In bombshell GAA news this Wednesday, it seems all but assured that the great Michael Murphy will return to the Donegal panel for the 2025 season.
The 2012 All-Ireland winner stepped away from inter-county football in the summer of 2022 after 12 seasons as captain of Donegal.
After two seasons away, something has evidently tempted the 35-year-old to reverse his decision. Murphy looks set to join an esteemed list of GAA icons to have come out of retirement.
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GAA: Seven surprising returns from retirement
Michael Murphy
12 June 2022; Donegal captain Michael Murphy leads his side out before the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 2 match between between Donegal and Armagh at St Tiernach's Park in Clones, Monaghan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
We start with the man of the hour. After two years away, we look set to see Michael Murphy don the saffron and gold once again next season.
The Glenswilly man's 15-year spell with Donegal was one of the most celebrated of the modern era. Murphy captained his side from 2010 all the way through to his initial retirement in 2022, leading them to just their second-ever All-Ireland triumph in 2012.
Three All-Stars and a further four nominations sum up the immense impact Murphy had on his county. After the return of Jim McGuinness as manager last season, Donegal fans will hope that there might just be a return to the glory days of 2012 coming next season.
Stephen Cluxton
30 July 2023; Dublin nine time All-Ireland medal winners, from left, James McCarthy, Stephen Cluxton and Michael Fitzsimons celebrate after the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
If Murphy's return is anything like Stephen Cluxton's last summer, then there will be mad celebrations in Donegal come All-Ireland final day.
The greatest goalkeeper of the modern era never officially retired but, after securing a sixth consecutive All-Ireland crown in 2020, Cluxton stepped quietly into the shadows. Two seasons away was evidently enough, with Cluxton's bombshell return ahead of the 2023 league fixture with Louth among the best-kept secrets in GAA history.
It was to prove to be a sensational return for Cluxton, who was instrumental in Dublin winning Sam Maguire for the first time since his departure. In the process, Cluxton won a record ninth All-Ireland medal, and secured his seventh All-Star.
Whispers are beginning to spread that we may see the 42-year-old once again quietly step away in the off-season, following his nine-times winning teammate James McCarthy.
Paul Galvin
20 September 2015; Paul Galvin, Kerry, comes on as a substitute. GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final, Dublin v Kerry, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
Another multiple All-Ireland winner prone to a bit of controversy on the pitch, Paul Galvin announced his retirement midway through the 2014 Allianz League, to the surprise of many in the Kingdom. He missed out on Kerry's first All-Ireland win in five years later that season.
The three-time All-Star winner would reverse his decision a year later, however, rejoining the Kerry panel ahead of the Munster championship. He was mostly used as an impact sub, as Kerry reached a second successive final, this time against Dublin. The final 13 minutes of that year's final proved to be Galvin's last moments in a Kerry jersey.
Galvin announced his final retirement in the aftermath of the 2015 final - despite defeat to the Dubs, he would finish up with four All-Ireland medals to his name.
Graham Geraghty
5 June 2011; Graham Geraghty runs out as he makes his return to the Meath squad for today's game. Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship Quarter-Final, Kildare v Meath, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
Of all the players on this list, Graham Geraghty's return to intercounty action was perhaps the most surprising and impressive, given his age.
A two-time All-Ireland winner with Meath, Geraghty packed it in at the end of the 2008 season, at the age of 35. After skipping out the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Geraghty would make a surprising return to the side ahead of the 2011 Leinster championship and was named in the squad for Meath's quarter-final against Kildare.
He would be involved in a contentious incident on his return, seeing a late goal disallowed. An Achilles injury would get the better of the now 38-year-old Geraghty. He initially moved to a role in Meath's backroom team while recovering from the injury, before calling it a day for good mid-way through the 2012 championship.
Brian Corcoran
11 September 2005; Brian Corcoran, Cork, runs past the Liam MacCarthy cup before the start of the game. Guinness All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final, Galway v Cork, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit; David Maher / SPORTSFILE
Alongside Diarmuid Connolly, Brian Corcoran is one of the lucky few in the GAA who returned to intercounty action and went on to add more silverware.
The Erin's Own dual player made the shock decision to step back not only from Cork duties but from club hurling, at the end of the 2001 season. It would be almost three years before he picked up a hurl again, returning to club action in 2004. With Cork reeling from their 2003 loss in the All-Ireland final to Kilkenny, Corcoran's experience was called upon as the Rebels began their Munster championship campaign.
A memorable year saw them avenge the 2003 defeat against Kilkenny in that year's All-Ireland final before Corcoran won yet another medal in 2005. After losing the 2006 final - again against Kilkenny - Corcoran finally stepped away from hurling.
Diarmuid Connolly
4 August 2019; Diarmuid Connolly of Dublin is greeted by Dublin manager Jim Gavin as he leaves the pitch after being shown a black card during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter-Final Group 2 Phase 3 match between Tyrone and Dublin at Healy Park in Omagh, Tyrone. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Cluxton is not the first Dublin legend to make an unexpected return to the intercounty team.
In 2019, after a year-and-a-half away from the camp, Diarmuid Connolly was a surprise inclusion in Jim Gavin's team for the All-Ireland Super 8s trip to Tyrone.
The game was a dead rubber, with both sides assured to progress to the semi-finals, so a rotation in the Dublin squad meant that Connolly started the game. He would be black-carded on his return but would be given further opportunities in the semi-final against Mayo and in both the All-Ireland final and replay against Kerry.
He impressed in a deeper role than he had previously played, before officially retiring from intercounty football after sealing his seventh All-Ireland medal in that final replay against Kerry.
Ja Fallon
25 March 2007; Jarlath Fallon, Galway, in action against Derek Heavin, Westmeath. Allianz National Football League, Division 1B, Round 5, Westmeath v Galway, Cusack Park, Mullingar. Photo by Sportsfile
Another man who left the intercounty scene for quite some time before making a grand return was 1998 footballer of the year Jarlath "Ja" Fallon.
The Galway man stepped away at the end of the 2003 season after an injury-ridden few years led to a reduced role with the intercounty team. After serving as one of Galway's selectors in the interim, he was tempted back to play for Galway in 2006 - though his return was once again blighted by an injury.
He went on to play for one more season before drawing the curtain on a memorable playing career - though his return wasn't quite as successful as some of the others who have returned to the fold.
Michael Murphy can now add his name to that list. Time will tell if his return to the Donegal panel will be a successful one.
SEE ALSO: Michael Murphy Reportedly Set For Donegal Comeback After Reversing Retirement Decision
