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Anthony Molloy urges young Donegal players to step up

TILDA Ambassadors and former Donegal footballers Anthony Molloy and Maria Devenney picured at the How to Age Well: GAA and TILDA Partnership launch at Croke Park in Dublin. The partnership will see live talks take place across Ireland in Mayo, Cork, Donegal, Longford and Limerick.

TILDA Ambassadors and former Donegal footballers Anthony Molloy and Maria Devenney picured at the How to Age Well: GAA and TILDA Partnership launch at Croke Park in Dublin. The partnership will see live talks take place across Ireland in Mayo, Cork, Donegal, Longford and Limerick.

By John Harrington

Former All-Ireland winning Donegal manager, Anthony Molloy, believes the current team will ‘struggle’ to win promotion from Division Two of the Allianz Football League without Michael Murphy in the team.

Murphy is currently rehabilitating from knee surgery but is expected to return to the side before the conclusion of the League.

And Molloy is adamant his comeback can’t come too soon because his ability and leadership is being sorely missed by a young team that were beaten in their most recent match by Tipperary.

“We all know at this stage that a team without Michael Murphy is only half dressed,” said Molloy yesterday at the launch of the ‘How to Age Well’ seminars, a joint initiative between the GAA and TILDA.

“He’s a massive influence and leader and the other lads are missing too and we might have some new Gaoth Dobhair lads to have a look at as well. They had a good club campaign and Paddy McBrearty is huge loss we are lacking scoring power inside.

“I think we can come up to Division one, it’s a place we want to be but it will be a struggle.

“I’d be a bit disappointed with our last game against Tipperary. If we had secured two points down there we would have no problem going back to Division one but I think that result is going to leave it a bit harder for us now.

“It’s going to be a dog fight you have three teams on four points, three teams on three points and a two and a one point so the Fermanagh match is a big game for us.

“I know we are getting a few lads back but it’s a bit of a worry going down to Tipperary, we have a young side but Tipp would have been missing a few players also and we didn't get a result.

“I was in Ballybofey against Meath and I think we stole that match and we struggled against Clare also so we mightn’t be going all that well we need a good result and we need some boys back as well.”

Donegal were Ulster champions in 2018 and, as such, were most people’s favourite to top Division Two of the League this year.

Donegal footballer, Michael Murphy, is currently rehabbing from knee surgery. 

Donegal footballer, Michael Murphy, is currently rehabbing from knee surgery. 

But Molloy believes it might be unwise to read too much into their provincial success last year.

“People say Donegal had a good year last year but at the end of the day I still think we got the soft road through the Ulster championship,” he said.

“We beat Fermanagh handy enough in the Ulster Final but if Monaghan were there I don't know how that result would have went for us.

“We had Tyrone in our own back yard and I don't think we performed that day at all it was a good test and we didn't come out of it.

“I know we are team building and there are some very good lads coming but I think its time these lads were stepping up to the plate, the likes of Jason McGee, young (Michael) Langan and more that won’t come to my mind but its time they started stepping up, they are coming 20 or 21 years of age.”

Molloy was asked how exactly he would define ‘stepping up’?

“Taking the game by the scruff of the neck and decision making and all that there,” he replied. “Taking the grip of a game maybe…I don't see much leadership there, that’s a worry I have when Michael Murphy is not around.

“A few more of them older players like Neil McGee are not around I didn't see any of the young lads stepping up and showing leadership.

“I think, also, sometimes we might have too many of the one type of player. You take the likes of Dublin, I know Dublin is unreal, I don't know who is going to beat them, going for this five-in-a-row, I just don't know, probably Kerry is the closest to them on a possible day, maybe Tyrone.

“But Dublin is going to be very hard to stop. Looking at our set of players and looking at the Dublin set of players, they're much physically bigger and stronger I think.

“We have a bit of bulking up to do, these lads of ours, as well.”