Longford Managers

Pre 1965: Prior to April 1965, there was no formal team manager. Tom Molloy from Galway trained the Longford team that won the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship in 1937 – He is the earliest recorded ‘trainer’ of a Longford adult football team. He was assisted in 1937 by Rev. J McLoughlin who played a key role in bringing together the team. Tom later led Roscommon to All-Ireland Junior Football Championship success against Westmeath in 1940 in Pearse Park (referee that day was Sergeant Patrick McKenna from Limerick, who was born and reared in Ballinamuck). There is no record of appointed team trainers or managers after 1937 and up to 1965. 

1965 Appointment: Jimmy Flynn (Chairman Coiste Chontae an Longfort 1963-1970) rose at a County Board meeting on 23rd March 1965 to propose that someone should be appointed to train the county team. This led to the appointment of a team trainer (later called Manager) and the introduction of structured training for the county team. Prior to 1965 and with the exception of 1937, there was no ‘trainer’ role per say and the county team was managed by a variety of dedicated people who organised matches or managed various elements of getting players together for games. The the arrival of Mick Higgins in 1965 was not technically the first time a ‘trainer’ had been appointed, but it was the first time structured training was driven by an appointed trainer/manager in a way familiar to us today. 

Mick Higgins managed the Longford team from April 1965 until September 1969, and was re-appointed from May to July 1970. During his 1965-1969 tenure, he was ably assisted by Fr. Phil McGee as team trainer and an essential go-between in organising training with senior players and ensuring players were looked after by the County Board. The selectors from 1965 to 1968 were as follows: Gerry Hennessy (1965), Paddy Mulligan (1965-’67), JJ Reilly (1965-’66), John McGrath (1967-’67), Jimmy Flynn (1965-’68), Mickey Reynolds (1967), Billy Morgan (1966-’67), Mel McCormack (1968), Mickey Kelly (1968), Patsy Reilly (1968) and Bertie Allen (1968). Born in New York, Mick Higgins moved to his fathers home of Mayo when he was three years old, went to school in Dundalk and worked in Celbridge before moving to Kilnaleck in Cavan in 1940 (home of his mother) where he soon impressed selectors and was invited to join the Cavan Junior team. He enjoyed a very successful career with Cavan, winning 3 All Ireland SFC titles, 1 National League title, 8 Ulster SFC titles, 2 Railway Cups and 2 McKenna Cups and was captain of the last Cavan team to lift the Sam Maguire Cup in 1952. His first game in charge of Longford was against Down in a challenge match on 18th April 1965. He oversaw Longford’s most successful period, reaching 2 Leinster SFC finals and winning the Leinster SFC title (1968), and National League (1966). It is worth noting that during his time as Longford manager from 1965-1969, he was also manager and selector for Cavan. He left the role with Cavan in February 1970 and shortly thereafter was re-appointed as Longford manager in May 1970, filling the role vacated by Seán Murray’s resignation in January 1970 and managing Longford during the 1970 Leinster SFC campaign. During that 1970 spell in charge, his team trainer was Mickey Kelly (appointed in April 1970 after Fr. McGee resigned in January 1970) with training assistance from John Joe O’Reilly.

Seán Murray was appointed in October 1969 after Mick Higgins stepped down the previous month. Fr. McGee remained on in the team trainer role. Seán Murray and Fr. McGee both resigned in January 1970 after a dispute arose over not having the power to select the team after the selection committee had drawn up the panel, and to have control of the team on the field. As the dispute wore on, Mickey Kelly was appointed team trainer on 10th April 1970 and Mick Higgins was then re-appointed to the role of team manager for the 1970 Leinster SFC campaign. Seán Murray was then back as manager for the start of the 1970/71 NFL season and held the role until he stepped down after the opening league game of the 1973/74 season vs Offaly on 14th October 1973. He had intended stepping back before the start of the 1973/74 season but was out of the country prior to the first game and was unable to inform players of his plans until his return.

