By Michael McMullan

NOT everyone captains an inter-county senior team in their early 20s. Not every 23-year-old lifts Sam. Not everyone makes an inter-county return at 35. Not everyone is Michael Murphy.

The Glenwsilly man came on at half-time to help engineer Donegal’s victory over Derry on Sunday.

He kicked a point, won vital balls and made three goal chances, the third one of which turned the game with Shane O’Donnell applying the finish.

Jim McGuinnes knows him better than most and is fully aware of Murphy’s value. Even now.

Two fist passes made goal chances for Jamie Brennan. Eoin McEvoy forced him to kick the first one under pressure. Odhrán Lynch saved the second one.

O’Donnell hammered home the third. Donegal’s first goal of the season. A first since their win over Louth last summer in Croke Park.

“He’s done that all of his career,” McGuinness replied to Gaelic Life’s query of Murphy’s impact. Three routine fist passes and three goal chances.

“He knows when the moment comes for himself as well. The key thing in all those moments you’re speaking about was simplicity.

“It was absolute simplicity, knowing when to go with the ball, knowing when to compromise a defender and then a very simple pass.”

Murphy kicked three points on his return against Armagh but McGuiness didn’t even ask him to travel to Galway. A cotton wool job. Ballyshannon would be another step out over the whitewash and he turned the game.

“All of those opportunities were created and it was calm and it was cool and it was really good decision making. That’s what you’re looking for from Michael, that’s experience.”

The Donegal boss also commented on his former skipper’s physical conditioning and the energy he brought to the game, along with that of Eoin McHugh, Caolan McColgan, Odhrán McFadden-Ferry and Odhrán Doherty.

“I didn’t feel we were gone at any stage,” he said of a game they trailed for 44 minutes until O’Donnell’s goal changed the lie of the land.

“I don’t get that feeling with them and that was the same feeling we had last year.

“We were in very difficult situations last year at times as well in the league and in the championship. We were four points down twice in the Ulster final when it mattered and they didn’t push the panic button.”