Former Donegal All-Ireland winning captain Michael Murphy has said that returning to the fold was never an option despite the fanfare surrounding Jim McGuinness' reappointment.
In 2012, McGuinness installed the Glenswilly man as captain as the Tir Chonaill County captured Sam Maguire for a second time, and although the waters were tested, Murphy said he was never going to reverse the decision he made after the 2022 season to step away from the inter-county scene.
"We chat a lot, we always do still chat a lot. We chat every couple of weeks and since he came back in that hasn't stopped," Murphy said at the GAAGO 2024 season launch at Croke Park.
"For me, it hasn't changed since day one when I made the call to retire. That was it, I was out. Just because Jim has come back, as much as there's a loyalty there from me to him, and from me to Donegal, it still doesn't change in terms of the playing point of view.
"Definitely it was never a case of ever going back and that's still the case now."
"Definitely it was never a case of ever going back and that's still the case now. I'll try to give to Donegal in another way. I'm heavily involved with my own club and I'll get back involved with Donegal at underage now and give back in that way. No playing for me, it's job done 100%."
Murphy's fledgling coaching career took a step forward last month as he guided Glenswilly to the U-18 Donegal A title, and his GAA life is constantly evolving given his punditry duties with GAAGO also.
Another relatively new branch is watching the senior team as a fan – something he did last season for the first time since 2006.
It was not the most enjoyable time to do so with a series of issues on and off the pitch creating a downtrodden atmosphere within the county.
Paddy Carr, who recently was appointed to lead Louth club St Kevin’s, had started the season as manager before standing down after meeting senior players towards the end of the league campaign.
Head coach Aidan O’Rourke stepped into the position on an interim basis and although relegation was all but confirmed by the time he took over, he did steady the ship in the All-Ireland series before stepping away.
That opened the door for McGuinness’ second spell and Murphy is confident that it is an appointment that will not only lift the senior team, but the county as a whole.
"The excitement levels in Donegal over the last couple of months have been really good. There's been a lot made of it and we've seen how last year was definitely a down year for the team but also a down year for the county.
"There were a lot of stories going on and a lot of negativity going around. In general, anyone you were meeting around the street was just down. It was a sad place to be around – Donegal - for the past year.
"Credit to Jim, he has put everything on the line. He's come in, he's grabbed it, he's taken it and the excitement levels are back.
"You know things are going to be done well and done right and the lads who are there will have the best opportunity now to push forward.
"I think it will bring excitement not just to Donegal, but to the game too. Knowing the man Jim is, he's an innovator. He won't be crying about rule changes, he'll be looking to try to find a way to work within the rules and I just think it's great for the GAA in general."
McGuinness was the not the only surprising appointment in the off-season with Mickey Harte heading to former rivals Derry to succeed interim manager Ciaran Meenagh.
Murphy came up against Harte’s Tyrone team in some real heavyweight clashes down through the years and he expects the Oakleaf County to be even stronger in 2024.
"Derry are probably the team outside of Dublin and Kerry who will feel confident that they're on the periphery. They will be feeling a bit hurt after that semi-final against Kerry last year so I think Derry are that team that are nearly there.
"You have Mickey Harte going in there now and the fireworks that that will bring in the first game in Ulster when Donegal play Derry. The Mayos, Galways, Armaghs, Monaghans, that kind of middle tier, has to come up with some answers that will get them into that top bracket."
