Murphy: I’ve no plans to join AFL

YOUNG Footballer of the Year Michael Murphy has given Donegal fans the news they wanted to hear – he’s got no interest in quitting Gaelic games to pursue an Aussie Rules career.

The powerful full-forward, 20, who is currently preparing for Saturday’s Cadbury All-Ireland U21 final against Dublin, attended an AFL scouting camp in Meath last month, organised by agent Ricky Nixon, indicating an interest in the oval ball game.

Nixon subsequently travelled to Newbridge in Kildare to watch Murphy in action first hand in the Allianz league.

According to Murphy, however, his flirtation with Nixon is nothing more than common courtesy and the DCU student claimed he only attended the Gormanston camp out of “curiosity”.

Speaking at yesterday’s U21 final press conference, Murphy insisted he intends to see out the remaining three years of his university degree and maintained that his head hasn’t been turned by Nixon’s approaches.

“There’s been nothing, absolutely nothing in my mind that’s changed,” said Murphy.

“I want to stay here and to keep playing football for Donegal, try to get my degree at college.

“Until there’s more interest from them I’m going to keep enjoying my football here.”

That last line – ‘until there’s more interest’ – appears to leave the door open for an impressive offer from an AFL club that may force Murphy into a rethink. But he clarified that he sees no future for himself Down Under.

“I suppose you look at the number of players that are coming back here, coming home to Ireland and I suppose they’re coming back at an age when I’ll hopefully have a degree under my belt.

“As I say, I’m happy. I’m a bit of a home bird. Moving to Dublin has been enough for me, never mind the far side of the world. I’m studying PE and Biology at DCU and I’m enjoying things. There’s a top class set-up there, great facilities there and good people.”

DCU’s Sigerson Cup-winning manager Niall Moyna has been hugely critical of Nixon, whom he claimed treats his Irish targets like “pieces of meat”.

Murphy said: “At the end of the day it divides opinion – you’re either for it or against it. I’m just in the middle.

“I have no real opinion. If young Irish players want to go out there and challenge themselves and if they want to become a professional sports player, then so be it. I can’t see much standing in the way of that. If they want to stay here and play their football here, that’s up to the player too.

“Some people are for it and some aren’t. It’s just one of those things.”

The AFL link is unlikely to go away as long as Murphy continues to impress on the field of play and while Nixon continues to scour the Irish market for more talent following the likes of Tommy Walsh et al.

Right now, all Murphy is concerned with is this weekend’s climax of the All-Ireland U21 championship when they face Dublin at Breffni Park. He’s Donegal’s captain and bidding to lead his team to a first success at the grade since 1987 when current senior manager John Joe Doherty was playing.

“It’s a massive game, any All-Ireland final is a massive game,” he said.

“Every player who runs out on the field on Saturday evening, it will be something that they’ve all dreamt of.

“I wouldn’t feel there’s any big pressure or added pressure on me. With this team, there’s leaders all over the pitch. Every man knows when they go out on the pitch they need to get their individual performances right. If we do that, hopefully it’ll get us there.”