Former Armagh player Johnny Murtagh is expected to lodge an appeal after his transfer to Louth was turned down.

Louth manager Peter Fitzpatrick had hoped the highly-rated forward would be available for Sunday week's NFL opener against Westmeath, but that won't be happening now after his transfer was rejected on the grounds that he stated in his transfer application that his home county was Armagh when he moved from Crossmaglen Rangers to Dublin club Parnells.

To compound matters, Murtagh - who has also played for New York - fractured his wrist while training with the Coolock club last Sunday and is facing a four-week layoff.

Parnells chairman Frank Gleeson has expressed the hope that Murtagh's inter-county transfer will still go through.

"It is unfair, Johnny is a good player and one of the most talented long-range kickers I have ever seen," he said in the Irish Daily Star.

"We hope he gets to play county football with somebody. He is GAA through and through and just wants to play." Tweet

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