McGlynn: The GAA is Michael’s passion - I can’t see that changing too much

The Glenfin man admits Jim McGuinness has lost the county’s greatest-ever footballer this week, after Murphy decided to once again step aside.

He did likewise back in 2022 but was coaxed back into the mix by his 2012 All-Ireland-winning boss.

However, there is no doubt that at 37 years of age, this time it’s definitely goodbye in that sense.

But even though he’s riding off into the sunset right now, McGlynn expects him to pull back on the reins at some stage, and step back up to the plate in some capacity.

If won’t be as a player, of course, but McGlynn expects his former teammate to remain completely immersed in the GAA in one form or another.

McGlynn came into the Donegal senior set-up back in 2006 - just a season shy of Murphy’s promotion.

And he remembers this baby-faced powerhouse, still a teenager and still at school, almost instantly taking everyone’s breath away.

“Just thinking back this week; to pick out one or two favourite memories in particular is quite difficult.

“Bar 2006, my first season in with Donegal, Michael was there every single season right up until the end of my time. And I count myself really lucky in that sense.

“My earliest memory of Michael is 2007, as a youngster, coming into the senior squad. I remember playing Westmeath in Mullingar, being at the bottom end of the pitch.

“I was marking Denis Glennon at the time. I have to say I was pretty nervous going into that game as I hadn’t started too many big championship games before it.

“But I remember Michael nailing a couple of points early enough and just thinking, ‘that’s quite amazing, really’.

“What was he, 17 at the time? Like, we all do remember that goal against Mayo - that’s the obvious standout one.

“But that day in Mullingar, I knew I was looking at something special. And that day is the one that sticks out right away.

“2012 and that goal in the final, it was just so special. Michael was well established at that stage, the captain. But he still had that ability to raise eyebrows.

“That goal set us on our way to an All-Ireland title”.

The 2012 vintage, card schools down the back of the bus, little phone or social media interruptions and some real characters means that plenty of moments away from the action also stick with the former All-Star.

“Off the pitch, as a teammate and a person in general, what struck me was that he literally lived and breathed the GAA.

“Training camps, days before big championship games at breakfast, we’d sit after for well over an hour just talking.

“And that topic was always GAA. It was the club and county calendar, how the GAA could evolve and how things could improve that would help both club and county.

“And that was his passion - Donegal and Glenswilly. Those were the two main focuses. And even in retirement, I can’t see that changing too much.

“So it’s exciting too see what’s next for him in that sense”