FORMER Crossmaglen forward Johnny Murtagh has been appointed as the new manager of Castleblayney.

While they lead the roll of honour list in Monaghan with 37 Senior Championship titles, they haven’t appeared in the final since 2007, where they lost by three points to Clontibret.

Born in Louth, Murtagh played most of his club football for Crossmaglen. He had a spell at Parnell’s in Dublin before transferring back to Crossmaglen in 2013, and he won an All-Ireland with the club in 2007.

Elsewhere, John McEntee has a new assistant at Clontibret as he has recruited former Armagh teammate Martin O’Rourke.

Like McEntee, O’Rourke won a host of honours in the Joe Kernan era and an Ulster under Peter McDonnell in 2008. In more recent times, he managed a trailblazing St Paul’s, Bessbrook side to the MacRory Cup final in 2013, where they lost by a single point to St Pat’s, Maghera.

And continuing the Armagh theme, Inniskeen fans will be thankful that Oisin McConville is back in charge for a second year. They embarked on a memorable journey to this year’s semi-final, but they lost to Ballybay in extra-time.

In Scotstown, Colin McAree is set to return after leading the club to the Senior Championship title with victory over Ballybay.

Meanwhile, Jerome  Johnston and Mark Doran will be in charge of last year’s beaten finalists Ballybay.

Kilcoo man Johnston will manage the side while Longstone native Doran will be his number two. They replace the outgoing Colin Malone.

By Niall Gartland