Murphy set to miss big Armagh clash

Michael Murphy is expected to miss his Donegal’s do-or-die last Allianz National FL Division 1 encounter against Armagh, but the full-forward did not have surgery this week.

Murphy put in a man of the match showing against Dublin at Croke Park last Saturday but had to leave the field 11 minutes from time in the 2-16 to 0-13 defeat by the All-Ireland champions after a coming together with Dublin defender Johnny Cooper.

The 22-year-old attended the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry on Monday when it emerged he had collateral ligament damage in his knee following an exploratory examination procedure. He has now been put on a four- to six-week recovery programme by surgeon Dr Kevin Moran.

Murphy, who had a groin operation in January, is unlikely to feature in the league fixture against Armagh in Ballybofey on Easter Sunday — a game Donegal must get a result from to preserve their Division 1 status.

That could be a problem to manager Jim McGuinness, who is already sweating on the fitness of Colm McFadden after the corner-forward missed the Croke Park defeat with a hamstring complaint having started only once this season following a back injury. Donegal were without both Murphy and McFadden in their first two outings of the league, which they lost against Down in Newry and Laois in Ballybofey.

Donegal hope to have Glenswilly clubman Murphy back as open they defence of the Ulster championship with a preliminary round tie against Cavan at Kingspan Breffni Park on May 20.