MICHAEL MURPHY will not feature for Ulster University, Jordanstown in the Sigerson Cup.
The Donegal captain has opted to put his full focus on getting himself right for Donegal’s Allianz League and Ulster Championship campaigns.
Picture caption: Michael Murphy with Dainelle McCauley Higgins, Laura O’Brien, Rachel Monaghan, and Ruth McCrudden at the official announcement of Affidea’s sponsorship deal with Donegal GAA. Picture by Clive Wasson
Murphy had registered for a Masters in Psychology at the Jordanstown campus, but opted not to pursue it.
Murphy has his own business, Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure, in Letterkenny and is keen to be at full tilt for Donegal’s 2017 campaign.
[adrotate group=”59″]UUJ’s Sigerson team is managed by Martin McHugh while Ryan and Eoin McHugh are on the squad, but Murphy will not now be spearheading the attack.
After a long season with county and club, Murphy is resting up in a bid to lead Donegal into 2017.
“We’re obviously delighted that we’ll have Michael based full-time in Donegal,” said the Donegal manager, Rory Gallagher.
“It’s obviously better than if he was spending a couple of days a week in Belfast.
“Michael had an interest in the course, but when he weighed it up against the commitments to his shop and to ourselves, he decided not to pursue it.”
In May, Murphy sustained an ankle injury during Glenswilly’s Donegal SFC game at Ardara, but lined out for Donegal during the summer months.
A knee injury, picked up in an All-County League game against St Michael’s, looked to have had long-term ramifications for the full-forward, but he returned to inspire Glenswilly to a third Donegal SFC title.
With Murphy and Neil Gallagher pulling the strings, Glenswilly overcame Kilcar 1-10 to 0-12 in the final, Murphy hitting 1-5 for the victors.
[adrotate group=”81″]It has been a busy period for Murphy, who played a key role in Glenswilly’s survival in Division One of the League, as well as the Ulster Club quarter-final defeat by Kilcoo.
Two weeks ago, Murphy underwent a routine scan on his knee at the Affidea clinic in Letterkenny, which has shown no serious damage and given
Donegal GAA has launched a three-year partnership with Affidea, meaning the county’s players now have access to top-class MRI, ultrasound and X-ray facilities in Donegal, rather than having to travel to Sligo or Dublin.
Rory Gallagher said: “We’re delighted with the sponsorship and we’re very grateful to Affidea.
“People sometimes don’t understand the difficulties in going away to Dublin for a scan so this obviously helps us from a purely logistical point of view and the service is first class too. We’re looking forward to working with Affidea.”
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