Derry's Doherty to miss qualifier

Midfielder Fergal Doherty is definitely out of Derry's SFC qualifier against Limerick on Sunday due to an ankle injury.

The Bellaghy star suffered some ligament damage when the knock forced him off in the Oak Leafers' second round win over Down, ten days ago.

Any hopes Doherty had of playing his part in the clash with the Shannonsiders were dashed when X-rays ruled him out, earlier this week.

Derry boss Mickey Moran is waiting on the fitness of lynchpin attacker Enda Muldoon, who is struggling with a hamstring strain ahead of Thursday's team announcement.

Moran is definitely without sidelined trio Eamon Burke, Conor McWilliams, Paul Bradley, while reserve goalkeeper Michael Conlan has a thigh injury.

Meanwhile, Monaghan boss Seamus McEnaney needs no help in stirring up interest in the Farney county's qualifier against Louth on Saturday.

His side's five-point defeat of Wexford last weekend completed back-to-back championship wins for Monaghan for the first time in 17 years, and McEnaney expects a bumper crowd at Breffni Park.

"The fact that the match is in Cavan is very handy for our followers. There is a feelgood factor at the moment and we must respond to this.

"The boys showed an awful lot of character against Wexford and if they step up to the mark in the same way against Louth then we can get into the real business end of the championship," admitted the Corduff clubman, who guided Monaghan to the 2005 NFL Division 2 title in his first season in charge.