Pat Splliane: Age-old dilemma every inter-county player faces

Believe me, for the last five years of my inter-county career, I heard all those comments. ‘It’s a young man’s game’. ‘Give a young man a chance’. ‘You’re selfish, you’ve won enough’.

Christ, I heard all those comments. Thankfully, social media wasn’t around in those days. And by the way, on a point of information, I retired playing for Kerry at 35.

And, hand on heart, I can tell you that I was faster and fitter at 35 than 25. Why? Because the pressure to end my inter-county career at the top drove me to insane levels.

I pushed my body harder in my 30s than in my 20s. My training regime off-season consisted of 12 sessions a week, twice a day, Monday to Saturday. That was the manic, merciless punishment I was putting my body through.

Just to prove, not to myself but to Kerry supporters, that I was still able to play senior inter-county football. Because Páidí was right – Kerry supporters are ‘effing animals’. Past achievements and the number of All-Ireland medals in your pocket count for nothing; you are only as good as your last game.

It’s a very topical issue this week given then amount of high-profile retirements, not least Dublin’s Brian Fenton at 31. And, indeed, in one case a man bucking the trend by coming out of retirement, Donegal’s Michael Murphy.

Thankfully, for Murphy’s sake, he is revered, respected and rightly applauded for what he has done for the county’s footballers, and he will be welcomed back with open arms.

So, what do I make of all these retirements or even comebacks? As the infamous British politician Enoch Powell once said, the careers of all politicians end in failure. He could as easily have been referring to the careers of sports people.

Getting the last hurrah right is the million dollar question facing all sportsmen and women towards the end of their careers. The same universal dilemma: have I no more to give, or is there another good year left in me?

In fairness, in recent years, maybe because of sports science where fellas know what their bodies are capable of or not capable of, most modern-day athletes tend to get their retirement calls right. Certainly, in the case of two of the highest-profile retirements, that is definitely the case.

James McCarthy, 34, married with a young child, is getting out at the top. And what can I say about him? One of the greatest servants ever to the Dublin football cause. A warrior, the ultimate leader, the ultimate team player, the guy that drove the standards. Dublin’s most important player.

Chrissy McKaigue got it right, too. At 35, he was one of the best defenders of the modern era. The go-to man for Derry, the chosen one when it came to marking the opposition’s star attacker. And he was honest with himself when he admitted he wasn’t winning as many man-marking battles in the last wee while.

That brings me to the biggest surprise of all – Fenton. Can I just say that while I admire Dublin as a team, my two favourite players were McCarthy and Fenton.

Fenton was Dublin’s best player, full stop. Versatile, composed, a natural leader, he had all the skills of the game and marvellous athleticism. He was so good in the clutch moments.

Who were the best midfielders of all time and how does he rank in the pantheon?

In no particular order, my top four are Brian Mullins, Fenton, Jacko and Mick O’Connell.

What a battle that would be – maybe AI could generate it? Mullins and Fenton marking Jacko and Micko.

Of course, I am surprised that Fenton has retired now, but let’s be honest, an inter-county career means parking your life and he has parked his life for the last 10 years. He owes nothing to anyone.

Who knows, though, Stephen Cluxton came back after retiring for two years and won an All-Ireland. Kerry’s Mike McCarthy retired in 2006 and came back again in 2009 to win another All-Ireland.

And Michael Murphy, at 35, is reversing that trend, having decided to make a comeback.

You know what? I had a look around the sporting globe last weekend to see how other 35-plus players are doing in other sports.

l noticed they are not doing badly at all. Ronaldo is 39 and got two goals for Portugal last weekend against Poland.

Katie Taylor at 38 has just become the super-lightweight champion of the world again. Luka Modric at 39 is still a masterful presence for Croatia.

In rugby, Cian Healy, 37, became the record holder of Irish caps. LeBron James is starring in the NBA, he’ll be 40 next month.

I can hear your argument already, they are all professionals. They are playing professional sport. And professionals enjoy two advantages over amateurs; they have plenty of rest time to recover and, more importantly, it is their job. They get paid to do it and the more successful they are at it, the more they get paid.

Which brings me to the GAA inter-county player, an amateur sports person who, thanks to the crazy split season, is now being flogged all the year around.

Yet despite all this, the GAA sees an increasing number at elite level playing well into their 30s and playing well.

I immediately think of four of the top players of late. Paul Conroy, at 35, won footballer of the year. Paul Geaney, at 34, was the best footballer in the Kerry senior football championship this year. Aidan O’Shea, 34, was the best footballer in the recent inter-provincial series at Croke Park. And Dublin’s Mick Fitzsimons, 36, won man of the match in this year’s Dublin SFC1 final.

So why, you might ask, despite the increasing demands, are there more players playing well into their 30s?

The answer is the improvement in sports science. Individual strength and conditioning programmes, better monitoring of body condition, of lifestyle, of sleep, of diet. Individualised training programmes. A world away from the monotonous laps of the field of 30-40 years ago.

Bearing this in mind, how will Michael Murphy fare? I rate Murphy as one of the smartest and most intelligent of inter-county players I’ve ever seen.

For many reasons. He is a strong leader. Like James McCarthy, he will drive standards even further on this Donegal team.

Remember, Donegal were beaten by only two points in this year’s All-Ireland semi-final. Are you telling me that Murphy would not be worth at least three?

Another reason brings me back to Páidí again, when he talked about a grain of rice tipping the scale from losing to winning.

Like when the ‘Bomber’ Liston came on the scene in ’78. His arrival changed us from a very good team to a great team.

Or when Conleith Gilligan came on the Armagh set-up as transition coach; he was that grain of rice for them and the difference between success and failure. I’ve no doubt that in 2025, given the fact that there is nothing between at least eight counties, and with Dublin losing so many of their star players, Murphy could be that game-changing grain of rice for Donegal.

But the main reason I expect him to be a huge success is the probable introduction of the 3v3 rule, which is going to be manna from heaven for all full-forwards.

What it means for Michael is no more tracking back to his own full-back line; no more of being hopelessly smothered by a blanket defence or working in the claustrophobic confines of a telephone box.

This rule change will allow the great players to express themselves and play to their strengths. They can show their wide range of skills more freely.

I will just briefly remind you of a decisive passage of play from the 2012 All-Ireland final, Donegal against Mayo. Donegal were defending on their 13-metre line when they won possession.

Within 40 seconds, two passes later, the second a kick from Karl Lacey from the 45, Murphy was one-on-one with Kevin Keane. He won the ball in the air, turned and shot lethally into the top corner of the net, one of the best goals ever scored in an All-Ireland final.

Wouldn’t it be great not alone for Donegal but for Gaelic football if the new rules could produce more of the same?

I wish Michael Murphy all the best in his return. And to James, Brian and Chrissy, all I can offer is my deep thanks and appreciation for all the years of enjoyment that you gave us.