Mac’s View: Rumours abound but Michael Murphy still has plenty to offer Donegal

The rumour mill here in Donegal over the last week or so is in overdrive with the word that Michael Murphy might have had a change of heart on his intercounty retirement.

The greatest footballer Donegal has ever produced could once again be back in the green and gold for 2025?

It is only a rumour at the minute and it would be wrong, disrespectful even, to get carried away. But what I would unequivocally say is that I still feel Michael has more to give.

When he stepped away in 2022, like the rest of the county, I respected his decision because he’d given so much already to Donegal.

But he was still a relatively young man at 33 then and two years on from that original retirement call, I still believe he has an awful lot to give at that level.

And if our prayers were answered there is no doubt managers and full-back lines up and down the country would quaking in their boots at the thought of facing a Murphy. Even more so, under the new rules, stationed on the edge of the opposition square.

Rules

The hot topic in the GAA world this week are the new playing rules for Gaelic football that was trialled at the weekend in Croke Park.

Let me begin by saying I enjoyed the final game on Saturday night between Ulster and Connaught which was won by Ulster on penalties.

It was pretty obvious from the four games played, the two on Friday night and the two on Saturday night, that Ulster and Connaught had put in some preparation for the games. Leinster, in particular, seemed the least prepared which was disappointing.

The final was fast-flowing and a more open game than what we have become accustomed to over the last few years. It was high scoring with six goals scored in the 2-23 (Ulster) to 4-15 (Connacht) game.

I’m not sure about the four points for a goal rule but all the rest I welcome. However, I suspect there will be some tweaking done before we see them in the cut and thrust of competitive action.

I also like the two points awarded for shots outside the 40 metre arc. After all, the weekend games were just exhibition matches and played in perfect conditions on a good playing sod.

My son Seanie said to me afterwards ‘what would it be like where two junior teams meet with just a referee who might not be the fittest and on his own with no supporting officials’? It was a fair comment.

And there is no doubt implementing the changes at club level will be problematic. But the reality is we have no choice because changes have to be made to make the game more attractive to watch and for players to play.

I found myself on the way home from games in recent years thinking who would want to be a forward in the modern game. Attendances at games at all levels are falling and unless we change, the game will not survive long-term.

McKenna Cup

The proposal to reinstate the McKenna Cup and the other pre-season competitions, like the FBD League in Connacht, the O’Byrne Cup in Leinster and the McGrath Cup in Munster is a good idea.

It was a crazy decision to suspend playing them.

Those competitions, such as the McKenna Cup, were always useful for managers to try out young players and bring them through in a competitive environment.

And they were also useful to reintroduce players who may be out of action for some time through injury or following rehab from one kind of surgery or other.

For the likes of Ulster and Connaught, those competitions are a good source of revenue for their respective provincial councils.

I read recently where John Prenty, the Connacht CEO stated that the loss of FBD League cost Connacht Council €100,000 and that was €100,000 the Connacht Council were going to have to generate from somewhere else or cut back on investment in coaching and games development.

I don’t recall seeing a figure for the loss of the McKenna Cup to Ulster. But I imagine given the attendances at McKenna Cup games over the last decade or so it would be significantly more than €100,000.

Given the proposed changes, it is more important than ever that the McKenna Cup and the other warm-up competitions be brought back.

I suspect the proposal, which has been put forward by Cavan, will be passed without any great difficulty.

It will give managers, coaches, players, officials and supporters the opportunity to try out and become accustomed to the new rules. I’m looking forward to the start of next year already and it is only October.

The other thing I’m looking forward to is how the likes of Jim McGuinness, Kiaran McGeeney, Pauric Joyce, Dessie Farrell, Jack O’Connor and all the other leading coaches and managers adopt them to best suit their own individual county situations. It promises to be fascinating.

McHugh to Westmeath

I want to wish Mark McHugh all the best in his new role as coach with the Westmeath footballers. Mark is part of Dermot McCabe’s new management team there.

I know from speaking to people from Roscommon, that the Kilcar man was highly thought of there from the time he was part of Davy Burke’s management team.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Tom Comack.