ODHRAN Murdock will play in Down’s Ulster Championship clash with Donegal on Sunday - ruling him out of contention for the Mourne County’s provincial U20 decider with Derry three days later.
The Burren midfielder was one of the star turns as Down just missed out on promotion from Division Three of the National League, while also impressing in the U20s’ victories over All-Ireland champions Tyrone and Monaghan.
As a result of the new rule preventing players turning out for U20 and senior teams within seven days of each other, speculation suggested Conor Laverty – who is over both sides - could keep Murdock out of the mix for Sunday, allowing him to lead the charge against the Oak Leaf U20s.
However, The Irish News understands this will not be the case, with Murdock – part of Down’s Ulster title-winning U20 side two years ago - due to line out against the Tir Chonaill, while Burren club-mate Paddy McCarthy remains with the U20s.
An injury sustained in the U20 semi-final is expected to rule another Burren defender, Ryan Magill, out of both games.
Murdock is not the only man who could miss the Ulster U20 final as a result of a clash with senior fixtures, as full-back Eoin McEvoy is expected to be part of Rory Gallagher’s panel for Derry’s Ulster semi-final date with Monaghan on Saturday, April 29. Lachlan Murray looks likely to feature for the Oak Leaf U20s.
Any hope both counties had of the current situation changing any time soon was killed off when Clare’s challenge to the Disputes Resolution Authority over the seven-day ruling failed.
And while Murdock’s availability on Sunday is a boost for Down, they have also suffered another long-term blow after losing Owen McCabe to a cruciate ligament injury.
The Carryduff midfielder - who wasn’t involved with the county last year due to university commitments in Carlisle - came off the bench in Down’s final League game against Offaly on March 26, but the injury picked up since ensures he will play no further part in this campaign.
He joins Mark Walsh (ankle) and Barry O’Hagan on the sideline, with O’Hagan undergoing surgery this week for the cruciate injury suffered early on in Down’s clash with Antrim at the start of February.
McCabe’s Carrydfuff club-mate Daniel Guinness has returned to the Down panel in recent weeks after recovering from a hip issue that kept him out during the National League.
