Donegal captain Michael Murphy has said that Donegal’s hands were tied last season during the Dr McKenna cup campaign and National Football League campaigns.
Michael Murphy
Jim McGuinness came in for severe criticism last year for seemingly taking both competitions lightly by fielding under strength sides in both competitions.
However Murphy has hit back saying McGuinness had no other choice due to a combination of injuries to key players and the fact that two hard seasons had taken there toll on a number of players within the squad.
Murphy speaking to the Irish Independent said, “In the last couple of years our hands were tied in relation to both the McKenna cup and National League campaigns.
“We weren’t in a position to field our strongest teams because some of our key players were returning from surgeries, while others needed to recharge their batteries after the excursions from the previous seasons.
“I think some of the criticism we got from certain quarters was unfair.
“This season will be different, the break has afforded players the opportunity to get back in to training early and get in shape for the season ahead.
“As a result we’ll hopefully have those players for the rest of the McKenna and moving into the league then we’ll be able to hit the ground running.
“It’s a tough group we have in the league, but there good competitive matches that will stand to us come the championship.
Murphy scored a stunning individual goal and looks to have carried his excellent club form with Glenswilly into 2014 and that bodes well for Donegal as they look to reach the heights of 2012 again.
“Look we’ve spoken about it at length last season was a disappointment, we all know that, but as I’ve said injuries to key players and the effects of the two seasons before jaded us.
“It will be a different Donegal this year and we’ll be better prepared and in better shape for the big tests ahead and we’re looking forward to it.