The two key figures as Donegal and Meath set to show down

Extra.ie​

11-07-2025

At some point on Sunday afternoon at Croke Park, between playing bumper cars around the middle of the field and crashing and banging and bouncing off each other around that middle third, it would be understandable if Michael Murphy and Bryan Menton exchanged a knowing glance with each other.
The boys are back in town. It's all a bit mad and unlikely how two players — both in their 30s — are back on such familiar stomping ground considering they both retired.
Considering both were gone from the game for two years. Both after a decade and more of inter-county service. For so many seasons, Murphy was the figurehead for a county. Team captain and talisman. Michael Murphy of Donegal walks the pitch before the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final match between Monaghan and Donegal at Croke Park in Dublin. Pic: Piaras í' Mídheach/Sportsfile
He saw good days and bad. Menton was cut from a similar cloth, a physical, athletic ball-winner and fielder who was the touchstone for a county's ambitions.
The DonaghmoreAshbourne player gave 12 years to the cause before slipping into a low-key retirement when Meath's summer ended in 2022 with a round-one qualifier defeat to Clare. That 1-11 to 1-9 result in Cusack Park in Ennis was enough to prompt the end of Andy McEntee's time in charge. In the car travelling home, Menton knew that was him done. It's why the tears flowed.
THAT was a Saturday evening at the start of June. The following weekend, Armagh did a job on Donegal in round two. The 3-17 to 0-16 wasn't exactly how Michael Murphy envisaged his football career ending. Paul Conroy of Galway and Bryan Menton of Meath after the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final match between Meath and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
That day he kicked six of those 16 points, five from placed balls and a signature score from play followed by a clenched fist. In the dressing room, he knew as well that was it. So he lingered and lingered until he was the last one left, a part of him wanting to prolong the inevitable sadness that comes with walking out of a Donegal dressing room for the last time as a player.
And close the door on a chapter in his life that was defining in so many ways, the Glenswilly player being the only other Donegal captain along with Anthony Molloy to lift the Sam Maguire Cup.
As a kid, he had travelled so many times to Clones in the family car to big games. Usually, he'd hand the gear bag to his father Mick and join the rest of the players on the bus. After sharing his first trip to St Tiernach's Park with his dad, he decided that he'd share his last. Michael Murphy of Donegal during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship preliminary quarter-final match between Donegal and Louth at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Stuck the gear bag in the boot and off they headed home together. When his retirement became official, it made national headlines. No wonder he was overcome with emotion at the final whistle of this year's drama-packed Ulster football decider which needed extra time to find a winner between Donegal and Armagh. His tear-filled embrace with his father as the same Clones pitch was taken over by supporters rounded off one of the great comeback stories.
From being adamant that his time was done to moving on to being a match analyst with streaming service GAAGO to being co-opted on to Jim Gavin's Football Review Committee — and then Donegal manager Jim McGuinness finding a way to turn his head and convince him to go again. Being awarded the official Man of the Match award in that Ulster final aged 35 just captured the full range of his talent and leadership abilities under pressure. Joe O'Connor of Kerry is tackled by Bryan Menton of Meath during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 3 match between Kerry and Meath at Glenisk O'Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Pic: Tom Beary/Sportsfile
Very quickly, he has become a main kick-out option for goalkeeper Shaun Patton. There's a wonderful photo of him sitting on the bench in the dressing room, the Anglo Celt Cup beside him. His face alight with joy.
From the moment he first returned to action in February, it's like he has never been away. Armagh's All-Ireland winning captain Aidan Forker losing it at his introduction and picking up a straight red for dropping his head into Murphy's chest. Murphy seizing on a misplaced kickout and swinging the ball over the bar within a minute. Meath manager Colm O'Rourke during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 3 match between Monaghan and Meath at Kingspan Breffni in Cavan. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Finishing the game with the match ball in his hands after coming down from a height with it onehanded at one stage. Menton is back after taking a call from Meath selector Conor Gillespie who is part of the management team Robbie Brennan put together since taking over for 2025 from Colm O'Rourke. He thought his old teammate was just looking for advice on the next wave of talent coming through. Not coming with an invite to put on the jersey again.
On All-Ireland quarter-final weekend, both were back in the middle third in the thick of the action. Murphy was a calming presence as Donegal weathered the storm against Monaghan and kicked on in the second half. Menton produced some of his own big plays when it mattered too as Meath upset strong favourites and Connacht champions Galway. Meath coach Conor Gillespie during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Cork and Meath at Páirc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Winning the throw-up set the tone for the second half. One important block led to a momentum-changing turnover and when Galway came surging back, it was Menton who rose highest to win a Meath kick-out after Matthew Thomspon had levelled up the match.
When I interviewed Menton back in March about what prompted his retirement u-turn, the subject of Michael Murphy, naturally, came up.
'Well, I suppose with Michael Murphy, I'd say it's probably a case of, he's excited by what they're doing at the minute too. The team there, they seem to be progressing well. So again, he could have the same kind of sense of me that, you know, he'll never be asked again.
So why not give it another go?' It would have been easy to stay retired. Legacy secure. Croke Park especially plays fast and open and is the kind of pitch that isn't exactly custom built for a player embracing their mid-30s. But Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final is about something bigger.
A love for the game. A bond to a county jersey and all that flows from it. If it ends in tears on one side, no matter. As the much-quoted sports maxim goes, it's not so much the critic that counts but those who spend themselves in a worthy cause. The Men in the Arena.