ANDY MORAN’S EXCLUSIVE COLUMN
FOR anyone that has struggled to quantify just how important Michael Murphy is to Donegal, they surely got their answer last Sunday.
Only for him, it would be Derry that would be looking forward to an Ulster semi-final against Tyrone tomorrow instead of them.
That’s how much trouble they were in when Declan Bonner beckoned him from the bench in the second half.
The nuts and bolts of it are that he kicked two frees, one that he won himself, and set up a point for Paul Brennan, but it was his presence alone that exerted the greatest influence.
As soon as he came on, two Derry players thundered into him. At this stage of his career, it was never going to unnerve
Murphy in the slightest. Instead, it showed that it was clearly Derry who were spooked.
Suddenly, with the attention he
was receiving, there was more space for his colleagues. Niall O’donnell found himself one on one with an opponent. Ryan Mchugh, quiet up to then, started getting on ball and won a free for Murphy to convert.
Patrick Mcbrearty had been swallowed whole by Chrissy Mckaigue throughout but he found that yard of space to kick the winning point, and what a beautiful score it was.
It’s very easy to pick out a great player by simply noting his execution of the skills of the game to the highest level. It’s a lot more difficult to measure the influence he has on those around him: teammates and opponents alike.
He gives his team-mates confidence for one thing, but the space he creates for them is even more telling.
Yet while Bonner could make a calculated gamble to hold him in reserve against emerging opposition last Sunday, the stakes are higher against Tyrone tomorrow.
Ideally, Murphy needs another week. How is his hamstring now? Has more damage been inflicted by last Sunday’s cameo?
My hunch is that he’ll be held in reserve again and will come off the bench.
It’s an ace in Bonner’s pack, presuming that Donegal are still in the game if and when he springs him. They are playing better quality opposition this time and it’s on neutral ground, remember.
Yes, Tyrone have struggled against Donegal in recent years but, as we saw for much of last Sunday, a Murphy-less Donegal is a much less fearsome prospect.
I suspect that Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher will be imploring their players to hit Donegal with pace in the first quarter because the earlier that Murphy has to come off the bench, the better it is for Tyrone.
It’s a huge opportunity for Logan and Dooher in their first season to lay down a marker for the coming years.
And if Bonner and Stephen Rochford were to snatch a victory with limited access to their talisman, what a boost it would give them for the rest of the Championship.
After a drab first few weeks, this is another game to get the juices flowing.
Thank God for the Ulster Championship.
Tyrone may try to hit Donegal with pace in
the first quarter