By Michael McMullan

BELFAST club St Brigid’s have appointed Cathal Murray as their new senior football manager.

Murray stepped down from Louth side Ardee this year after four seasons at the helm.

It was a successful stint that yielded three successive Louth titles and a run to last year’s Leinster final, losing by a point to eventual All-Ireland champions Cuala.

They lost their title against beaten finalists Newtown Blues this season in the quarter-final.

Murray will be assisted by brothers Gerard and Thomas McNulty who steered Creggan to the McNamee Cup in 2021.

St Brigid’s lost to eventual champions Dunloy in the quarter finals this year and won a league title in recent seasons.

Murray’s appointment comes after news of Mattie McGleenan’s appointment as manager of Portglenone.

Ronan Devlin is back for a fifth season as Cargin manager, having served under Damian Cassidy when he was at the helm.

Fabian Muldoon has stepped away and Devlin has added Dermot Carlin and Niall Jackman to his management team with Kevin Doyle also remaining on board.

Joe Cassidy is back as Creggan manager for a third season, with Odhran McLarnon, Antoin Moran, Eoin McNicholl and Cathal Shannon all on board.

Champions Dunloy won’t finalise their management posts until after their club AGM later this month.

Anthony McQuillan has been the long-serving manager who led the club to the title this season, beating St Brigid’s, Portglenone and Cargin in their three knock-out games.