Inside Michael Murphy's family life beyond GAA with wife Annie including dramatic Donegal return and game-changing job
Murphy, who turns 36
next
month, will look to spearhead his county when they face
6
Michael Murphy and Donegal face Kerry in the All-Ireland final
Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
6
Michael Murphy came out of retirement in 2024, having dipped his toes into punditry with BBC
Credit: Instagram/murphm95
6
His wife's name is Annie
Credit: Instagram/murphm95
6
They got engaged in 2021
Credit: Instagram/murphm95
He was part of the team that last won Sam Maguire in 2012, when they were also managed by McGuinness.
A lot has changed since then, however, with gaelic
football
operating under new rules that Murphy himself helped to forge.
Meanwhile, he will be cheered on by his loving wife Annie and the legions of Tir Chonaill supporters who will be travelling to
Dublin
.
Here, SunSport takes a look at his life off the pitch.
Read More on GAA
How old is Michael Murphy?
Michael Murphy was born on August 4, 1989, making him 35 years of age.
Originally from Letterkenny in
After making his senior debut for Donegal in 2007, meanwhile, he won six Ulster SFC crowns - the first five of which were as captain - and the 2012 All-Ireland.
His individual prowess has seen him become the county's all-time top scorer, as well as a three-time All
Most read in GAA Football
Is he married?
He tied the knot with partner Annie Keeney at the back end of 2023.
They did it in style too amid the beautiful backdrop of Florence,
Italy
. The couple
.
RTE GAA pundit embrace Tipperary captain Ronan Maher after his epic display toppled Cork in All-Ireland final
What is his job outside GAA?
He has a job befitting such a legend of Donegal sport as he is Head of Sport at ATU Donegal - short for Atlantic Technological
University
Donegal.
Its campus is in Letterkenny. According to his
He combines that position with
running
his own
business
as he has operated a sportswear shop for over a decade.
His own college background comprises of a stint at DCU from 2009-2013 where he studied to become a PE and biology teacher along with a post-grad from Ulster University in 2020 in Sports and Exercise
Psychology
.
However, Murphy also had a job that had a direct impact on what
Football Review Committee
Michael Murphy, who
Chaired by ex-Dublin boss
Kerry legend Mickey 'Ned' O'Sullivan,
review
committee chair Dr David Hassan and Ulster Council coach Philip Kerr were also aboard.
6
GAA Football Review Committee member Michael Murphy, second left, speaking during a briefing at Croke Park in Dublin
Credit: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Former Connacht
The group ended up recommending
It meant that the game was set up nicely for Murphy's sensational return.
Retirement U-Turn
In November 2024, it was revealed that Michael Murphy
McGuinness himself had
He would change course ahead of the 2025 season and it paid dividends instantly as he won his sixth provincial title earlier this
summer
.
6
Jim McGuinness and Michael Murphy
Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
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