Murphy to return to Donegal football squad

Michael Murphy announced his retirement from inter-county duty in 2022

Michael Murphy has ended has inter-county GAA retirement by agreeing to make a return to the Donegal squad.

There has been speculation in recent weeks that the five-time All-Star was set to rejoin the county squad and after BBC Sport NI reported on Wednesday that the Glenswilly man has been added to Jim McGuinness' training panel, this was later confirmed by Donegal GAA.

"CLG Dhún na nGall are happy to confirm the return of All-Ireland winning captain Michael Murphy to the Donegal squad for the 2025 season," said the county's statement.

"We look forward to the season ahead and the possible addition of other players to our 2025 squad as well."

Murphy, who is now 35, announced his retirement from inter-county duty in November 2022.

McGuinness, who managed Donegal to their 2012 Sam Maguire Cup triumph when Murphy skippered the side, was unable to convince him to return for this year's campaign as the Tir Conaill men reached the All-Ireland semi-finals.

But amid his ongoing excellence at club level for Glenswilly and despite his insistence that his inter-county career was over, Murphy has continued to be linked with a return to Donegal duty.

Murphy has undertaken GAA media work over the last two seasons which has included TV punditry duty for BBC Sport Northern Ireland.

In recent months, he has also been part of the Football Review Committee led by Jim Gavin, which has come up with a series of proposed new football playing rules which will be voted on at a Special Congress on 30 November.

These rules include restrictions in the amount of players allowed in both halves which could give Murphy a little more space in attack than he was previously used to at inter-county level.

Jim McGuinness will be relishing the prospect of Michael Murphy linking up in the Donegal attack with All-Star Oisin Gallen

'Murphy can ease burden on Gallen' - analysis

By John Haughey

Oisin Gallen's excellence in Donegal's attack this year earned him an All-Star and Donegal boss McGuinness will be excited at the prospect of the Sean MacCumhaills man linking up with Murphy in the Tir Conaill forward line.

In terms of their scoring at championship level this year, Donegal relied heavily on the likes of Peadar Mogan and Caolan McGonagle bombing forward with Gallen shouldering much of the attacking burden when it came to contributing to their tally.

McGuinness will hope Murphy's return takes some of the attacking load off Gallen in addition to Sean MacCumhaills man being able to pick the brain of the five-time All-Star.

In the 2022 season, Murphy did appear to be showing the ravages of his 15-year inter-county campaign but his performances for Glenswilly over the past seasons hinted that he still was capable of doing a job for Donegal and there will be much anticipation in the county following Wednesday's news.