Murphy face fitness race for Championship opener

Donegal captain Michael Murphy faces a race against time to be fit for their Ulster SFC opener against Cavan on May 20, after sustaining a knee injury in last Saturday's Allianz League loss to Dublin.

Murphy was substituted 11 minutes from the end because of the injury as the Metropolitans finished strongly to take a 2-16 to 0-13 win.

The Glenswilly clubman saw a specialist on Monday before undergoing an operation at Santry Sports Clinic yesterday.

It is understood that Murphy has sustained damage to his lateral knee ligament, an injury which requires a recovery period of six to eight weeks.

This means that the DCU student is definitely ruled out of Donegal's final Division 1 league tie against Armagh on April 8.

The game in Ballybofey is a must-win encounter for Jim McGuinness' charges if they are to avoid the drop down to Division 2.

Murphy's short senior inter-county career has been blighted by injuries to date.

The lynchpin forward has already undergone surgery this year - he had an operation in January to deal with a groin problem.