Michael Murphy on the difficulties that lie in store for both Monaghan and Derry 

Michael Murphy admits what had appeared a wide open All-Ireland race has suddenly taken a very familiar turn. 

Derry and Monaghan will carry Ulster hopes into the semi-finals but with Dublin and Kerry, who had looked vulnerable right up until last weekend, lifting matters in ominous fashion; Murphy admits it’s now very hard to see past Gaelic football’s traditional pair of big guns in the last four.  

Dublin flexed their muscle in the second period against Mayo and ran out convincing 2-17 to 0-11 winners in the end while Kerry pummelled Tyrone into submission on a 2-18 to 0-12 scoreline. 

On what had, until last weekend at least, looked like a championship really up for grabs, Donegal’s 2012 All-Ireland winning skipper said:  “It’s been interesting - it’s been wide open. 

Michael Murphy pictured at the press event ahead of the All-Ireland minor final

“But people are now suddenly saying it’s not wide open and it was always going to be Kerry and Dublin. Both their performances at the weekend were really, really strong. 

“Throughout the season, there were negatives you might have looked at and felt allowed others to get close. There was never any denying the attacking quality of both sides. 

“You just felt their defensive solidness was there to be got at. And teams have exposed that this year with Dublin and particularly with Kerry in both the NFL and championship. But what we seen at the weekend were real warning signs for Derry and Monaghan. 

“Both Kerry and Dublin’s defences looked to be back, back to being energetic and back to being really measured. And that’s the platform both those sides have always built their gameplans on. 

“Yes, they have beautiful and flamboyant attacking styles that everyone notices. But what makes them so hard to beat is their defence”. 

Pressed on whether or not he gives either of his own province’s representation in the last four a chance, the Glenswilly man admitted the respective tasks now in front of both the Farney and Oak Leafers looks pretty ominous. 

“Derry and Kerry will be extremely interesting. Kerry are yet to play this Derry side in their rise up to Division 1 and winning Ulster titles. 

“I can see Derry putting up a stronger defensive display than Tyrone did last time out. The question is will they have enough going forward? They have six really good attackers but can they trouble the solid Kerry defence we seen the last day?

“Monaghan, they’ve been incredible. Vinny Corey will be very flexible in his approach as we’ve seen to date. Not to be dismissive of either Derry or Monaghan but on last weekend’s performances of Kerry and Dublin, if they produce anything near that again, it’s very hard to look past them”.

Michael Murphy was speaking ahead of Sunday’s Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor football final between Derry and Monaghan in Armagh.