Michael Murphy will sit out of Saturday afternoon's All-Ireland Round 4 qualifier game with Galway, according to former Donegal forward Brendan Devenney.
Talking on UTV’s Friday Night Sport the former International Rules player said that the current Donegal captain would definitely not be playing following continued concern over his knee injury.
“Murphy’s out, 100 per cent,” said Devenney. “They’re keeping him back for the next game.”
Murphy appeared sluggish in the Ulster final, with just 19 involvements in the game, including his contributions from frees, while he again failed to score from play. The big full forward was heavily strapped with a skin coloured bandage around his right knee.
Team manager Rory Gallagher acknowledged mid-week that both his captain and fellow forward Paddy McBrearty played through injuries in the provincial decider defeat to Monaghan but said he had again cleared both players to feature on Saturday. The duo were then named to start in the Donegal team released on Friday.
Also included in that selection was Neil Gallagher, appearing to quell speculation within the county that the midfielder had departed the squad. Although centre-back Karl Lacey does miss out through injury.
DONEGAL: Paul Durcan; Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Eamon McGee; Ryan McHugh, Anthony Thompson, Frank McGlynn; Neil Gallagher, Martin McElhinney; Christy Toye, Odhrán Mac Niallais, Mark McHugh; Paddy McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Colm McFadden.