Pat Barden took over as caretaker manager for two NFL games after Seán Murray stepped down in October 1973 and until John Donlon took on the role in November 1973. 

John Donlon replaced Seán Murray as manager in November 1973 and was in position until late 1975, with Seán Mulvihill in charge of training in Dublin. It is worth noting that from 1973-1977 we find Seán Logue named in local media as ‘team manager‘, however that referred to Seán’s role in organising training and reporting on attendance of players at each session to the selectors. The definition of Trainer and Manager seemed to move around the place quite a bit in the 1960’s and 1970’s relative to what we might understand those terms to mean today. 

Seán Donnelly replaced John Donlon as manager in October 1975 and held the role for 1 year, with John Fay, John Donlon, Bertie Allen, Jody Sheridan and Packy Rogers as selectors. 

Jackie Devine was announced manager in September 1976 with Seamus Flynn and Martin Clyne as selectors. He stepped down in September 1978.

Mickey Kelly was appointed manager in September 1978 with Mel McCormack, Martin Clyne and Seamus Flynn as selectors. He had previously been team trainer in 1970 after Seán Murray and Fr. McGee had resigned in January 1970. His tenure as manager lasted until the end of Longford’s 1979 Senior Championship campaign. 

Brendan Gilmore & Jackie Devine were appointed joint managers in September 1979 and held the position until the end of the 1981 season, with Eugene McGee involved as an advisor to the management team.

John Murphy was appointed in September 1981. Aged 31, the Cork native and Longford resident was captain of the Longford Slashers senior team at the time. In August 1982 both John and one of his selector Brendan Gilmore retired suddenly from their respective posts. However by October both were back in post and whatever issues caused the early retirement were resolved. John was reappointed in January 1986 and trained Longford from September 1981 until the end of the Leinster Championship campaign of 1986. His original backroom team was Brendan Gilmore and Pat O’Brien, while Pat was replaced by John Heneghan from January 1986. John Murphy stepped down in May 1986 but stayed on as caretaker manager until his successor was appointed.

Brendan Hackett was appointed in April 1987 (aged 26). His backroom team was John Greene, Seán Donnelly, T.J. Ward and Christy Mannion. He stepped down in June 1990. He is the youngest person to ever manage the Longford Senior team. 

Dessie Dolan was appointed in August 1990. Initially his backroom team was Christy Mannion and Seán Donnelly but in September 1991 he appointed a new backroom team of Pat Manacle and Seamus Flynn with Christy Mannion as team coordinator. Dessie stepped down in August 1992.

Mike Kenny was appointed in September 1992. His backroom team was Pat Manicle and Eugene Murtagh. Eugene McGee appointed the management team as part of a larger plan to revive Longford football from 1992, which McGee was charged with leading. Mike won 4 Senior Championship medals with Cashel and was a member of the Longford senior team from 1968 to 1980. Mike has the distinction of marking the great Matt Connor on his Championship debut with Offaly. He stepped down in August 1994.

Tom Donoghue was appointed in September 1994. His backroom team included Brendan Gilmore & Philip Kiernan as selectors and Jimmy Fox as ex officio selector. Tom was trainer of the Offaly football team from 1979 to 1983 and won an All-Ireland Hurling medal with Offaly in 1981. He resigned on 9th April 1995 citing a lack of commitment from players, when only 13 players showed up on that date for a challenge game vs Offaly in Ballymahon as part of Leinster Championship preparation.

T.J. Ward & Brendan Gilmore took over as caretaker managers for the Leinster Championship game against Meath on 11th June 1995.

John Greene took over as caretaker manager for the All-Ireland B campaign in August 1995 before Eamonn Coleman was appointed to the role later that month.

Eamonn Coleman was appointed in August 1995. His backroom team included Dessie Dolan (Snr), Noel Greene and John ‘Speedy’ McCormack. He stepped down in May 1997.

