| Saints release midfielder Murtagh |
| Tuesday 04 May 2010 |
 FORMER Northern Ireland Under-21 international midfielder Conall Murtagh has been released by The New Saints and is expected to make a permanent move to Aberystwyth. The 25-year-old spent the second-half of this season on-loan with the Seasiders, but was recalled by the Saints in time to win a Loosemores League Cup medal in the 3-1 victory over Rhyl on Tuesday night. Murtagh started his career with Ballymena United and Crusaders before being spotted by Hearts and made his Scottish League debut while on loan at Raith Rovers in January 2005. Following his release from Tynecastle, he spent pre-season with Sligo Rovers and then played in the reserves at Altrincham after arriving in Manchester as a student. He signed for Connah's Quay for 2005/6 but left at the end of the campaign and joined Rhyl, where he made 23 appearances before a summer move to Wrexham and a two-year full-time professional contract. Available part-time while he completed a Physiology degree, Murtagh made just four League Two appearances in 2007/8 and spent two months on loan at Droylsden. He then left the Racecourse in January 2009 to sign for TNS, scoring in the League Cup final win over Bangor City at the end of the campaign. But, after making just four (+2) league starts this season and unable to secure a regular first team place, he was loaned to Aberystwyth in January. Photo: Murtagh scored three goals from 13 appearances during his loan spell at Aberystwyth. |