Michael Murphy return such a huge boost for Donegal football - Anthony Molloy

Donegal’s 1992 All-Ireland winning captain Anthony Molloy feels that Michael Murphy’s return to the county panel will add a new dimension to their approach in 2025.   

The Glenswilly man announced his retirement almost two years ago after a 15-year career that produced three All-Star awards, five Anglo Celt Cups, and an All-Ireland title in 2012.  

However, rumours over the past few weeks suggested that Murphy was willing to make an astonishing return to Jim McGuinness’s setup in the hope that the county side could go one step further from their All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Galway last July.  

“It’s a great story and it’s a great day for Donegal GAA,” Molloy told Donegal Live after the announcement of Murphy’s return to the squad.   

“I know there were rumours circulating over the last few weeks and I doubt there are any people in Donegal upset with the news that Michael is back.  

“What an asset he’ll be to the squad. We have a young team there and what better man to look up to as a leader or a role model than Michael Murphy.”  

Despite being a member of Jim Gavin’s Football Review Committee in recent months, the former Donegal captain will now step away from the boardroom and back to the Donegal dressing room.  

And Molloy feels there will be no issue in the Glenswilly man finding his feet back in the county team, citing him as the best club player in this year’s Donegal championship.  

“I think once we saw him playing in the club championship this season, we all knew he was capable of coming back to the county setup,” Molloy admitted. “In my view, he was the best player in the club championship, so, he’s lost absolutely nothing in taking two years out.  

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“I think all you have to do is look at the season Paul Conroy had in winning Footballer of the Year at the age of 35 and playing midfield in an All-Ireland final, maybe Michael saw that and thought there were a few years left in him.  

“He’s still in unbelievable shape and is probably the best footballer the county has ever produced, and that figure being around the place will only help the team.”  

Molloy feels that the county team will have taken real learnings from last season following their All-Ireland semi-final defeat. And while there are no certainties in sport, Murphy's return, aided by the new playing rules, could give Donegal an added dimension on their rivals. 

“We all know how upset we were when we lost to Galway last season in the semi-final, but no doubt the team has learned from that and will get better because of that,” he said.  

“Then you throw Michael in on top of that and who knows. There are no guarentees in sport but it's certainly exciting.  

“I don’t think there’ll be a single full-back line in Ireland that will like to see Michael Murphy back playing. Put him in alongside Oisin Gallen and Patrick McBrearty and you probably have the best forward line in the country, and with these new rules where three men have to stay inside at all times, there’s no better men.  

“I’m not sure what exact role Jim McGuinness will have for Michael, but both men go back a long way and Jim knows what makes Michael tick, and I’m sure they’ve had long conversations about his role in the team going forward and both sides will be happy with what that role is.”  

Drawing parallels to when Molloy left the Donegal setup back in 1991, he knows better than most what it takes to return to a county setup after being away, and he believes Murphy will have no issue sliding back into the setup.  

“I left in 1991 for a year but when I came back, I just fitted right back into the setup, and it’ll be the same with Michael,” Molloy said.   

“The players no doubt want him back. Maybe the two seasons did him the world of good in terms of taking a rest, and no doubt like myself when I came back in 1992, Michael will come back with that hunger to go again.  

“With Michael coming back in, I only hope that history can repeat itself and Donegal can win another All-Ireland like when I returned in 1992.”