Conall Murtagh
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Conall Francis Murtagh | ||
| Date of birth | 29 June 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Belfast, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Bala Town | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2003 | Ballymena United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2003 | Crusaders | 12 | (0) |
| 2003–2005 | Hearts | 0 | (0) |
| 2005 | → Raith Rovers (loan) | 11 | (1) |
| 2005–2006 | Connah's Quay Nomads | 27 | (3) |
| 2006–2007 | Rhyl | 25 | (1) |
| 2007 | Southport | 0 | (0) |
| 2007–2009 | Wrexham | 4 | (0) |
| 2008 | → Droylsden (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | The New Saints | 20 | (2) |
| 2010 | → Aberystwyth Town (loan) | 13 | (3) |
| 2010–2011 | Aberystwyth Town | 20 | (1) |
| 2011– | Bala Town | 113 | (5) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 05:46, 12 July 2015 (UTC). | |||
Conall Francis Murtagh (born 29 June 1985 in Belfast) is a Northern Irish footballer who currently plays for Bala Town. He has made over 70 appearances in the Scottish League, the Welsh Premier League, the Football League and the Football Conference.
Career
Murtagh started his career with Ballymena United and Crusaders before joining Scottish League club Hearts on a two-year contract in 2003.[1] He made no appearances for Hearts[2] and joined Raith Rovers on loan in January 2005, where he made eleven first-team appearances in the remainder of the 2004–05 season in the Scottish First Division.[3]
Murtagh was released by Hearts at the end of the 2004–05 (injury hit) season,[4] commenced a degree at University of Manchester and joined League of Wales club Connah's Quay Nomads, where he made 27 league appearances, scoring three goals, in the 2005–06 season.[5] He joined Rhyl in 2006, making 25 Welsh Premier league appearances, scoring once, in the 2006–07 season[5] and collected a Welsh League Cup runners-up medal after a penalty defeat to Caersws in March 2007.[6]
Murtagh joined Conference North club Southport in May 2007 but quickly left to join League 2 side Wrexham in June 2007.[7] He made six league and cup appearances for Wrexham in the 2007–08 season while completing his final year at University of Manchester, and a further six appearances for Football Conference side Droylsden, who he joined on a two-month loan in January 2008.[8]
In January 2009, Murtagh signed for Welsh Premier League side The New Saints, having fallen out of favour at Wrexham since Dean Saunders took charge in October 2008 and who relegated the club to the Conference in 2008.[9] In January 2010, he joined Aberystwyth Town on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season,[10] scoring three times in thirteen appearances before being recalled in April.[11] At the end of the season, Murtagh's contract ended at The New Saints and he joined Aberystwyth Town on a permanent basis.[12]
In July 2011 he moved to Bala Town.[13]
Conall joined WPL side, Bala Town FC, in July 2011 and helped the side achieve 5th place in the 2011–12 season playing a record number of games and making a clean sweep of end of season awards. In 2012–13, Bala were play-off champions and qualified for the first time in the Club's history for a European position in the 2013–14 campaign.
Conall has represented his country, Northern Ireland, at international level at all underage groups U15, U16, U17, U19 and is also an Under 21 International. He captained the side a number of times (famously when NI were victors against Brazil for the first time ever), and played all matches in NI's only Victory Shield (U15) victory in 2000.
Conall graduated from University of Chester with Master of Science (Sports Science) March 2013, and is currently (June 2013) undertaking a Ph D in Sports Science in John Moores University. The Ph D is a joint venture with Liverpool FC where Conall works as a Sports Scientist at the Academy as head of elite fitness development.
Personal life
He holds a 2:1 degree in Physiology from the University of Manchester and has the Masters of Science (Sports Science with Physiology) (March 2013).[14]
Currently undertaking a Ph D in Sports Science at John Moores University and works as Sports Scientist at Liverpool FC Academy.
References
- ↑ O'Hara, Denis (2003-05-06). "Conall's contract boost.". Newsletter. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- ↑ "Conall Murtagh". Soccerbase (Racing Post). Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- ↑ "Games played by Conall Murtagh in 2004/2005". Soccerbase (Racing Post). Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- ↑ "Hearts offer Burchill new deal". BBC Sport. 2005-05-20. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- 1 2 "Welsh Premier career details for Conall Murtagh". Welsh Premier players. Welsh Premier Football. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- ↑ "Caersws 1-1 Rhyl (aet)". BBC Sport. 2007-03-19. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- ↑ "Wrexham sign ex-Rhyl man Murtagh". BBC Sport. 2007-06-01. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- ↑ "Games played by Conall Murtagh in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- ↑ "Saints signings spur title chase". BBC Sport. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ↑ "Three new faces for Cefn Druids". welsh-premier.com. 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
- ↑ "Saints recall loan duo for title run-in". welsh-premier.com. 2010-04-13. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
- ↑ "Murtagh makes permanent seaside switch". welsh-premier.com. 2010-06-08. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ↑ "Murtagh switches from Aber to Bala". welsh-premier.com. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
- ↑ http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology/2008/07/09/wrexham-star-earns-degree-for-wii-game-study-115875-20636882/