It says much about the influence of Michael Murphy that, at 33 and 16 seasons deep in his Donegal career, news of his retirement this week came as a shock to just about everybody.
True, he hasn’t had it all his own way over the past couple of seasons but there was little doubt that he still had plenty to offer for another couple of seasons anyway and, despite his advancing years, is the player that new manager Paddy Carr could least afford to lose.
It was moot as to whether Carr had a rebuilding project to embark on as he took over from Declan Bonner, but Murphy leaves such a gaping hole that he may be forced into one now.
