Michael Murphy: Jim McGuinness will absolutely love new Gaelic football rules

Murphy is in doubt about how the current Donegal boss will react to them.

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Two seasons have passed since Michael Murphy made the decision to leave the bubble. As a player he did it all, as a pundit and member of the Football Review Committee (FRC), he is only getting started.

The 2012 All-Ireland winner is one of 12 on the Jim Gavin-led body. Murphy has been busy between that and his punditry work across 2024. 

For 16 years, his primary concern was Donegal. Now he is enjoying being able to mix more with the wider GAA world.

“I think I've got to find out whether it is in our interprovincial team, whether it is playing with college or the Irish team, you come to realise that most players and managers around the country are all trying to get the same thing done, do the same thing as much as they can,” he said, speaking at a media briefing in Croke Park.

“That was really eye-opening for me through all the journeys that I have been on in college or vice versa. Even now, with the work that I have been doing, you meet Paddy Andrews or Philly McMahon, you are thinking they are the absolute world’s worst. 

"But often, they are the exact same people trying to get the same things done. This is absolutely no different. They are GAA people, they are good men. They are good people to the core.

“Yes, you have that memory of Eamonn Fitzmaurice and that All-Ireland here in 2014. But you can't hold that against him, they are very good people. From that point of view, I've learned a lot from them. They're a hell of a lot more experienced in the game and the world than I am.” 

Already have met 35 times, 20 online and 15 in-person. There has been a host of one-to-one stakeholder meetings as well with the various provincial councils, GPA and Senior Referee’s Group. Leading the way is former Dublin manager Jim Gavin. 

For Murphy, that has offered an insight into how the six-time All-Ireland winners manages a setup.

“That was an eye-opening piece for me, and I think us all too,” he said.

“I think it just underlines how that huge success was done. Having somebody, a figurehead like that at the top. Just that continuous drive, consistency, detail, planning and the liberty of things was eye-opening. It still is to this day.” 

Should the seven core enhancements pass at Special Congress on November 30, Current managers will now have to quickly adapt for the 2024 National League and Championship. 

Murphy’s former manager Jim McGuinness has not been in contact about their work so far, but he is in doubt about how the current Donegal boss will react to them.

“I would say he will absolutely love it,” said Murphy.

“He will absolutely love it. I think he will love it when he has to figure it out and to try coach the team. It was very interesting to see just how good they were set up attacking-wise this year. He thought it would be good for the first year with them.” 

It will be a challenge. For the sport and for their own sake, coaches are going to have to embrace it.

“From a coaching point of view, what can I do with three up? What can we do with the long kick-out?

“What can we do? How can we press against it? You would have to say for any innovative, energetic coaches and players around, we are looking forward to getting on with it.”