Michael McCormack was appointed in September 1997. His backroom team was Seamus McKeon, T.J. Ward and (for first 3 years) Denis Connerton. His tenure ended in October 2001 when the County Board voted 18-16 to sack him. A letter of appreciation for McCormack was penned and published by the players in Longford Leader the following week.

Denis Connerton was appointed in October 2001. His backroom team during his term included Pat O’Brien, Mattie Fox, Seán Hagan and Gerry Lynn. He stepped down in July 2004.

Like Dempsey was appointed in September 2004 with Declan Rowley as his assistant. By 2008 his management team had changed to include Padraig Lynn (trainer), Martin Skelly (selector) and Eugene McCormack (selector). He stepped down in July 2008.

Glenn Ryan was appointed in October 2008. His backroom team was Micheal Harkins and Ambrose McGowan as Selectors. Jim Maguire, a physical trainer with the Defence Forces, was also part of his backroom team. Former County Chairman Pat Cahill was appointed a selector in January 2013. Glenn Ryan stepped down in August 2013.

Jack Sheedy was appointed in October 2013. His backroom team was former Laois manager Sean Dempsey as Coach and Philip Kiernan as Selector. He stepped down in July 2015.

Denis Connerton was appointed in August 2015. This was his second spell in charge having previously held the position from 2001 to 2004. His backroom team was Ciaran Fox (Assistant Manager) and Selectors Enda Macken & Derek Ryan, with Barry Horgan as S&C Coach. He stepped down in July 2018.

Padraic Davis was appointed in September 2018. His backroom team was Paul Barden & Donal Ledwith with support from John Donnellan. He stepped down in July 2021. 

Billy O’Loughlin from Laois was appointed in November 2021. His backroom team was Michael Hannon and Paul Brady from Cavan, Daniel O’Doherty from Tyrone (S&C), Aidan Kilcoyne from Mayo (Goalkeeping coach), and Selectors Eugene McCormack & Declan Flaherty. He stepped down in July 2022. 

Paddy Christie from Dublin was appointed in August 2022 on an initial 1-year contract with backroom team of Dessie Sloyan, James Glancy, Michael Kenny & Seán Fox along with Daniel Doherty as S&C Coach. Michael Kenny stepped down in August 2023 and was replaced by Gareth Johnston who then resigned a few months later in late December 2023. James Glancy stepped down in January 2024 and was replaced by Cosmos Gilmore. Paddy was reappointed for a second season in August 2023 and stepped down from the role in July 2024.

Mike Solan from Mayo was appointed in September 2024 on a three year contract. His backroom team for 2025 was Michael Moyles (Mayo) and Enda McGahern (Colmcille), while the backroom team was changed in late 2025 to replace Michael Moyles with John Keane (Mayo) for the 2026 season. 

Paddy Prendergast was assisted by John Collins in initial years of competition.

Oliver Colohan was assisted by John Collins as Selector.

Paul Kennedy was appointed to take over team training in January 1986.

P.J. & Iggy Fulham took over management of the Longford hurlers as a father-and-son duo in January 1989, part way through the 1988/89 NHL season.

Tommy Lowry was appointed manager in October 1992. The former Westmeath hurler was living in Ballymahon at the time. 

Tom Lynam (Westmeath) was both player and manager when he was appointed manager in 1995. 

Pat Murtagh (Westmeath) from Castlepollard was appointed manager ahead of the Mayo game in NHL in March 1998. He stepped down in March 1999.

Noel Daly was appointed in April 1999 but resigned within a couple of weeks after Longford failed to field a team for his second game in charge, vs Donegal. The game had been re-arranged for a Saturday and the Donegal Hurling Board was allowed to switch the venue to almost a hundred miles further from Longford. This was the first time Longford had been unable to field a team in the National Hurling League, and it garnered much media attention at the time. In April 2012 Longford failed to field against Fermanagh following a crisis caused by heavy defeats during a difficult season in Division 3B. Longford had just appointed Wexford native Frank Browne and a process of rebuilding was undertaken which happily resulted in winning Division 3B the following year in 2013. 

