Hugh McFadden: 'For years, Michael Murphy was on the wrong end of a lot of physical marking'

There has been plenty of discussion about the decision not to send off Michael Murphy for striking Dylan Casey in the league final 

MASTER AND COMMANDER: Michael Murphy and Jim McGuinness shake hands after the Division 1 final win. Pic: Tom Maher/Inpho

Donegal giant Hugh McFadden knows what is coming. Their triumph on Sunday was awesome and his performances across the league have been outstanding, particularly given he played every minute. But he knows talk will soon turn to Murphy.

The midfielder is at the Ulster football championship launch. Last weekend, Donegal destroyed Kerry to secure their second ever Division 1 League title and first since 2007. They did so by dominating kickouts, which he was duly asked about.

However, there has been plenty of discussion about the decision not to send off Michael Murphy for striking Dylan Casey in the first half. It was always going to come up. McFadden opted for a similar response to that of his manager Jim McGuinness last Sunday and focused on the physical combat in the game currently.

“I was asked a question there about how the box kickout has affected the game and the changes to kickouts, around the middle of the field now is so attritional.

“The increase in breaking ball compared to the old game has gone through the roof too. There's so many aggressive, fit, strong, athletic, fast players running around breaking ball. The collisions now are just rising all the time.

“You're talking about referees, we would have probably seen it in Donegal for years that Michael was on the wrong end of a lot of physical marking, a lot of aggressive marking.

Murphy grabs Donegal's second green flag against Kerry. Pic: Tom Maher/Inpho

“We would have argued that he wasn’t getting enough frees at times.” Now, Casey was struck in the act of breaking ball and it is clear Murphy should have walked. At the same time, the plight of the big man and how they were expected to withstand more punishment than others was a genuine conversation around a certain type of players such as Murphy, Aidan O’Shea or Kieran Donaghy.

That lawlessness seems to have extended to restarts now. Teams are spending significant time drilling blocks and screens and pure piggery.

“The game is definitely leading now to a lot of collisions around the ball and kickouts and there are teams that are deliberately blocking a lot before people are taking to the air and referees pick and choose at times,” says McFadden.

“We are giving blocks in certain parts of the field but we're not giving them for kickouts. I think that's something we probably need to look at too.” As for Murphy, beyond that controversial incident, he was immense. The 36-year-old finished with 1-5 including two two-point frees. McFadden can only hope that his current form continues and that referees aren’t on high alert to his tackling technique after last Sunday’s controversy.

“I can't put a short summary together now to eulogise his strengths and his dedication to the Donegal jersey but just the top form and the credit he deserves for being in the physical capabilities, giving his time out of the game, and he is playing fantastic football and it is exciting for all of us so fingers crossed that it lasts for the summer.”