Stopping Michael Murphy crucial to Meath's success says Royals legend Trevor Giles

Trevor Giles says Meath need to get a handle on Michael Murphy and, if they can do that, they’ll be in with a real shout of taming Donegal.

The sides clash in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final on Sunday and Royals legend Giles - a two-time All-Ireland winner - says Murphy, in current form, is in pole position for the Footballer of the Year gong.

Still, he says Meath have the ability to skew all of that off into oblivion if they’re brave enough to back themselves on Jones Road at the weekend.

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Donegal have looked vulnerable at stages this term, no more so than when Monaghan turned a first-half screw that saw them surge seven up last time out.

The Ulster champions impressively regained their composure but Giles says it did pull back somewhat of a curtain on fragilities in their armour.

“I’m sure Meath will look at that closely,” he explained. “Shaun Patton is an amazing ‘keeper but I just feel he’s not one hundred per cent fit right now.

“So that gives you hope. And under the new rules, it’s easier to win the opposition kickouts than your own.

“I’m old school, and I do still think there is a bit of randomness to the breaking ball. So the new rules definitely give the underdog hope.

“It’s not a stretch to say now that if you win the kickout battle, you have a real chance of winning the game.”

Giles says he’s watched on with particular interest at Murphy’s ‘second coming’ and he says he’s been seriously impressed with the shape the 35-year-old has got himself into.

“When I got to my 30s, building a house, getting established in the physio clinic, it’s hard to play top-class intercounty football at that stage.

“But he’d have looked at last year, the margins, McGuinness back and he’d have felt they’d a real chance of achieving something.

“I can absolutely see the logic in him devoting six months to getting in the absolute best condition he could.

“And listen, he’s in Footballer of the Year territory as we speak. And I guess that’ll depend how the next game or even two go for him.

“He makes them tick, no doubt about that. He pulls strings and if he’s let dictate, then he’ll inevitably bring out the best in his team.

“He’s a very humble lad away from it all too so I’ve only good things to say about Michael Murphy.

“And Michael always seems to play well against Meath and Donegal have won all of those recent encounters.

“He goes around the pitch, seems to have time on the ball and just dictates the games. Even without Michael, last year, when I was involved with Colm O’Rourke, they beat us by ten points in the league.”

He added: “I don’t think Donegal will fear Meath but they will certainly respect them. McGuinness is a brilliant manager and he’ll be desperate to win a second All-Ireland.

“They’ll feel they left last year behind them, losing to Galway in the semi-final. So you could say they are on a bit of a mission.

“Even the talk around Meath this week seems to be that we’re ‘up against Jim McGuinness’. And you can add Michael Murphy’s name to that too.

“But while both are so central to a lot of what is great about Donegal, they have so many other things going for them as well.”

Robbie Brennan’s side have been upsetting the odds for most of their championship campaign and bar that Leinster final loss to Louth, haven’t really wobbled.

But Giles is adamant they won’t travel the short distance to Jones Road, “happy to be there” or just to make up the numbers.

Their own traditions and history, coupled with this unexpected run, has reawakened an ambition that they perhaps previously might have taken for granted.

“It’s been a long road back to this point. Beating Dublin was massive, especially for these Meath players. Beating Kerry was also a huge confidence booster.

“So these players are completely different propositions now simply because of that. The mindset, next winter, will be winning Leinster and going deep into the All-Ireland series.

“In the here and now, Meath didn’t really care who they got - getting to the semi-final is massive. They’ll have bounced into training since.

“I have no doubt Meath will play well. The unknown is what Donegal will bring. If they bring their second-half against Monaghan, they’ve a real chance.

“But Meath, for much of the reasons we just touched upon, they are really dangerous opposition.

“I see ‘bonus territory’ being mentioned, and I get that. But there are no guarantees in football and this is a serious opportunity that’s right in front of them.

“Meath have to make the most of this chance at the weekend. Lads like Donal Keogan, Brian Menton and Seamus Lavin will view this as one of their last, even last, chance to play in an All-Ireland final.

“And they’ll be putting absolutely everything into it.”

Giles was speaking on behalf of AIB who are celebrating their tenth year as a sponsor of the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship.