Jarlath Óg Burns opts out from Armagh footballers in 2024

Armagh will have to plan with Jarlath Óg Burns next season as the defender/midfielder is taking a year out from inter-county football.

It's a blow to Kieran McGeeney's side, who reached the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals this year and in 2022, when Burns was nominated for an All-Star.

Gaelic Life reported that the 24-year-old is expected to continue lining out for club Silverbridge, who were recently eliminated at the quarter-final stage in the Armagh senior championship. He has also hurled with Craobh Rua.

Burns' father Jarlath will take over as GAA president from Larry McCarthy in February.

Armagh added former Derry forward Conleith Gilligan to their management team earlier this week, among several backroom team announcements in Ulster.

Derry's former All-Star Enda Muldoon will extend his five-year stay with the Oak Leaf seniors, under the newly appointed Mickey Harte and Gavin Devlin. Another ex Derry star, Paul McFlynn, will also be on board.

Ciaran Meenagh, who stepped up to lead Derry to a second consecutive Ulster title in the wake of Rory Gallagher's departure as manager, has joined Conor Laverty's Down as a coach.

Meenagh had ruled himself out of continuing in the Derry hot seat.