Jim Gavin praises Michael Murphy as he officially steps away from the FRC

Jim Gavin has announced that former Donegal captain Michael Murphy has stepped down from the Football Review Committee (FRC) following his return to inter-county football for the first time since 2022. 

Murphy had been a member of the FRC, which recently brought significant changes to Gaelic football. These changes, introduced at the Special Congress last weekend, have reshaped aspects of the game. 

The Glenswilly native played a pivotal role in the committee’s work and in implementing the new rules. However, like former Monaghan manager Malachy O’Rourke—who is set to lead the Tyrone senior football team in 2025 — Murphy will no longer be involved with the FRC. 

Gavin, who chairs the committee, expressed his admiration for Murphy’s contributions. “We were very fortunate to have him on board,” said the former Dublin manager to GAA.ie. 

“I’d heard from Dublin players who knew Michael from their time together at Dublin City University that he’s an exceptionally bright individual, and that was evident throughout his involvement.” 

Gavin added, “Donegal are fortunate to have him back, and I respect his decision to rejoin the county team. If one of my Dublin players said they couldn’t continue because of similar commitments, I’m not sure how I’d feel.” 

“It’s not a question of integrity. If he wanted to remain involved, we’d have gladly kept him, as both Michael and Malachy have consistently shown they act in the best interests of the game rather than focusing on their own counties.” 

Looking ahead, Gavin noted that the FRC would undergo restructuring. “We were planning to reorganise the committee regardless. The next phase requires us to bring in specialists in athletic development, data analysis, and other key areas, including referee support, to guide us in continuing this important work.”