By Michael McMullan

CONOR Doherty’s injury against Galway isn’t as serious as it was first feared revealed Derry manager Mickey Harte.

The Newbridge man had played every minute of Derry’s season until a knee injury sustained 24 minutes into their win over Galway forced him off by half-time.

Speaking after the game, Harte indicated the medical team would take a look and he was set to have a scan during the week.

“It’s more positive than it might have been at the time,” Harte said during his press briefing in the wake of Saturday’s defeat to Dublin.

“We hope that in two or three weeks he might be ready to start training again anyway.

“It’s already much better than it might have been, that’s all we can say and we are very glad about that.”

Gareth McKinless and Odhrán Lynch both missed the game with their hamstring injuries.

Neither were part of the matchday squad and they now have two weeks ahead of Derry’s net game, the trip to Castlebar for the St Patrick’s Day fixture with Mayo.

Ballinascreen’s Martin Bradley received a further setback following an ankle sustained at training in midweek.

Having originally made his debut in 2019 under Damian McErlain, club form saw him called up by Harte this season.

An injury kept him out of the McKenna Cup captain and after seeing game time against Monaghan he was in line to see action against the Dubs but arrived at Celtic Park on crutches and will need a further assessment on his injury.

Saturday was Derry’s first defeat of the season but they are still well placed for a spot in the final with two games to go against Mayo (A) and Roscommon (H).

The Oakleafers will then put their back-to-back Ulster titles on the line against Donegal at Celtic Park on Saturday, April 20.