By Paul Keane

Michael Murphy has had more enjoyable summers with Donegal, that's for sure.

A hamstring injury that he is still recovering from, a sending off and, ultimately, an Ulster semi-final defeat to Tyrone all added to the Donegal captain's frustration.

At the end of his 15th season with the senior team, you might even suspect that the 2012 All-Ireland winning skipper may have grown weary with it all.

You'd be wrong, of course, and while the 32-year-old intriguingly admits that, yes, he does have a retirement age in his mind, he says it's some way off yet and that he loves the game as much as ever.

Speaking at the launch of the Gallaghers Bakehouse 'Bread Made Better, The Secret is Out' campaign, to publicise their new range of handcrafted sourdough breads, Murphy spoke passionately about what Donegal still means to him.

"I still love it, I still absolutely love playing," said Murphy. "I love the newer generation that has come in, I love the challenge of getting to know them, mingling with them and the strengths that they're bringing. I do love that challenge of still doing that and still trying to keep Donegal at that level. That fire is still fairly burning within you to keep Donegal doing it and being motivated to do it.

"There will be a time that comes fairly shortly when I'm either not able to contribute or when I'm a pain in the backside and I don't need to be around anymore, and that will come too. I don't know but I hope I will be big enough to recognise and acknowledge that."

Crucially, Murphy isn't contemplating stepping away anytime soon, even if he admits he does have a figure in his head for how many seasons are probably left.

"Ah listen, I have that in my own head, it's something you don't want to be saying out there but you have in your own head what your aim and your target is," said the Glenswilly man. "I'm conscious that there's probably less years left than maybe there were a number of years back but, no, I've a target in my head and there's still a number of years left in me that I believe I can contribute."

Winning another All-Ireland is the overall aim and Murphy admitted there was a 'glimmer of encouragement' from seeing Tyrone going on to win the Sam Maguire Cup this year. Murphy himself had a penalty kick to put Donegal five ahead against Tyrone late in the first-half of their Ulster semi-final tie though he struck the post. He was later dismissed and reflects now that he let the team down. Perhaps, but the big positive is that Donegal weren't far off the team that ultimately won the All-Ireland. So can Donegal make that great leap themselves?

"Yeah, I am still adamant about that, still have full belief in that," said a determined Murphy. "Every night I go out and train with the group that is there, and take the field in Convoy, I have no doubt as to what we can do, no doubt in the ability that surrounds you.

"But me talking and telling you that yeah, this team can do it and actually going out and doing it in those games against Tyrone in the championship, against Mayo in the championship, against Cavan in the championship, those are the days when we have to show that we can go on and do it.

"But I have that inner belief that this group can still go on and do it, the age profile of them is still perfect, the ability that is there is really, really good. It is just about waiting for the opportunity to get on that horse again and for the time to come around where we get the chance to show it again. And do our talking on the pitch."

The former International Rules captain has club matters to attend to this weekend. Glenswilly play Termon in a crucial Donegal SFC relegation play-off on Sunday. Beyond that, he will spend the winter rehabbing the hamstring injury which dogged him throughout the Championship. A 'significant tear' to the hamstring was aggravated in the win over Down in June, forcing his withdrawal that day and he's still not fully over it.

"I'm playing in the club championship at the moment and I feel like I'm managing my way through things," said Murphy. "I still feel that there's a body of work to do before the new season that will allow me to get to what I usually do, just go hammer and tongs into it.

"That's continuing to be done but at the moment you're just in that managing phase of trying to do rehab and manage your way through games at the weekend. I think if I get a clear spell out for a number of weeks that I can just concentrate fully on rehab without having to worry about potentially trying to get ready for a game at the weekend."

• Gallaghers Bakehouse has a new range of handcrafted sourdough breads which boast all the benefits of sourdough goodness, fermented for a light texture and flavoursome taste whilst full of fibre, offering a bread that is not just tastier but also healthier too. The new range is available in select Tesco, Dunnes Stores, SuperValu, Spar and Centra stores nationwide.