McShea’s Say: Broken Gaelic football finally looks fixed

After what was arguably one of the best advertisements of Gaelic football in quite some time last weekend, much credit has to go to Jim Gavin and his rules review committee for their creativity in producing a game which is incredibly entertaining and a real joy to watch once again. 

It’s ultra-competitive and attracting record attendances once again. The Donegal and Mayo match was an epic, but so too were all the other games played on Saturday and Sunday. 

In handing out plaudits, Donegal manager Jim McGuinness also deserves positive acclaim for his persistence and perseverance in working so hard behind the scenes to coax that footballing genius Michael Murphy out of retirement. 

There isn’t a manager anywhere who would have rejected the chance to have a player of Murphy’s calibre back in harness. 

There wasn’t a Donegal fan around, including this one, who wasn’t energised by the Glenswilly player’s return. 

Several years ago, I offered my opinion that Michael was the best player ever to wear the famous Donegal jersey, but after watching his incredible displays since his return to the fold in the last four championship matches, he must be considered among the best footballers ever to play the game. 

I always wanted to see Murphy play on the edge of the opposing square, but in his present role as playmaker out the park, he is playing the best football of a remarkable career. 

In winning in Roscommon against a Mayo team who played their best football of the year, once again Donegal’s desire for victory was commendable. 

This is a very significant quality for any side to have in their armour because this was not an ultra-fluid, total football performance from Donegal. 

But their ability to hang in when not at their best is commendable. Now that we have progressed to the preliminary quarter stage in the search for Sam, this Donegal team has a settled look about it. 

Now there are several non-negotiables when it comes to selection. Is there a better goalkeeper in today’s game than Shaun Patton? 

If so, I have not seen him. Once again, he was top class against Mayo, and his kick-out that set up the winning score was a thing of beauty, as young Ciaran Moore won the ball and left several Mayo defenders in his wake as he raced through the Mayo defence and finished superbly. 

Brendan McCole did a fine job in subduing Mayo’s most dangerous forward Ryan O’Donoghue. 

McCole is a very impressive footballing full back while beside him in the corners, Finnbarr Roarty and Peadar Mogan both have a maturity in their game, which coupled to their burning pace is something which we take for granted for men who are still cutting their teeth in championship football. 

So, Donegal will look forward to the visit of Leinster champions Louth with a degree of optimism next Sunday in Ballybofey with a 4pm throw-in. 

A word of caution, though - to win a Leinster title is never an easy task, but because the men from the Wee County bridged a gap of 60 years in doing so, there may be a subconscious feeling in Louth that the provincial title was their 2025 All-Ireland. 

The atmosphere in MacCumhaill Park is always special at championship time, and Donegal should be very proud of their excellent support as they again got behind their team when most needed last Sunday. 

I did not get to Roscommon last Sunday, but I did see the game on television, and one could feel sorry for Mayo as they went out of the championship ten seconds after the hooter sounded. 

This could well be the end of an era for some of these Mayo players. If it is, they died with their boots on. They went down swinging and left it all on the field. 

Last week I referred to the Mayo book on Gaelic Football, The House of Pain. Many of this Mayo squad are all too familiar with that title, but they are a great GAA county, and we can be sure that they will be back again next year with the exceptional optimism that is to their credit.

Sympathy

On Sunday, I attended the very sad funeral of my neighbour Grainne Buggy from the Abbey, Ballyshannon. Grainne’s mum Ann passed less than nine short months ago, and Grainne came home for a few days to spend some quality time with her dad, PJ. 

She took ill suddenly and her funeral took place in Ballyshannon on Sunday. To her dad PJ, her husband Ian Donnelly, daughter Aoife, her brothers and sisters Donal, Sinead, Aishling, Pauric and Ciara and their spouses, we offer our sincere sympathy on their heartbreaking loss. May her gentle soul Rest in Peace.