Sean Stakelum was caretaker manager in 1999 after the resignation of Noel Daly and before the appointment of Alo Lawlor. 

Alo Lawlor (Offaly) was appointed manager in November 1999 with selection team of Noel Egan, Michael O’Rourke and Noel Daly.

Tom Lynam was appointed manager in February 2005, with John Finucane and Michael O’Rourke in his management team. 

Michael O’Rourke was appointed manager in 2006. His management team included Noel Daly and Mattie McLoughlin. Prior to his appointment, an announcement was made in February 2006 that Peter Curran (Westmeath) was appointed as caretaker manager with Michael O’Rourke as one of the selectors. 

Mattie McLoughlin was appointed in 2008. His management team included Michael O’Rourke and Barry Cox.

Frank Browne (Wexford) began his time as Longford Manager vs Fermanagh in the Lory Meagher Cup in May 2012. He stepped down in November 2014 to take up a new role as Mayo Ladies Manager. 

Ray Gavin (Dalystown) was appointed in December 2014 with backroom team of Martin Ford & Seamus Ennis (both Delvin). He stepped down in September 2017. 

Colum O’Meara (Galway) was appointed in December 2017. He had previously trained London to their first Nicky Rackard Cup title in 2005 while living in London. 

Adrian Moran (Ringtown) was appointed in October 2021 with a backroom team including Michael Lawler as Coach/Selector, David Kennedy as S&C Coach/Selector, Eoin Donnellan as Coach/Selector and James Flynn as Stats guru. Adrian was re-appointed in August 2023 and his backroom team includes Frank Aughey and Clive Beatie as Selectors, Denis Coen as Performance Coach, David Kennedy as S&C Coach, James Flynn on stats, Alan Wade and Darragh Moran as kitmen and Enda Leonard on nutrition. Adrian stepped down in December 2024.

Diarmuid Cahill (Tipperary) was nominated in December 2024 and appointed in January 2025. He comes from the Kilruane McDonaghs club in Tipperary. His backroom team is Tommy Hawes and Brian Crossan. 

Danny O’Briens appointment in 1972 is described in Comóradh an Chéid as Longford’s first Minor team manager. Previously individuals had managed the process of getting players together into a team and selection of the team, including in 1953 when Fr. Seán Manning had this role when Longford won the Leinster MFC title. 

In 1984 Jimmy Fox became Minor manager, with selectors Tom Hayden (Longford Slashers) and Patrick Reilly (Clonguish). 

For 1990 & 1991 Seasons, Minor manager was Liam Tierney with team of John Murphy, Declan Rowley and Mike Kenny.

For 1992 Season, Minor manager was Mike Kenny with team of Tom Hayden and Rogie Martin.

For 1993 Season, Minor manager was Declan Rowley with team of Denis Connerton, Liam Tierney, Kevin Eivers, Jackie Devine and Philip Smith. The inter-county steering committee that year included Andy Egan, John Bannon and Eugene McGee.

For 1994 Season, Minor manager was Denis Connerton with team of Rogie Martin, Philip Smyth, Jackie Devine and Michael Byrne.

For 1995 Season, Minor manager was Denis Connerton with team of Eugene McGee and Barney Mahon.

For 1996 Season, Minor manager was John McMahon with team of Jackie Devine and Eugene McGee.

In October 2000, Jimmy Gacquin was appointed Minor manager with team of Mick Kenny and John Fay. 

For 2007 Season, Minor manager was Gerry Lynn with team of Seán Conefrey, Marty McNerney and Padraig Farrell.

For 2020 Season, Brian Noonan (Mostrim) and Vinny Nally (Granard) were joint Minor managers. 

For 2024 Season, Minor manager was Enda McGahern with team of Gerry Seaver, Dermot Reilly, Padraig Murtagh, Fintan Eager, Gavin Tonra.

For 2025 Season, Minor manager was Joe Breslin from the Carrickedmond club.

For 2026 Season, Minor manager is Gary Toher from the Clonguish club.