DCU greats hang up their boots

DCU alumni Michael Murphy and Lyndsey Davey, two of the greats of Gaelic football, talk to Eoin Sheahan about calling time on their inter-county careers.

No two years in Gaelic games are the same. From one year to the next, new stars emerge and big names exit the stage. In 2023, it will take a while to get used to life without Michael Murphy in men’s football and Lyndsey Davey in the women’s game. Murphy was just the second DCU graduate to lift Sam Maguire, with the Glenswilly native climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand in 2012 (just 12 months after his fellow DCU graduate Bryan Cullen led Dublin to the All-Ireland title).

While Sam was paraded around Donegal that Autumn, Murphy also remembers his return to the lecture theatre that year. “Going back into the class in DCU, it brings you back to having to prove yourself again. You weren’t known as the captain who won the All-Ireland. You’re the student on a level playing field again. I liked that.”

Reflecting on his career and decision to retire from inter-county football, he says: “I’m content to say I have given the best that I can for every single minute and now, I just struggle to see where I can get the energy to go on.

“I’m a full-duck or no-dinner type of guy and I’ve been doing it all-in. I can’t go through a season unless I’m like that.”

“The facilities we had in DCU enhanced the experience in terms of the resources we had when we were and weren’t training as a collective. Having the likes of the high- performance gym and the pool was such a great outlet.”
Lyndsey Davey

Lyndsey Davey, a former Business Studies student at DCU, has also decided to hang up the boots at inter-county level after a stellar career with Dublin that saw her win five All-Ireland medals. You would be forgiven for wondering how she even begins to pick the highlights.

“The four-in-a-row was the big one and, recently, getting the opportunity to play a Leinster final at Croke Park. They were both very special occasions,” says Davey.

“With DCU, getting the three-in-a-row in the O’Connor Cup was particularly great.”
That O’Connor Cup team was one of the most successful teams that the university has produced, with stars from several counties. Davey says the high-performance sporting atmosphere at DCU gave that team a significant edge.

“The facilities we had in DCU enhanced the experience in terms of the resources we had when we were and weren’t training as a collective. Having the likes of the high- performance gym and the pool was such a great outlet.”

Looking ahead, she says: “I’m back doing a bit with the club and work is as busy as ever. But you start to feel retirement when the county games get back up and running. I’m looking forward to being a supporter as well and getting out to as many games as I can.” 

As we say goodbye to their intercounty playing days, we are proud that both players represented DCU in a distinguished manner, playing on respective Sigerson Cup and O’Connor Cup winning teams.

They have lived DCU’s mission to transform lives and societies and are shining examples to all young student athletes who wish to achieve dual success in their professional and sporting careers.

Eoin Sheahan is a journalist and broadcaster