Derry goalscorer Conor Doherty's strong Donegal connection

For one Donegal family, the sight of Derry wing-back Conor Doherty thumping home a goal in Sunday's All-Ireland SFC Group 3 win in Ballybofey was surely a bittersweet one.

Doherty almost ripped the River End net off its hooks in the 46th minute as he riffled past Shaun Patton. Doherty's goal was the first as Derry won 3-14 to 1-15.

In a corner of Donegal, they wondered what might have been.

Doherty's father, Neil, hails from Glen and the family are regular visitors to north Donegal.

Tanya Roberts-Brown, the PRO and Minor Board Chairperson of the Downings GAA club, is a first cousin; her mother, Frances, is a sister of Neil Doherty.

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In his formative years, the young Doherty was a regular at summer camps at The Bridge, the home of St Michael's, alongside cousins Andrew and Eoghan Kelly.

The Dohertys hail from Derriscleigh, Glen, which actually falls into the catchment area of the Termon GAA club.

Doherty's brother Mark is also on the Derry senior panel while another brother, Oisin, is on the Derry minor squad.

The genes are strong, clearly with sisters Erin and Aoife also wearing the Oak Leaf shirt at senior and under-14 levels.

They keep close the Donegal connections and are regular visitors.

Last year, Conor Doherty was the guest of honour at the Downings GAA club dinner dance.

He played on the Derry side that defeated Donegal in the 2022 Ulster SFC final – scoring a point in the process - having lost Minor and Under-21 finals against the home county of his father in 2016 and 2017 before captaining Derry Under-20s to an Ulster title in 2018.