MICHAEL MURPHY will miss Donegal’s first three National League games after undergoing surgery on a groin injury yesterday. The Tir Chonaill captain had been troubled by a Gilmore’s Groin injury, which was aggravated recently in a challenge game against Roscommon.

The Glenswilly man was operated on by surgeon Gerry McEntee – a double All-Ireland winner with Meath in the 1980s – yesterday morning in the Mater Private hospital in Dublin.

Murphy faces an eight-week lay-off and will miss a minimum three games in the league, against Down, Laois and Cork. The target is for the 22-year-old full-forward to be ready to face Kerry in Killarney on March 11th.