Club Titles – SFC A

Killoe Young Emmets 2-9
Colmcille 1-11
↓
Date: 12th October 2025
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Ronan Keogh
Man of Match: Daniel Mimnagh
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon)

Note: 12 teams in 2025 SFC (6/6). Plans to reduce SFC from 12 to 11 teams in 2025 were pushed back a year and Carrickedmond received a reprieve from being relegated in 2024, thus retaining their senior status for 2025. Top four teams in each group advanced to the Quarter Finals. Relegation was decided by the bottom four teams (2 from each group) playing a round-robin relegation playoff, resulting in Fr. Manning Gaels getting relegated after one year at Senior grade while Mostrim ended their 58-year run at Senior grade by also being relegated to Intermediate. The final round of relegation games was not played as relegation was decided at the end of second round games. This reduces SFC from 12 teams to 11 teams in 2026.

2025 was the first season of the new rules for Gaelic Football which included two-pointers and Solo & Go. 

• Killoe Young Emmets 🏆
• Colmcille (F)
• Clonguish (SF)
• Rathcline (SF)
• Carrickedmond (QF)
• Abbeylara (QF)
• Dromard (QF)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (QF)
• St. Marys Granard
• Longford Slashers
• Mostrim (R) 🡇
• Fr. Manning Gaels (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | R* Technically Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Abbeylara 2-10
Colmcille 1-7
↓
Date: 26th October 2024
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captains: Cian Brady & Robert Smyth
Man of Match: Robert Smyth
Referee: John Cullen (Mostrim)

Abbeylara 0-12
Colmcille 1-9
↓
Date: 13th October 2024
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Tony Gaffney (Mostrim)

(Replay initially on Sunday 20th October, but cancelled on the day due to Storm Ashley and rescheduled to Saturday 26th October. Replay ended in a draw at the end of normal time and went to extra time)

Note: 12 teams in 2024 SFC (6/6). In Group A holders Killoe Young Emmets qualified as group winner while Colmcille, Rathcline and St. Marys Granard also advanced to the Quarter Finals. In Group B Mullinaghta St. Columbas finished top, while Abbeylara, Clonguish and Dromard all progressed to the Quarter Finals. The bottom two teams in each group (Longford Slashers, Mostrim, Kenagh and Carrickedmond) ended up in the relegation playoff with two teams relegated. With Slashers and Carrickedmond level on points at the end of the group stage, a preliminary round tie was required to decide who each would play in the relegation finals (5 vs 6 from each group). Carrickedmond refused to fulfil the fixture against Longford Slashers in protest at the management of the controversy over the missing point in their game versus Mullinalaghta in the group stage. This meant that the relegation finals were Longford Slashers v Kenagh and Mostrim v Carrickedmond. In the end Longford Slashers and Mostrim prevailed and both Kenagh and Carrickedmond were relegated to IFC. However, in March 2025 the County Board made the decision to retain a 12-team SFC for 2025 and Carrickedmond retained their Senior status. 

• Abbeylara 🏆
• Colmcille (F)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (SF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (SF)
• Clonguish (QF)
• Rathcline (QF)
• St. Marys Granard (QF)
• Dromard (QF)
• Longford Slashers
• Mostrim
• Carrickedmond (R*)
• Kenagh (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | R* Technically Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Controversy: The Mullinalaghta vs Carrickedmond final group game in Group B caused controversy when the game ended 2-12 to 2-11 but the scoreboard and referee deemed the game a draw at 2-12 apiece. An objection was raised by Mullinalaghta and a review by the Longford CCC upheld the objection based on video evidence (Clubber TV) and referee report admitting the error. Mullinalaghta were therefore awarded the win which meant that Dromard qualified from the group instead of Carrickedmond and also changed the final positions of all top 4 teams in Group B which in turn meant that all of the Quarter Final pairings had to change. Carrickedmond appealed the matter to the Leinster Council and were granted re-hearing of the original objection by Mullinalaghta in front of a newly constituted Longford CCC. However that was overturned when Longford County Board appealed the matter. In the end Carrickedmond ended up in the relegation playoffs with Longford Slashers, Mostrim and Kenagh. 

