Former Donegal captain Michael Murphy has revealed that fear of not being able to maintain his high standards played a huge role in his decision to retire from inter-county football.

The 2012 All-Ireland winning captain called it a day this past November after 15 years in the Tir Chonaill County’s colours.

Speaking on The GAA Social podcast, Murphy discussed about how fear of not having the energy to compete at the highest level was a factor in his decision.

"Energy is a big one, it's massive," he stated when asked about the reasons behind his retirement. "I was very fortunate throughout every one of my years to be able to give absolutely everything. I know not everybody can, they have so many things in life.

"Every year you go back, you're back with the same group of lads, you're driving things on every single night. That is the kind of way I was brought up, it's the way I did it. I don't know if it was the right way of doing it, who knows, but it was the way I was comfortable in doing it.

"There is a certain degree of energy you need to say 'I've played inter-county football'. That is great for some and it is great for many but, for me, it was more than that. I needed to win.

"That is where I decided I just wasn't able to get there again. I feared not being able to get there again, to be honest. I couldn't have sat around being just an inter-county player.

"I probably would have had the ability this year to do that, in terms of just clinging on and doing things, but not doing them to the same levels - and that would not have been any good to anybody, to Donegal, my team-mates or myself. I would have been a disaster to be around."

Tweet

Most Read Stories