Scan confirms Bradley's worst fears

Derry's attacking ace Eoin Bradley will miss the rest of the season after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in training.

Bradley was playing in an internal practice match yesterday when he picked up the injury which rules him out of Sunday's Ulster SFC final.

He underwent a scan this afternoon which confirmed that the cruciate was gone.

Unfortunately, there is additional damage to the medial and lateral ligaments and his cartilage.

Bradley's older brother Paddy, a former All-Star winner, also had his season ended by a cruciate injury in April.

It is a massive blow to Derry's chances of lifting the Anglo-Celt Cup for the first time since 1998.

Full-forward Eoin, 27, has been hugely influential for the Oak Leafers this summer, scoring 1-4 against Fermanagh and 1-5 against Armagh.

But defender Gerard O'Kane is on course to line out against Donegal in the provincial decider. He is back training after a thigh injury sidelined him for the Armagh game.