Killoe Young Emmets 1-8
Clonguish 0-10
↓
Date: 15th October 2023
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Cian Farrelly
Man of Match: Daniel Mimnagh
Referee: Hugh O’Kane (Young Grattans)

Note: 12 teams in 2023 SFC (6/6). Relegation semi-finals saw Abbeylara beat Ballymahon convincingly and Carrickedmond defeating Mostrim to set up a relegation final between Mostrim and Ballymahon, with Ballymahon losing out by 2-13 to 1-2 and relegated to Intermediate after 1 season at Senior.

• Killoe Young Emmets 🏆
• Clonguish (F)
• Colmcille (SF)
• Dromard (SF)
• Longford Slashers (QF)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (QF)
• Rathcline (QF)
• St. Marys Granard (QF)
• Abbeylara
• Carrickedmond
• Mostrim
• Ballymahon (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Colmcille 1-7
Mullinalaghta St. Columbas 0-8
↓
Date: 9th October 2022
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Jack Macken
Man of Match: Jack Macken
Referee: Mark Glancy (Rathcline)

Note: 12 teams in 2022 SFC (6/6). St. Brigids Killashee withdrew from the SFC after Round 1 and were automatically relegated to Intermediate with no relegation playoff games played.

• Colmcille 🏆
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (F)
• Longford Slashers (SF)
• Dromard (SF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (QF)
• Abbeylara (QF)
• Mostrim (QF)
• Rathcline (QF)
• St. Marys Granard
• Clonguish
• Carrickedmond
• St. Brigids Killashee (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Mullinalaghta St. Columbas 0-15
Mostrim 0-06
↓
Date: 7th November 2021
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Donal McElligott
Man of Match: Cian Mackey
Referee: Patrick Maguire (St. Marys Granard)

🔗 Match Programme Link

Note: 12 teams in 2021 SFC (6/6). Relegation semi-finals saw Rathcline defeat Fr. Manning Gaels and Longford Slashers defeat Clonguish to set up a relegation final between Fr. Manning Gaels and Clonguish, with Fr. Manning Gaels losing out by 4-16 to 0-6 to return to Intermediate grade after two seasons at Senior.

• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas 🏆
• Mostrim (F)
• Killoe Young Emmets (SF)
• Colmcille (SF)
• St. Marys Granard (QF)
• Dromard (QF)
• Abbeylara (QF)
• Carrickedmond (QF)
• Rathcline
• Clonguish
• Longford Slashers
• Fr. Manning Gaels (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Killoe Young Emmets 0-13
Longford Slashers 1-8
↓
Date: 29th August 2021*
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Daniel Mimnagh
Man of Match: Michael Quinn
Referee: Aidan Dowler (Ardagh Moydow)

* Semi-finals and Final delayed for 11 months due to Covid-19 pandemic. 

🔗 Match Programme Link

Note: 12 teams in 2020 SFC (3/3/3/3). No relegation or promotion in 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic.

• Killoe Young Emmets 🏆
• Longford Slashers (F)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (SF)
• Mostrim (SF)
• St. Marys Granard (QF)
• Abbeylara (QF)
• Colmcille (QF)
• Fr. Manning Gaels (QF)
• Dromard
• Clonguish
• Carrickedmond
• Rathcline

(QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

2020 Ban Controversy: The 2020 Senior Football Championship is perhaps best remembered for the Killoe Young Emmets club receiving an unprecedented 48-week ban from the Longford County Board in August 2020 for failure to pay a €750 fine relating to a Juvenile Championship final no-show the previous season. The ban made national news and would have ruled the club out of defending their title with SFC activity already underway at the time. The club appealed the ban, initially to Leinster Council and then to the Dispute Resolution Authority (DRA) of the GAA, and the ban was duly revoked by the DRA in September 2020. The DRA ruled that the Longford Hearing Committee had erred in both its interpretation and implementation of the rules (🔗 Link). Killoe were immediately reinstated and went on to win the SFC title.

2020 Covid Impact: SFC competition advanced to semi-final stage by the end of September 2020. However, just before the semi-final games were due to be played, the GAA announced on 5th October 2020 that all club activity nationwide would be halted due to renewed Covid-19 spread. The Longford County Board announced later in October 2020 that all unfinished competition which had started in 2020 (including the Senior Football Championship) would conclude in 2021 instead. The semi-finals of the 2020 Longford Senior Football Championship resumed in August 2021 and the 2020 County Final was played on 29 August 2021. Killoe, with their ‘ban’ overturned by the DRA of the GAA, went on to win that 2020 SFC title. 

Killoe Young Emmets 0-12
Longford Slashers 0-11
↓
Date: 6th October 2019
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Seán McCormack
Man of Match: Daniel Mimnagh
Referee: Patrick Maguire (St. Marys Granard)

🔗 Match Programme Link

Note: 11 teams in 2019 SFC (4/4/3). Relegation involved a round-robin structure between Mostrim, St. Marys Granard and Rathcline. Mostrim survived on score difference while St. Marys Granard and Rathcline were both relegated to IFC. However due to Covid-19 in 2020 and a desire to retain a 12-team SFC, that decision was later reversed and both remained at Senior grade while the 2019 Intermediate winner (Fr. Manning Gaels) was promoted to make 12 teams in 2020 Senior Championship.

• Killoe Young Emmets 🏆
• Longford Slashers (F)
• Colmcille (SF)
• Abbeylara (SF)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (QF)
• Dromard (QF)
• Clonguish (QF)
• Carrickedmond (QF)
• Mostrim
• St. Marys Granard (R*)
• Rathcline (R*)

(R* = Technically Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Mullinalaghta St. Columbas 2-14
Abbeylara 1-2
↓
Date: 14th October 2018
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Shane Mulligan
Man of Match: David McGivney
Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon)

Mullinalaghta St. Columbas 0-6
Abbeylara 0-6
↓
Date: 7th October 2018
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Donal Kane (Young Grattans)

🔗 Match Programme Link

Note: 11 teams in 2018 SFC (4/4/3). Ballymahon requested to relegate to Intermediate, hence no relegation playoffs. This was the clubs first return to Intermediate grade since winning the IFC title in 1998.

• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas 🏆
• Abbeylara (F)
• Clonguish (SF)
• Colmcille (SF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (QF)
• St. Marys Granard (QF)
• Dromard (QF)
• Mostrim (QF)
• Carrickedmond
• Longford Slashers
• Ballymahon (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Mullinalaghta St. Columbas 0-13
Abbeylara 1-7
↓
Date: 8th October 2017
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Shane Mulligan
Man of Match: Rian Brady
Referee: Aidan Dowler (Moydow Harpers)

🔗 Match Programme Link

Note: 13 teams in 2017 SFC (4/4/5). St. Brigids Killashee and Fr. Manning Gaels were relegated to Intermediate. Rathcline elected not to be promoted, hence the number of teams in Senior Championship for 2018 reduced from 13 to 11. Killashee were automatically relegated to IFC after just 1 season at Senior grade while Fr. Manning Gaels lost to St. Marys Granard in the relegation playoff to make the drop to Intermediate after 42 successive seasons at Senior grade (1976-2017). 

• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas 🏆
• Abbeylara (F)
• Mostrim (SF)
• Clonguish (SF)
• Dromard (QF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (QF)
• Colmcille (QF)
• Ballymahon (QF)
• Carrickedmond
• Longford Slashers
• St. Marys Granard
• St. Brigids Killashee (R) 🡇
• Fr. Manning Gaels (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner) 

Mullinalaghta St. Columbas 1-8
Abbeylara 0-8
↓
Date: 16th October 2016
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Shane Mulligan
Man of Match: John Keegan
Referee: Patrick Maguire (St. Marys Granard)

🔗 Match Programme Link

Note: This win ended the longest wait between SFC titles of any club in Longford – 66 years from 1950 to 2016. 

Note: 13 teams in 2016 SFC (4/4/5). SFC structure returned to a multi-group round-robin qualifier model followed by knockout stages. Rathcline finished bottom of Group C and were automatically relegated to IFC.

• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas 🏆
• Abbeylara (F)
• Killoe Young Emmets (SF)
• Dromard (SF)
• Clonguish (QF)
• Carrickedmond (QF)
• Longford Slashers (QF)
• Mostrim (QF)
• St. Marys Granard
• Colmcille
• Ballymahon
• Fr. Manning Gaels
• Rathcline (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Group Game Refixed: The group stage game between Killoe Young Emmets and Longford Slashers had to be refixed after the original game ended Killoe 1-9 to Longford Slashers 2-5. However Killoe were deemed to have had an extra man on the field at the time of their winning score at the end of the game, hence the CCCC instructed that the game be voided and replayed. In the replayed game, Longford Slashers ended up coming out on top by 1-10 to 0-12. Both teams advanced to the knockout stage. 

Killoe Young Emmets 1-14
Abbeylara 1-11
↓
Date: 4th October 2015
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Michael Quinn
Man of Match: Conor Berry (Abbeylara)
Referee: Derek Fahy (Ballymore)

🔗 Match Programme Link

Note: 12 teams in 2015 SFC (Open draw single group qualifier followed by knockout stage). The final place in knockout stage was decided via a playoff between Ballymahon and Killoe who ended on same points in joint 8th position. Killoe won the playoff by 4-16 to 2-9 to progress to the Quarter Finals. In the relegation playoffs, Fr. Manning Gaels beat Ballymahon and Mostrim beat Carrickdmond in their respective relegation semi-finals, and in the relegation final Carrickedmond lost to Ballymahon by 2-10 to 2-9 to be relegated to IFC. However with SFC structure increasing to 13 teams in 2016, Carrickedmond stayed at Senior grade. 

• Killoe Young Emmets 🏆
• Abbeylara (F)
• Clonguish (SF)
• Dromard (SF)
• Colmcille (QF)
• St. Marys Granard (QF)
• Longford Slashers (QF)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (QF)
• Ballymahon
• Mostrim
• Fr. Manning Gaels
• Carrickedmond (R*)

(R* = Technically Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Killoe Young Emmets 2-11
Mullinalaghta St. Columbas 0-10
↓
Date: 5th October 2014
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Joe McCormack
Man of Match: Daniel Mimnagh
Referee: Michael O’Brien (Longford Slashers)

🔗 Match Programme Link

Note: 12 teams in 2014 SFC (Open draw single group qualifier followed by knockout stage). Ardagh St. Patricks were relegated to Intermediate. 

• Killoe Young Emmets 🏆
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (F)
• Clonguish (SF)
• Dromard (SF)
• St. Marys Granard (QF)
• Longford Slashers (QF)
• Colmcille (QF)
• Abbeylara (QF)
• Fr. Manning Gaels
• Mostrim
• Ballymahon
• Ardagh St. Patricks (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Longford Slashers 1-11
Dromard 1-9
↓
Date: 6th October 2013
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Dermot Brady
Man of Match: Dermot Brady
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon)

Note: 12 teams in 2013 SFC (Open draw single group qualifier followed by knockout stage). St. Brigids Killashee requested to relegate to Intermediate and not partake in relegation competition. The other three teams in the relegation playoff were Ballymahon, Fr. Manning Gaels & St. Marys Granard who took part in a three game playoff. Ballymahon beat Fr. Manning Gaels in Round 1 by  0-15 to 0-7. Fr. Manning Gaels beat St. Marys Granard in Round 2 by 2-12 to 2-8. In the final round, Ballymahon beat St. Marys Granad by 1-6 to 1-8 hence Ballymahon topped the table and retained their Senior status.  St. Marys Granard and Fr. Manning Gaels were both relegated, however at a subsequent meeting of Coiste Chontae an Longfort it was agreed that they would both remain at Senior grade for 2013. 

• Longford Slashers 🏆
• Dromard (F)
• Abbeylara (SF)
• Colmcille (SF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (QF)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (QF)
• Clonguish (QF)
• Mostrim (QF)
• Ballymahon
• Fr. Manning Gaels
• St. Marys Granard
• St. Brigids Killashee (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Killoe Young Emmets 0-15
Longford Slashers 0-12
↓
Date: 21st October 2012
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Joe McCormack
Man of Match: Seán McCormack
Referee: Patrick Maguire (St. Marys Granard)

Killoe Young Emmets 0-7
Longford Slashers 0-7
↓
Date: 14th October 2012
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Derek Fahy (Ballymore)

