MICHAEL Murphy could miss the remainder of the National League and Donegal’s Ulster Championship opener against Down on June 27 after he pulled up with a hamstring injury early in last Saturday’s draw with Monaghan.
The Glenswilly Allstar, who had looked in ominous form in Donegal’s Division One North opener against Tyrone, passed a fitness test before the Farney county clash but limped off after five minutes at MacCumhail Park.
The Donegal management remained tight-lipped over the extent of Murphy’s lay-off yesterday but soft-muscle injuries can take up to eight weeks to heal meaning the Tir Chonaill skipper would not be available until the Ulster quarter-final against Derry (if Donegal beat Down).
Declan Bonner’s side travel to the Athletic Grounds on Saturday to face Armagh and the Orchardmen have their own injury problems to contend with. It has been confirmed that defenders Aidan Forker, James Morgan, Paddy Burns and Ryan Kennedy will all miss the round three clash.
Burns has a hamstring injury while the other three were forced off in the first half of the Orchard county’s clash against Tyrone with ankle injuries.
Fermanagh also have a full treatment room as they prepare to host Longford at Brewster Park on Saturday. A hamstring injury could rule out midfielder Eoin Donnelly who was forced into service against Derry when his replacement Brandon Horan pulled up in the pre-game warm-up. Donnelly lasted just 19 minutes while Ultan Kelm missed out and his participation on Sunday is also rated doubtful.
“He (Donnelly) twinged the hamstring,” confirmed Fermanagh manager Ryan McMenamin.
“I don’t know if he’ll be fit or not. I was just chatting to the physio there. Whatever it is, it is.
“We wanted to get Brandon Horan in but unfortunately he pulled up in the warm-up. We’d a few knocks.
“We knew there was going to be a lot of sore points when you’re trying to take through a lot of young players at the one time. It’s going to be sore, we’re just going to have to grin and bear it.
“It’s still in our own hands, we have a game against Longford. For some reason, you do look at yourself more critically when you lose a game.
“But when you lose a game like that, you do want the ground to cover you whole and swallow you up. We’ll get over it, life will go on and after today, it’ll be gone.”
