Brian Barry
GAA Editor @BrianGBarry
Donegal's Michael Murphy dismisses Meath boss Andy McEntee's claim as 'rubbish'
Last Updated: 09/04/19 5:18pm
Donegal footballer Michael Murphy has dismissed claims by Meath manager Andy McEntee that he influences refereeing decisions.
In the aftermath of the Division Two final, McEntee suggested that Murphy should have been sent off: "He's very influential in a lot of areas.
"We get a guy (Shane Gallagher) who gets two yellow cards, and I think Michael gets booked and gets ticked on maybe three or four occasions. Is that possible? Maybe I'm exaggerating but I doubt it."
When asked about the issue, Murphy was quick to dismiss the Meath manager's comments.
"What do you say to it?" he asked. "It wouldn't be a bad thing to have even though it's rubbish. There's some instances where you commit a foul and you get a yellow card but I'm in no place to influence anything. I go out and play the game as best I can as an individual.
"What else can you do as a player? My job will be to get as fit as possible for the coming championship game against Fermanagh in seven weeks. That's all that will be in my head.
"It's the first time it's come up."
Murphy put in a man of the match display against the Royals in the final at Croke Park, which capped off an ultimately satisfying league campaign for the reigning Ulster champions.
"We got what we wanted in terms of a lot of the younger lads getting a huge amount of experience in seven league games in some big venues around Ireland," he reflected. "Then a lot of the older lads who were suffering from injuries or starting to get back into things, they got back towards the end of the league.
"We played in a lot of venues, away to Cork, Tipperary and Clare. For the younger lads to play those away games and to feel the hostility an away game brings and to come out on top in a few of them - it was crucial for them and to show their ability.
"They're definitely not lacking ability and we're very excited about them up in Donegal with their ability levels. To get them games under the belt with the Donegal jersey on is important.
"It leaves us in the scenario where we can push forward towards the championship in seven weeks' time."
Murphy was among those whose game-time was managed during the spring, as he completed his rehab from a knee injury.
"I had knee surgery in early January and I managed to rehab myself back," he recounted.
"I was just glad to get a number of league games under my belt because it wasn't looking good at the start of January.
"The speed of the National League now has gone through the roof. It's right up on par with what a championship game would be. I had hoped to be back a wee bit earlier in the league but the operation and recuperating from that took a while longer than normal.
"Touch wood, everything's good at the moment and I'll push forward now."
