Donegal blow as Murphy ruled out for Ulster opener

Donegal will begin the defence of the Ulster championship crown without captain Michael Murphy.

The 22-year-old sustained ligament damage during Donegal’s NFL Division One defeat to Dublin in Croke Park in March and, while he didn’t require surgery, the full-forward appears to have lost his fitness. He was also out at the turn of the year with a Gilmore’s groin injury.

“It won’t happen, no,” Donegal assistant manager Rory Gallagher said in relation to Murphy being available next month. “It’s going to come too soon for him. That’s not a story I’m throwing out, he won’t make it in time.