Jim McGuinness: I had Michael Murphy ‘half-tortured’ to make Donegal return

Jim McGuinness has revealed he made serious efforts to talk Michael Murphy into a return to the Donegal fold.

McGuinness was speaking after his first match back in charge of the county's senior footballers on Sunday, where his side ran in a 2-12 to 2-6 victory over Roscommon at Fr Tierney Park in Ballyshannon.

Murphy decided to retire from inter-county football following the 2022 campaign and in recent weeks has reiterated his stance.
“We spoke surely to God,” McGuinness said on Sunday. “I do speak to him all of the time and had him half-tortured there for a while. But whenever Michael made the decision there the first time I said then to people that Michael won’t change his mind. I tried my best to make that happen.”

When McGuinness initially took charge of Donegal’s U-21 side in 2010, he instantly made the Glenswilly forward captain and then, a year later, Murphy, who was then only 20, was promoted to skipper of the seniors. The pair spoke as recently as last week at Ryan McHugh’s wedding.

“He played for 17 years and played at 34 years of age, so half of his life was dedicated to the senior team - not even the underage teams," McGuinness added. "So, unfortunately for us, we have to wish him well for now and let that boat leave the pier. Michael and I, we’ll be friends for life after the journey that we had.

“This is the first day I’ve ever had as a Donegal manager, at 21s or senior, when Michael wasn’t in the dressing room. I actually said to him at Ryan’s wedding on Friday that it was weird not having him starting out on the journey.”

McGuinness very pleased with his Donegal charges in win over Roscommon

Donegal had six points to spare in difficult conditions on the new surface at Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon

Patrick McBrearty was made captain ahead of the 2023 season, although was unfortunate to miss a large chunk of the campaign having picked up a serious hamstring tear. The Kilcar forward is the only remaining player from the 2012 All-Ireland winning team - managed by McGuinness - still involved in the senior set-up.

On Sunday against Roscommon, Michael Langan performed the official duties, with McGuinness saying McBrearty will again be the man to lead the team in 2024. Donegal open their Dr McKenna Cup campaign against Armagh in Ballybofey on Wednesday, January 3, before taking on Tyrone away four days later.
“It’ll probably be Patrick,” McGuinness said of the captaincy. “Michael Langan did a great job today but it will be Patrick. You make those calls in training in many respects and he’s been there before and he’s got an All-Ireland medal with a lot of experience.
“He’s still a young man, only 30 years of age. He has been instrumental in all that’s happened and pushing standards for himself and the group. It’s a simple enough one.”

All in all, early days it may be, but McGuinness and his team had a pep in their step on Sunday, with a direct running game, intense in the tackle and Shaun Patton’s kickouts a serious weapon.

“I always feel like there is good talent in Donegal,” McGuinness added. “It's a matter of getting them together and getting them fit and putting them into a game plan and a structure and that's what we are going to try and do now,” he said. “We know where we are and where we want to try and get to.

“Every day I go to the pitch to train the boys, there’s a buzz. That’s the bottom line. We want to work hard and to do our best for the county and see where that takes us. There are no guarantees in football. That’s the one thing everybody has learned. All we can do is try our best and if we’re in that place then we’ll see.

“From our point of view, they give it a really good shift and we want that honesty going forward in the camp.”