Note: 12 teams in 2012 SFC (Open draw single group qualifier followed by knockout stage). The SFC structure in 2012 moved away from multiple groups to one combined league stage with open draw and each team playing 4 games, leading to the top 8 teams progressing to knockout stages and bottom 4 teams in relegation playoff. The new structure came in for criticism due to the incentive for top teams to rack up high scores to book easier quarter final ties, which left weaker teams languishing at the bottom of the table from early on and generated a wide gulf between top and bottom of the table which in turn led to poor attendance at games. Seán Connollys lost all 4 league stage games (scoring 17 and conceding 101 points) and lost the relegation final to St. Brigids Killashee by 1-13 to 0-8 to be relegated to Intermediate after 23 seasons playing at Senior grade. 

• Killoe Young Emmets 🏆
• Longford Slashers (F)
• Dromard (SF)
• Clonguish (SF)
• Abbeylara (QF)
• Colmcille (QF)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (QF)
• Fr. Manning Gaels (QF)
• Mostrim
• Ballymahon
• St. Brigids Killashee
• Seán Connollys (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Longford Slashers 0-7
Clonguish 0-6
↓
Date: 11th September 2011
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Dermot Brady
Man of Match: Paul Kelly
Referee: Frank Toher (Killoe Young Emmets)

Note: 16 teams in SFC (4/4/4/4). Bottom team from all 4 groups was relegated automatically along with loser of a playoff between the 3rd placed teams. Cashel, Rathcline, St. Marys Granard and Ardagh St. Patricks all ended up bottom of their respective groups and were automatically relegated. Carrickedmond lost to Mullinalaghta in the relegation playoff final of the 3rd placed teams, and were also relegated to Intermediate. With 5 clubs making the drop and 1 club coming up from Intermediate, the 2012 SFC would include 12 teams. For St. Marys Granard relegation marked an end to 53 successive seasons playing at Senior grade (1959-2011) since promotion to Senior after winning the Junior Championship in 1958. 

• Longford Slashers 🏆
• Clonguish (F)
• Fr. Manning Gaels (SF)
• Colmcille (SF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (QF)
• Mostrim (QF)
• Abbeylara (QF)
• Ballymahon (QF)
• Dromard
• Seán Connollys
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas
• Carrickedmond (R) 🡇
• Ardagh St. Patricks (R) 🡇
• St. Marys Granard (R) 🡇
• Cashel (R) 🡇
• Rathcline (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Longford Slashers 0-11
Dromard 1-5
↓
Date: 26th September 2010
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Dermot Brady
Man of Match: David Sheridan
Referee: Derek Fahy (Ballymahon)

Note: 15 teams in SFC – 4 qualifier groups of 4/4/4/3 followed by knockout from Quarter Final stage. Ardagh St. Patricks relegated to Intermediate, however SFC was then increased from 15 to 16 teams in 2011, hence a reprieve for Ardagh. 

• Longford Slashers 🏆
• Dromard (F)
• Abbeylara (SF)
• Mostrim (SF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (QF)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (QF)
• Rathcline (QF)
• Cashel (QF)
• Clonguish
• Colmcille
• Seán Connollys
• Ballymahon
• Fr. Manning Gaels
• St. Marys Granard
• Ardagh St. Patricks (R*)

(R* = Technically Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Clonguish 0-9
Dromard 1-5
↓
Date: 27th September 2009
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Paul Barden
Man of Match: David Barden
Referee: John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields)

Clonguish 1-11
Dromard 1-11
↓
Date: 13th September 2009
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Eugene Murtagh (Seán Connollys)

Note: 14 teams in SFC – 4 qualifier groups of 4/4/3/3 followed by knockout from Quarter Final stage. This is first year of multi-group round-robin qualifier structure in advance of the knockout stages. Mullinalaghta St. Columbas relegated to Intermediate, however SFC was then increased from 14 to 15 teams in 2010, hence a reprieve for Mullinalaghta. 

• Clonguish 🏆
• Dromard (F)
• Abbeylara (SF)
• Ballymahon (SF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (QF)
• Colmcille (QF)
• Longford Slashers (QF)
• Ardagh St. Patricks (QF)
• Rathcline
• Fr. Manning Gaels
• Seán Connollys
• Mostrim
• St. Marys Granard
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (R*)

(R* = Technically Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Colmcille 0-13
Longford Slashers 0-7
↓
Date: 28th September 2008
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Francis Kavanagh
Man of Match: Declan C Reilly
Referee: Mick Doherty (Legan Sarsfields)

Note: 15 teams in SFC – Backdoor qualifiers after Rounds 1 and 2 with knockout from Quarter Final stage. Ballymore relegated to Intermediate.

