MICHAEL Murphy won’t start for Donegal in this afternoon’s Ulster SFC quarter-final against Derry.
By Chris McNulty in Ballybofey
Murphy had been named in the Donegal team by Declan Bonner, but the Glenswilly man has not been deemed fit enough to start the game. Murphy takes his place among the replacements.
Since missing a 2012 preliminary round tie against Cavan, the Donegal captain has started each of the county’s last 51 Championship games.
From the team named for the programme, there are three canoes with Eoin McHugh, Ethan O’Donnell and Jamie Brennan all included.
Since Murphy limed out of an Allianz League Division 1 game against Monaghan seven weeks ago, his left hamstring has been a hot topic in Donegal.
The Glenswilly man lined out against Down in the preliminary round a fortnight ago, but his afternoon ended after only 29 minutes.
As he left Páirc Elsler with an ice pack strapped to his leg, Murphy became an immediate concern for this one.
Even an ‘all good’ declaration from manager Declan Bonner in midweek wasn’t enough to quell the fears.
Odhrán MacNiallais sat out the Down game after injuring a hamstring during last month’s Division 1 semi-final against Dublin, but the Gaoth Dobhair man is named among the Donegal substitutes.
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