He first played competitive hurling at juvenile and underage levels with Clonkill, before later joining the senior team.
The highlight of Murtagh's club career was the winning of an All-Ireland medal in the intermediate grade in 2008.
As a Gaelic footballer, Murtagh won two senior county championship medals with the Downs club.
Murtagh made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of fifteen when he was selected for the Westmeath minor team.
After missing out on selection for the Leinster inter-provincial team through injury, Murtagh was included on the starting fifteen in 2009.