• Colmcille 🏆
• Longford Slashers (F)
• Abbeylara (SF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (SF)
• Fr. Manning Gaels (QF)
• Mostrim (QF)
• Clonguish (QF)
• Ballymahon (QF)
• Rathcline
• Dromard
• St. Marys Granard
• Seán Connollys
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas
• Ardagh St. Patricks
• Ballymore (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Dromard 1-8
Colmcille 2-4
↓
Date: 30th September 2007
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Padraig Jones
Man of Match: Frank McGee
Referee: Stephen Tierney (Mostrim)

Note: 15 teams in SFC – Backdoor qualifiers after Rounds 1 and 2 with knockout from Quarter Final stage. The relegation final was between St. Marys Granard and Cashel with Cashel losing by 2-11 to 0-5 and relegated to Intermediate. 

• Dromard 🏆
• Colmcille (F)
• Seán Connollys (SF)
• Longford Slashers (SF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (QF)
• Ballymahon (QF)
• Fr. Manning Gaels (QF)
• Abbeylara (QF)
• Mostrim
• Ardagh St. Patricks
• Rathcline
• Clonguish
• Ballymore
• St. Marys Granard
• Cashel (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Abbeylara 1-9
Longford Slashers 0-10
↓
Date: 8th October 2006
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Donal Ledwith
Man of Match: Niall Sheridan
Referee: John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields)

Note: 15 teams in SFC including Carrickedmond/Legan amalgamation from Intermediate grade. Backdoor qualifiers after Rounds 1 and 2 with knockout from Quarter Final stage.

It is worth noting that Cashel, Fr. Manning Gaels and Ballymore were all technically relegated from Senior grade at the end of 2006 after failing to register a win in SFC. However in early 2007 the County Board decided to allow all three clubs to remain at Senior grade following a motion at Convention which called for the current Championship structure to be re-examined. It was decided that 15 clubs would continue to compete in SFC in 2007, though with a change that only losers of first round games will get a second chance via the back door. 

• Abbeylara 🏆
• Longford Slashers (F)
• Clonguish (SF)
• Dromard (SF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (QF)
• Rathcline (QF)
• Colmcille (QF)
• Ballymahon (QF)
• St. Marys Granard
• Seán Connollys
• Mostrim
• Carrickedmond/Legan
• Fr. Manning Gaels (R*)
• Cashel (R*)
• Ballymore (R*)

(R* = Technically Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Dromard 1-14
Fr. Manning Gaels 0-12
↓
Date: 18th September 2005
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Cathal Conefrey
Man of Match: Diarmuid Masterson
Referee: Derek Fahy (Ballymahon)

Note: 15 teams in SFC – Backdoor qualifiers after Rounds 1 and 2 with knockout from Quarter Final stage. Carrickedmond and St. Brigids Killashee relegated to Intermediate.

• Dromard 🏆
• Fr. Manning Gaels (F)
• Clonguish (SF)
• Ballymahon (SF)
• Longford Slashers (QF)
• Cashel (QF)
• Abbeylara (QF)
• Seán Connollys (QF)
• Killoe Young Emmets
• Colmcille
• Mostrim
• Ballymore
• St. Marys Granard
• Carrickedmond (R) 🡇
• St. Brigids Killashee (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Clonguish 1-15
Fr. Manning Gaels 0-5
↓
Date: 3rd October 2004
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Brendan Burke
Man of Match: Paul Barden
Referee: Aidan Dowler (Moydow Harpers)

This was the first final where both finalists had been beaten previously in the Championship. 

Note: 16 teams in SFC – Backdoor qualifiers after Rounds 1 and 2 with knockout from Quarter Final stage. Ardagh St. Patricks lost to Killoe Young Emmets in the relegation playoff and were relegated after 33 successive seasons at Senior grade (1972-2004). They were joined in relegation by Rathcline who lost to Carrickedmond in the other relegation playoff and were relegated after 34 successive seasons at Senior grade (1971-2004). 

