DONEGAL CAPTAIN MICHAEL MURPHY has opted out of the 2015 EirGrid International Rules Test against Australia to ‘recharge the batteries’.
Murphy has featured in the series in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014, the latter two as the Ireland captain, but he won’t be involved this year after informing the manager, Joe Kernan, of his decision.
“I’d love to go and play because it’s a nice challenge and, obviously, a nice honour, but I just want to give the body and mind a rest,” Murphy told Donegal Sport Hub.
“I need to recharge the batteries and get a month’s rest. When they called a few weeks ago, I said I wanted to give the club a rattle.
“It’s been a long couple of years, so I want to get right and fresh for the National League next year. I’ll take a few weeks off, but once I have three or four weeks of doing nothing I’ll be raring to go again.”
Having played in an Under-17 International Rules series in Australia in 2006, Murphy played in the 2010 and 2011 Tests, with Australia winning in 2010 and Ireland claiming a 130-65 aggregate win in 2011.
There was no International Rules Series in 2012 – when Murphy captained Donegal to the All-Ireland title – but the Glenswilly man was appointed as Ireland captain by manager Paul Earley for 2013.
The first Test was scheduled for the night before the Donegal SFC final, but Murphy didn’t let the media furore get to him.
He starred for Ireland in a 57-35 win at Breffni Park before hitting 1-5 for Glenswilly as they defeated Killybegs 3-19 to 2-6 in the county final the following day.
Ireland won the second Test in 2013 116-37. Last year, Murphy retained the captaincy, but Ireland lost in a one-off Test at Pattersons Stadium in Perth 56-46.
His club, Glenswilly, were knocked out of the Donegal SFC by St Eunan’s in a quarter-final.
Glenswilly aren’t mathematically safe in Division One of the All-County League with five games still to play. Once those games are out of the way, Murphy will put his feet up before returning to train with Donegal in December.
He said: “The last couple of years have taken a lot out of me, so I just need a few weeks off to be right for next year again. I need to get the body right and the mind right.”
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