Pat Spillane has hailed Michael Murphy as ‘The Incredible Hulk’ of Donegal but described him as a ‘quiet, unassuming gentle giant’ off the field. The Glenswilly clubman (36) came out of retirement last year and helped his county to an Ulster SFC, an All-Ireland final, and was nominated for Footballer of the Year. However, after last Sunday’s extra-time defeat to Dublin in Croke Park, Spillane ‘could not imagine’ Murphy returning for Donegal next season. “Michael Murphy has been a legend of the game and has
been one of the greatest players of the modern era,” he told the Indo GAA podcast. “He’s been an inspiration on and off the field. He drives standards, he’s a leader but, unfortunately, time and tide waits for no man and I could not imagine him being back next year.” Last month, the Kerry legend jumped to Murphy’s defence after he was booed by Kingdom ‘supporters’ in Killarney. “It’s when you’re hated by all the opposition supporters, in a funny, perverse, sort of way, that’s
praise and that’s the realisation of how important a player he is,” Spillane added. “Michael, off the field, is such a quiet, unassuming gentle giant that became, when he put on that Donegal jersey and got on the field, The Incredible Hulk. Michael Murphy, when he went on that playing field, was transformed into. a guy who wanted to battle and who was winning at all costs and a guy who played on the edge, and sometimes strayed beyond it. But, by God, that’s what
great players, great sportsplayers and great achievers do. He’s an amazing, amazing man, a great man.” Fellow Indo GAA podcaster, and former Monaghan great Dick Clerkin, said he had the pleasure of playing against Murphy when he made his debut in an All-Ireland qualifier in Ballybofey in 2008. “I remember Michael’s debut in a 2008 qualifier up in Ballybofey; and we beat them that time. But he was as formidable then as he is now,” he said. “Using words like ‘warrior and workhorse’ is unfitting
for him. He is Donegal’s best player. Going back to the League Final (against Kerry), that was Michael Murphy – he played on the edge and that’s what made him great. He would not have achieved, and Donegal would not have achieved, without him bringing that to his game. The way I played the game, I appreciated and respected him for that as much as I respected him for the brilliance he had as a player.” But, like Spillane, Clerkin also feels now is the
time for Murphy to finally hang up the boots, again. “I think now is the time to do it (retire) as we’ll not talk about it in the depths of winter like we will now. He should be remembered for the great player that he is, and was, and I’m sure he’ll still line out for his club Glenswilly and still be winning county titles with them.” Clerkin admitted he ‘didn’t reach the heights’ of either Murphy or Spillane during his long career with Monaghan.
“But, I did have the privilege of playing against some of the greatest who have played the game. If I was to pick the best 15 that I have ever played against, Michael Murphy would certainly be on it,” he concluded.
Michael Murphy, Donegal, Pat Spillane, Dick Clerkin, Glenswilly, Ulster SFC, All-Ireland final, Footballer of the Year, Croke Park, Dublin, Killarney booing