• Clonguish 🏆
• Fr. Manning Gaels (F)
• Ballymahon (SF)
• Dromard (SF)
• Cashel (QF)
• St. Marys Granard (QF)
• Colmcille (QF)
• Longford Slashers (QF)
• Mostrim
• Abbeylara
• Seán Connollys
• St. Brigids Killashee
• Killoe Young Emmets
• Carrickedmond
• Ardagh St. Patricks (R) 🡇
• Rathcline (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Clonguish 0-11
Ballymahon 1-1
↓
Date: 5th October 2003
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Enda Barden
Man of Match: Paddy Dowd
Referee: Mick Doherty (Legan Sarsfields)

Clonguish 0-11
Ballymahon 1-8
↓
Date: 21st September 2003
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Tommy Donohoe (Rathcline)

Note: Clonguish won the Senior and Junior Championship double in 2003, only the second club to win both titles in the same year. 

2003 Championship: 16 teams in SFC – Backdoor qualifiers after Rounds 1 and 2 with knockout from Quarter Final stage. New backdoor qualifiers introduced in 2003 after Rounds 1 and 2. The previous years ‘Senior B Championship’ qualifier route was discontinued and replaced with backdoor qualifier games for losers in Round 1 and Round 2 with straight knockout from Quarter Finals on. Mullinalaghta St. Columbas relegated to Intermediate. 

• Clonguish 🏆
• Ballymahon (F)
• Killoe Young Emmets (SF)
• Mostrim (SF)
• Abbeylara (QF)
• Cashel (QF)
• St. Marys Granard (QF)
• Ardagh St. Patricks (QF)
• Colmcille
• Fr. Manning Gaels
• Rathcline
• Dromard
• Longford Slashers
• Seán Connollys
• Carrickedmond
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Ballymahon 1-11
Clonguish 0-12
↓
Date: 29th September 2002
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Ken Cooney
Man of Match: Frankie Dolan
Referee: Peter O’Reilly (Abbeylara)

Note: 16 teams in SFC – SFC increased from 15 to 16 teams with Carrickedmond promoted from Intermediate and no relegation from SFC in 2002. The backdoor system introduced in 2000 was continued in 2002 with all 7 first round losing teams along with the last team drawn out of the hat during the SFC Draw competing in the ‘Senior B’ Competition with the winner qualifying for the Quarter Final stage.

• Ballymahon 🏆
• Clonguish (F)
• St. Marys Granard (SF)
• Rathcline (SF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (QF)
• Dromard (QF)
• Fr. Manning Gaels (QF)
• Abbeylara (QF)
• Colmcille
• Mostrim
• Cashel
• Ardagh St. Patricks
• Longford Slashers
• Seán Connollys
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas
• Carrickedmond

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Fr. Manning Gaels 1-9
St. Marys Granard 0-6
↓
Date: 16th September 2001
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: David Hannify
Man of Match: Francis McNamee
Referee: John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields)

Note: 15 teams in SFC – Regular knockout structure with Senior ‘B’ backdoor qualifier. No relegation to Intermediate. 

The backdoor system introduced in 2000 was continued in 2001 with all 7 first round losing teams along with the last team drawn out of the hat during the SFC Draw (Longford Slashers in 2001) competing in the ‘Senior B’ Competition with the winner qualifying for the Quarter Final stage. In the Senior B competition, Longford Slashers were beaten by Ardagh St. Patricks in the first round and therefore were eliminated and did not qualify for the Senior Football Championship proper for the first time in the clubs history.

• Fr. Manning Gaels 🏆
• St. Marys Granard (F)
• Colmcille (SF)
• Abbeylara (SF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (QF)
• Ballymahon (QF)
• Clonguish (QF)
• Cashel (QF)
• Rathcline
• Mostrim
• Ardagh St. Patricks
• Dromard
• Longford Slashers
• Seán Connollys
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Abbeylara 2-6
Fr. Manning Gaels 0-4
↓
Date: 17th September 2000
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Niall Sheridan
Man of Match: Terry Drake
Referee: Seamus Flood (Mostrim)

Note: 15 clubs in SFC – First season of new structure with backdoor qualifier. Kenagh relegated to Intermediate. 

