Mackey to link up with Mullinalaghta

Paul Fitzpatrick

Cian Mackey is set for a sensational move to Longford club Mullinalaghta, The Anglo-Celt can reveal.
The former Cavan star recently informed his Castlerahan team-mates that he had decided to step away from lining out with the team, also announcing in the same week that he was retiring from inter-county football.
In a surprise move, however, Mackey, who is residing in Mullinalaghta, is now seeking to link up with the Longford club, who famously won the Leinster Club SFC title under current Cavan boss Mickey Graham in 2018.
The Anglo-Celt understands that a transfer request form has been submitted to the Castlerahan club, who are currently without a senior team manager following Donal Keogan's decision to step aside.
The county champions' senior panel met to discuss preparations for the season on Sunday last at which the matter was discussed, with the club executive subsequently also meeting.
It is believed that Castlerahan are unlikely to block the transfer, although no decision has been made as of yet.
Mullinalaghta St Columba's, who share a parish with Gowna, have very strong Cavan links. Their current manager is former Cavan and Lacken star Finbar O'Reilly.
While they lost their grip on the county title in Longford last season, the former kingpins' chances would be boosted considerably by the arrival of Mackey (33), Cavan's longest-serving senior inter-county footballer of this century.
Meanwhile, in a blow to Graham, the county board have confirmed that Niall Murray is out for at least the remainder of the National League and possibly the entire season after undergoing surgery on a quad injury.