Pat Spillane has questioned Michael Murphy's inclusion on the shortlist for Footballer of the Year.

The 36-year-old made a huge impact after coming out of retirement this year as Donegal retained their Ulster SFC crown before going on to lose the All-Ireland final to Kerry. He finished as the Championship's third-highest scorer but, inspite of this, Spillane doesn't think he deserves to be in the running for the individual award alongside Kerry duo David Clifford and Joe O'Connor.

“I do take issue with one of the three nominations for player of the year," the Kingdom legend wrote in his Sunday World column.

“David Clifford and Joe O’Connor of Kerry were automatic choices. But I cannot figure out how Michael Murphy of Donegal got a nomination.

“Listen, I have huge, huge admiration for Michael Murphy. But let’s be realistic. Was he one of the top three players in Ireland this year? Most definitely not.

"Actually, come to think of it, was he Donegal’s best player this year? I don’t think so. In my opinion, that was Michael Langan. I would suggest their second-best player was Finbarr Roarty.

"And I would suggest that their third-best player was also their best forward, and it’s not Michael Murphy, but Conor O’Donnell."

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