McDaid coy on extent of Murphy involvement

Glenswilly manager Gary McDaid is coy on whether or not Michael Murphy will feature in Sunday’s preliminary quarter-final with Four Masters.

The three-time All Star picked up an injury during the intercounty season and hasn’t featured for Glenswilly so far in the Club Championship.

A knock-out game brings a different type of pressure but McDaid says Murphy will have an involvement whether he plays or not.

“We’re always hopeful and we’re just going on a week-to-week basis and that’s the same with all our players.

“Unfortunately we haven’t had a full team out any day and some days have been a lot worse than others.

“We’re carrying a few knocks and niggles again this week and some of them are not going to make it and hopefully some of them will.

“It’s tough the week-on-week and everyone was delighted to get the break after Round 3 but you’re thrown back into it straight away now.

“But listen, I hope we’re worrying next week about getting men ready for a third week in-a-row.

McDaid added: “Michael is always there at training every night and his insight is always powerful.

“He’s still invaluable. Obviously we would have loved to have had him on the pitch for the last four games.

“That wasn’t to be the way but he brings a lot of other stuff to the table even when he’s not playing. The players are lucky to have someone there who has done it all and led from the front.”

Glenswilly started the campaign well with a win over Naomh Conaill and a draw with Sean MacCumhaills.

A narrow defeat to Dungloe was disappointing but a much better display that last Sunday when they were outclassed by Kilcar on a scoreline of 4-20 to 1-10.

McDaid said: “It was a strange day.

“We were against the strong breeze in the first half and we were saying among ourselves that we would be happy enough to keep it to single digits at half-time.

“We did and we kept it to nine, but Kilcar started the second half very strongly and they controlled the game which is very hard nowadays.

“They thoroughly deserved their win on the day and were the better team.

“We never got our chance in the second half because they were superior all over the pitch.

“They opened up and showed that Kilcar of old which we haven’t seen in the last three or four years. Good luck to whoever gets them down the line because they are frightening prospect.”

Four Masters defeated St Naul’s and Glenfin and drew with Dungloe, while they lost against Termon at the Burn Road.

McDaid views this match as a huge challenge for his side.

“It’s going to be another tough game.

“We have had tough matches the whole way throughout the championship and it doesn’t get any easier with Four Masters.

“There’s a good rivalry there between the two clubs at underage and that came to the fore at senior level this year in the league.

“They are the form team in Donegal in terms of what they are doing at underage and they are starting to reap the benefits at senior level.

“They are probably the youngest team in the championship and you can see that with their enthusiasm and lack of fear.

“You have Barry Dunnion as manager as well and he cut his teeth with Glenties and Kilcoo which is some schooling for him.

“He will have brought all he has learned back to Donegal Town, so it’s going to be really tough for us.”