Anthony Doherty looks set for a shock inclusion for Down against Armagh

DOWN manager Eamonn Burns looks set to hand a sensational inter-county debut to defender Anthony Doherty while Armagh midfielder Ethan Rafferty may be drafted in as one of the squad’s two goalkeepers.

Gaelic Life understands that the RGU Downpatrick man will start in the Down full-back line in Sunday’s Ulster quarter-final, and given his height and ability to break ball, it looks like he will be pitted against Andrew Murnin.

Doherty has played a lot of club football in midfield as well as centre-half back, but his versatility means that he can play on the edge of the square too.

It is a massive occasion for Doherty to make his bow in, but Burns’s defensive options have been decimated in recent weeks with Aidan Carr the latest player to be considered a doubt.

Armagh’s goalkeeping issues have been a long-standing issue and the fact that Rafferty, who played a bit in nets when younger, may have to cover suggests that the problem hasn’t been solved yet.

In last year’s quarter-final against Cavan, Kieran McGeeney pulled off a major shock by putting midfielder Paul Courtney between the posts, but the decision to possibly use Rafferty as back-up is more conventional.

The squad currently only has two goalkeepers, Blaine Hughes and Patrick Morrison.

Hughes has only recently returned from injury, although he is reported to be back to full fitness and should start between the sticks this weekend.

Morrison too has only recently returned after missing the League after undergoing a minor abdominal operation, but he has since broken his finger.