DONEGAL MIDFIELDER HUGH McFadden has stated that the changing nature of the game, and kickouts in particular, has led to an increase in attrition when asked about the Michael Murphy incident on Dylan Casey during last Sunday’s division 1 league final.

Murphy aimed a number of swings at Casey with his closed fist after a kickout landed, his third swing landing on Casey’s jaw and neck area after the ball had gone.

Clips of the footage have been on heavy rotation on social media and Murphy has been heavily criticised, with several pundits, including former Donegal players Kevin Cassidy and Eamonn McGee maintaining it should have been a red card.

However, McFadden has echoed his manager Jim McGuinness’ comments in the immediate wake of the league final when he chose to talk about the nature of how the game is being played with kickouts forced to go long.

Asked if Murphy’s actions might lead to him being on the radar of referees this summer, McFadden said, “You’re talking about referees, we would have probably seen it in Donegal for years that Michael was on the wrong end of a lot of physical marking, a lot of aggressive marking.

“We would have argued that he wasn’t getting enough frees at times.”

He continued, “The increase in breaking ball compared to the old game has gone through the roof. There’s so many aggressive, fit, strong, athletic, fast players running around breaking ball – the collisions now are just rising all the time.

“The game is definitely leading now to a lot of collisions around the ball and kickouts and there’s teams that are deliberately blocking a lot before people are taking to the air and referees pick and choose at times – we’re giving blocks in certain parts of the field but we’re not giving them for kickouts. I think that’s something we probably need to look at too.”

McFadden had warm words for the form of his former captain, who came out of a two-year retirement to play a big role last year, while he was in strong form last weekend.

“I can’t put a short summary together now to eulogise his strengths and his dedication to the Donegal jersey but just the top form and the credit he deserves for being in the physical capabilities, giving his time out of the game, and he’s playing fantastic football and it’s exciting for all of us so fingers crossed that it lasts for the summer,” McFadden said.

“He is a very, very good footballer with a very strong set of basic Gaelic football skills that he does at an incredibly high level and just brings a solid mentality and brings that into every phase of the game. 

“He always makes the right decisions. He’s a great team player. His passes set up players that go in a certain direction – the way he plays encourages the team to make the right decisions as well in terms of his delivery and how he plays the game. 

“That might sound very simple – he just plays football very well. He just makes the right decision so many times and is just an excellent footballer.”