KEVIN CASSIDY knows Michael Murphy is a game-changer in Donegal’s quest for glory.
Jim McGuinness returned as boss ahead of the 2024 campaign and led the county back to an Ulster title before an All-Ireland semi-final loss to Galway last summer.
That was done without the services of Murphy who retired from inter-county football in November 2022 — but his old boss managed to coax him back for this year.
The Glenswilly man turns 36 next month but has played a starring role as they retained their Ulster crown and are back in the last four on Sunday against Meath.
Fellow Donegal legend Cassidy knew their talisman would have a massive impact as he went from retired hero to nailed-on starter. He said: “I’m not surprised at how good he’s been, but I’m surprised that we’ve used him as much as we have.
“I thought it would be a brilliant boost, but the lad’s just that good that he has to start.
“When I heard that he was coming back, obviously, we knew he was working on his own before it was even announced to get himself back into that kind of shape.
“We all know Michael in terms of he’s not going to step over the line unless he’s really able to give Donegal every single ounce of energy in his body.
“So for me, I thought this was the perfect mixture, that you would bring Michael off the bench ten minutes into the second half.
“The whole stadium would erupt and he would do what he does for Donegal.
“The problem with that, he was just so good, we couldn’t leave him off — so now we have a situation where he’s a guaranteed starter. I think he’s become so vital to Donegal again this time around that we can’t leave him on the bench now anymore.
“So when I heard what was coming, I thought it was a perfect mix. I thought it was very intelligent of Jim and Michael to get this together.”
And Cassidy believes this campaign has a 2012 vibe to it.
Donegal won an Ulster title in McGuinness’ very first year in charge in 2011 but fell in an ugly All-Ireland semi-final loss to Dublin.
They were slated for their extremely defensive approach in that 0-8 to 0-6 defeat, but returned a year later with a more counter- attacking game.
The new rules have revolutionised football, and Donegal have lit up the Championship as much as anyone with their high-speed running game and ability to score.
They are slight favourites to go all the way, and Cassidy can feel the deja vu from 13 years ago.
He said: “Back at home, it feels like that too. Jim takes a project and he breaks everything apart and builds it block by block.
“In 2011, that’s when he stripped it back and started to build.
“We failed in 2011, but he’s seen the differences in what needs to happen to get to the top table.
“If you look at the game against Galway last year, if we had Michael Murphy, would we have got over the line? Jim’s obviously identified that.
“He’s brought Michael back in. I think they’re playing a better mixture this year.
“We were just running the ball constantly last year. There’s a mixture this year.
“I think for any team to win the All-Ireland, especially in Croke Park, you need to vary your game. You have to be able to kick it.
“We have to get Meath out of the way first, we’ll deal with that then.”
l AIB, proud sponsors of club and county, have been joined by Kevin Cassidy (Donegal), Trevor Giles (Meath), Stephen O’Neill (Tyrone) and Colm Cooper (Kerry) ahead of the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-finals, while John Galvin (Limerick) and Johnny Doyle (Kildare) join AIB ahead of this Saturday’s Tailteann Cup final. 2025 marks AIB’s tenth year as a sponsor of the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship and fourth year as a sponsor of the Tailteann Cup.
