Michael Murphy made his debut on The Sunday Game tonight.
The Donegal captain, who led the county to All-Ireland success in 2012, joined the panel to review the weekend’s football semi-final action.
Alongside Ciaran Whelan, Colm Cooper and presenter Des Cahill, the Glenswilly forward more than held his own in an impressive showing, suggesting that a stint in punditry may lie in waiting when he hangs up the boots.
Even the great forwards have to do their homework before #TheSundayGame #Donegal great, Michael Murphy joins Colm Cooper & Ciaran Whelan for #TYRvMON #DUBVGAL See you shortly! pic.twitter.com/GHR6qPrF79
— Des Cahill (@sportsdes) August 12, 2018
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to learn that Murphy is competent in front of the camera. The man can do just about anything. Clearly prepared, the Letterkenny native spoke honestly, eloquently and fastidiously as the panel got stuck into the Championship semi-finals; Dublin v Galway and Monaghan v Tyrone.
On Tyrone’s tactics, Murphy said: “They really stifled the energy that Monaghan usually bring, from the Karl O’Connells, Darren Hughes, and Ryan McAnespies. And because of that stifling, Monaghan really looked one dimensional.”
And when discussing the role of the modern inside forward, he was equally insightful and illuminating: “One of the attributes you need as an inside forward now, these days, is a bit of patience… the likes of Conor McManus for Monaghan, he would have wanted to get on the ball and have some influence.”
The response on social media has been unanimously positive.
@TheSundayGame Nice to see Michael Murphy on the panel. He is so experience and great an ambassador for the GAA kids to follow.
— Evelyn Kelly (@kellyevy) August 12, 2018
@RTEgaa great job Michael Murphy..good to see 3 class footballers with objective opinions
— declan colton (@muckyducks) August 12, 2018
Michael murphy a great addition to the Sunday game panel, great insight about the game, hopefully more current players are brought on in future #TheSundayGame
— Kane Barrett (@kaneyb_14) August 12, 2018
#michaelmurphy is a class on #thesundaygame
— eugene tierney (@EugeneTierney) August 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/1309billy/status/1028742695995551747
I could listen to Michael Murphy talk all day. That accent… 😍 #SundayGame
— Emma (@EmmaMc7) August 12, 2018
Michael Murphy breath of fresh air on @TheSundayGame . No bullshite, just says it as it is. Can't beat that.
— Rory's Stories (@RorysStories) August 12, 2018
Really enjoyed listening to @murphm95 and @colmcooper13 on the @TheSundayGame
— Kathy McKenna (@McKenzzie6) August 12, 2018
The #SundayGame panel discuss the amount of added time played at the end of @TyroneGAALive v @monaghangaa 3 minutes 26 seconds #rtegaa #rtesport pic.twitter.com/5BHTKahakX
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 12, 2018
Donegal's Michael Murphy says once Dublin put the squeeze on it only means one thing #TheSundayGame pic.twitter.com/dUbAeLivuL
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 12, 2018
