By John Harrington

Donegal legend, Michael Murphy, has had no second-thoughts about calling time on his inter-county career at the age of 33 after 16 seasons.

He still looked like one of the best footballers in the country this year, but he was very definite in his own mind he’d played his last match for Donegal when they were beaten in the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers by Armagh last June.

“I knew coming off the pitch that day that the decision was made,” said Murphy. “I'm the sort of person who's all in or all out.

“I think for Donegal's sake and to get to where they need to get to, then they need the all of everybody. I just knew myself this year that I would be unable to give that all anymore.”

Murphy was speaking today at the announcement of GAAGO’s exclusive 2023 GAA Championship broadcast schedule, presentation team and pricing in Croke Park.

Murphy will be a football analyst for GAAGO next year and admits it will be strange watching and analysing from the sideline instead of being in the thick of the action himself.

“Yeah, it will I suppose,” he says. “I don't really know the feeling yet. I'm sure when the games start back it might be that wee bit different. It's just great to get the opportunity here and still stay involved in football and get to the games and get to watch them and keep the eye in.

“When you speak to any former player they'll tell you the first year can be a bit strange and different when you're so used to it. For myself it's been for the last 15, 16 years. But it comes to every player, it's part of life for footballers and hurlers, it's inevitably going to come.

“I knew it was going to come and my plan is to keep busy. I've my work at home, I'll do a bit for GAAGO, and I'll still be involved with my club in Glenswilly playing there and coaching the minor team.

“When you're with the county team with the demands involved it's difficult to give as much as you want to your club. Don't get me wrong, you give your all when you're there, but maybe I'll be able to give it a bit more frequently now.

“I probably knew this was coming the last couple of years and I started to get involved a bit more with the club again and working with the minor team. Hopefully I'll be keeping going during this transition period.”

You’d imagine Murphy’s retirement will leave a huge hole in the Donegal team that will be difficult to fill, but he’s confident they have the quality and attitude to compete in 2023.

“In the inter-county game everyone is striving for the number of wee prizes that are available, be that provincial or All-Ireland,” he says.

“Inevitably, teams are going to come up short. The group that's there is maturing well. There is young talent always there and available to us.

“In the last number of years we have maybe failed to deliver on that talent the way we would have liked to have done. But it definitely wasn't for the want of trying and I know that with the group that's there it won't be for the want of trying.

“I'll be there supporting them from the sideline throughout it all like I did before I was a player and like I'll do now again.”

Murphy believes the 2023 Gaelic football season will be a fascinating one because no one county is way out in front and there are a number of teams with the quality to challenge for silverware.

“I think in the last number of years have proven that,” he says. “Dublin set such a benchmark for Gaelic football in general. Teams have now responded.

“And I suppose that teams couldn't respond overnight because of the level that Dublin had gotten to. It's taken the likes of Kerry a number of years to build a team but they've built it.

“Mayo are still there building and then you've got your Tyrones, your Derrys, the chasing pack that are coming and building towards it.

“Definitely without a doubt you'll have really competitive Leagues and the new style championship will be interesting because it'll be packed with more games.

“Yeah, definitely, the pack is thickening but you'd be expecting a huge kick from Dublin again next year.”