O’Doherty in battle against clock to make semi-final tie

CORMAC O’Doherty may still be in his early twenties but he has already amassed a haul of county championship medals that the vast majority of players would not collect in a lifetime.

It’s his prowess as a dual player with Slaughtneil which has tended to keep O’Doherty (right) constantly in the limelight and his influence within the hurling side was never more amply demonstrated than in their recent county championship semi-final win against Dungiven and victory in the final over Banagher.

O’Doherty helped himself to 0-10 in Slaughtneil’s hard-earned 1-14 to 1-13 success against Dungiven and was again on song in the decider against Banagher, only this time his involvement was truncated.

Injury forced him to retire at half-time in the final but not before he had helped himself to 1-2.

Now the ebullient O’Doherty is racing against the clock to regain full fitness in advance of Sunday’s Ulster club championship semi-final encounter against Down champions Ballycran at Corrigan Park, Belfast (2.30pm).

Manager Michael McShane is hoping that O’Doherty will be able to play some part in the game. “Cormac has been doing everything he can to make himself available for Sunday and I hope that his perseverance will pay off,” said McShane.

“We could certainly be doing with him against what is a very good Ballycran side.”