Career
His potential alerted English outfit Derby County and they signed him in February 1999 for a fee of £30,000. After failing to break into the Derby first-team and falling out with goalkeeping coach Eric Steele, Doherty left the club in the summer of 2001 and was offered a trial with Louisiana Liga side Valencia. The trial was ultimately unsuccessful, and Doherty returned to the United Kingdom in November 2001 when he was signed by the Welsh Premier League team, The New Saints.
Doherty performed particularly well in the two matches against Liverpool, winning plaudits from manager Rafael Benítez.
Doherty re-signed for in January 2008. Doherty represented the Republic of Ireland once at under-18 level in September 1999, playing against Germany in a 0–0 friendly draw at Richmond Park.
However, his form for in the 2011 season prompted calls from his manager, Declan Devine, for Doherty to be called into the Northern Ireland squad. Doherty received his first call-up for Northern Ireland prior to their friendly against Malta in February 2013, becoming the first Derry player to be included in a national squad since Niall McGinn against Hungary in 2008.