the side’s 0-19 to 1-15 All-Ireland series win over Mayo at Dr Hyde Park, the former All-Star had this to say. 

“Murphy just knows what button to press and when to press it. He can just sense if it needs to be fast or slow. 

“Jim McGuinness being able to coax Michael Murphy back this year is the biggest coup of all time. Because on this form, he’s in line for Footballer of the Year. 

“That’ll all depend on how far Donegal go. But he’s been absolutely exceptional”. 

Still - Whelan fired a small warning, wondering out load if Donegal were perhaps too reliant on the 2012 All-Ireland captain.

“The big concern for Donegal would be what would happen if Murphy got injured? As he has just been so central to their play this season. 

“My other concern is that they aren’t kicking the ball, it’s still very much a running game. That’s their DNA. 

“We did see in the Ulster final how they can use Murphy in there. But at this moment, Murphy just seems to be central to everything they do. 

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“He’s winning ball in the middle of the park, chasing back, I just wonder have they've become a little predictable as a result.

“They’re going to have to mix it up. Mayo didn’t let them carry the ball up the pitch today. They went 18 minutes in the first-half without a score and 13 in the second. 

“You have to ask will that be good enough come the business end of the championship? So I think they have some improvements to make”.