Inter-county Doherty made his Championship debut as a 19-year-old against
Antrim in 2001. That year he put in some impressive performances in Derry's run to the 2001 All-Ireland semi-final, where they lost out to
Galway. He was awarded the Bass Ulster Monthly Merit Award for August 2001, for his performances against
Tyrone and Galway that month. He along with brother Gareth was nominated for an
All Star in 2001. Doherty was again nominated for All Stars in 2004 and 2007. He had instrumental in the
2008 National League, which Derry won, defeating
Kerry in the final. He scored a vital goal in the match and was awarded
man of the match. He received the Vodafone All Stars Footballer of the Month award for April 2008 for key performances against
Tyrone,
Donegal and Kerry en route to Derry's National League success. Doherty was Derry's lone All Star nominee in 2008, his fourth in total. He was appointed Derry captain for the 2009 season. Doherty and Derry again reached the National League final in
2009, but were defeated by Kerry. He left the county panel for four years, returning in 2014 then retiring from inter-county football in 2015.
Club Among his club awards Doherty has won the
Derry Championship in 1999??, 2000 and the 2002 Castlewellan Sevens with the club. ==Honours==