Michael Murphy has confirmed he won’t be applying for the current vacant Donegal manager’s job.
The closing date for applications for senior manager closes on 21 July.
But the Glenswilly man said he prefers to learn a bit more about the management game.
“I’ll do everything in my power to learn as much about Gaelic and to do the right thing stepping-stone wise, to see whether there is an opportunity in the future. There’s not a chance, I wouldn’t be the right person for the job, the right candidate.
“I would need to go and figure things out and get more experience around that level. I’ve been a player in and around that level but that doesn’t mean all of a sudden you become a good manager. Other than the Sigerson Cup with the local college team and club minors in recent years, that’s my experience of coaching and management so far. I need to go away, give that time and qualify myself and get the necessary experience there – good, bad and indifferent.
“To see, do you enjoy it? Am I any good at it? Does timing allow in the future?
“But I do believe that if someone really, really wants the role there is still enough there for them to take it”
“When I was in my twenties I was always saying to myself that I’d love to give it a crack.”
Speaking at a media event ahead of Sunday’s Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland minor football final between Derry and Monaghan, the Glenswilly clubman spoke to RTE about his passion for the game.
“I love Gaelic football, I just love the game and no mater where I am I don’t think that love will ever stop. I love the place where I’m from so combining the two was great”.
Murphy was there watching on as Donegal faced Down and Tyrone in this year’s championship. Yes, there were a few pangs of regret, but not enough to make him reconsider the decision made last autumn.
“You would love to be out there but that is tempered by the fact that I know what’s involved to get you there. When I wasn’t doing that in October, November, December, January, February, March and April, then I knew as I much as I would love to throw yourself out there and do that, I then thought about how lucky I was to do it for all those years.
“Anybody from Donegal would love to be out there playing but to know what goes into it, and I was lucky to have put in what was needed, but I knew this year I wasn’t able to do it. It couldn’t be done.”
For full story see https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2023/0705/1392942-murphy-keen-to-get-qualified-before-any-donegal-posting/