Jim will protect Murphy – Cassidy

Donegal captain Michael Murphy

FORMER Donegal two-time All-star Kevin Cassidy believes that Tir Chonaill manager Jim McGuinness will keep Michael Murphy in reserve for Saturday evening’s Ulster quarter-final with Derry in Ballybofey.

The Glenswilly ace hasn’t featured for the side since damaging knee ligaments during a League defeat to Dublin at Croke Park in March. And with team sheets meaning little in today’s game, whether Murphy will feature or not this weekend will not be known until minutes before throw-in.

Cassidy, who played with Murphy last year before being dropped off the panel by McGuinness, is almost certain that the big attacker won’t be lining out from the start.

“To be honest Michael hasn’t done much so I think Jim will keep him in reserve,” said the Gaoth Dobhair man.

“He’ll probably leave him on the line and bring him on with 20 minutes to go or so, it would really lift the crowd and lift the players in the final stages.”

Cassidy also believes that Murphy will play closer to goal in this year’s Championship compared to last year, and also believes that there will be much more emphasis on attack from McGuinness and his panel this season after continued negative press about their defence en-route to an All-Ireland semi-final last year, where they lost to Dublin.

The full story is in the current issue of Gaelic Life, published on Thursday June 4. Buy your copy now in your local newsagent, or you can purchase the online version – for only 90p – by clicking here