2000 saw the introduction of a new backdoor system which involved all 7 first round losing teams along with the last team drawn out of the hat during the SFC Draw (Mostrim in 2000) competing in the ‘Senior B’ Competition with the winner qualifying for the Quarter Final stage. First round involved 7 games, with 7 winners progressing to the Quarter Finals, while 7 losers plus Mostrim play out a losers competition with overall winner receiving the Kevin Hughes Cup (for Senior B Championship) and progress to the Quarter Final stage of the Senior Championship proper. 

• Abbeylara 🏆
• Fr. Manning Gaels (F)
• St. Marys Granard (SF)
• Killoe Young Emmets (SF)
• Mostrim (QF)
• Clonguish (QF)
• Dromard (QF)
• Ardagh St. Patricks (QF)
• Rathcline
• Colmcille
• Cashel
• Longford Slashers
• Ballymahon
• Seán Connollys
• Kenagh (R) 🡇

(R = Relegated | QF = Quarter Finalists | SF = Semi-Finalists | F = Finalist | 🏆 = Winner)

Dromard 1-10
Abbeylara 1-8
↓
Date: 3rd October 1999
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Cathal Conefrey
Man of Match: Paul Jones
Referee: Frank Toher (Killoe Young Emmets)

Dromard 1-7
Abbeylara 0-10
↓
Date: 19th September 1999
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Frank Toher (Killoe Young Emmets)

Note: 13 clubs in SFC. This was the final year of straight knockout Championship format. This was the first ever Longford County Final to be broadcast live on the internet and was also broadcast in an Irish bar in New York City, where the writer of this record was sat watching it. 

Fr. Manning Gaels 1-11
Abbeylara 2-7
↓
Date: 20th September 1998
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Francis McNamee
Man of Match: Pádraic Davis
Referee: Pat O’Toole (Forgney)

(Fr. Manning Gaels completed three-in-row of SFC titles in 1998)

Fr. Manning Gaels 0-12
Longford Slashers 0-6
↓
Date: 21st September 1997
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Francis McNamee
Man of Match: Pádraic Davis
Referee: John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields)

1997 SFC Draw – First Round:

• Ballymahon/Forgney v Mostrim
• Longford Slashers v St. Marys Granard
• Killoe Young Emmets v Kenagh
• Clonguish/Killashee v Colmcille
• Cashel v Seán Connollys
• Rathcline v Dromard
• Abbeylara v Ardagh St. Patricks
• Fr. Manning Gaels bye

The SFC included two lower tier amalgamations in 1997 – Clonguish/Killashee and Ballymahon/Forgney. 

Fr. Manning Gaels 0-15
Ardagh St. Patricks 1-5
↓
Date: 8th September 1996
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Francis McNamee
Man of Match: Páraic Brady
Referee: Eugene Murtagh (Seán Connollys)

Killoe Young Emmets 0-11
Ardagh St. Patricks 1-5
↓
Date: 10th September 1995
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Mark Mimnagh
Man of Match: John Toher
Referee: Pat O’Toole (Forgney)

Note: History was made in 1995 when two brothers trained the winners of the Senior Football Championship (Killoe trained by Tommy McCormack) and Junior Football Championship (Ballymore trained by Jimmy McCormack).

Longford Slashers 2-11
Colmcille 1-11
↓
Date: 11th September 1994
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Niall Caslin
Man of Match: Gerry Clarke
Referee: John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields)

1994 Senior Football Championship Draw:

Round 1:
A) Senior B Winner v Kenagh
B) St. Marys Granard v Seán Connollys
C) Longford Slashers v Rathcline
D) Mostrim v Ardagh St. Patricks

Quarter Finals:
E) Winner A v Colmcille
F) Winner B v Dromard
G) Winner C v Killoe Young Emmets
H) Winner D v Fr. Manning Gaels

Semi-Finals:
Winner E v Winner F
Winner G v Winner H

Note: The Senior ‘B’ Championship format was changed in 1994 to remove any Senior clubs (Longford Slashers had won it in 1993) and to have six Intermediate and Junior amalgamations competing for the Senior B Championship title to gain entry to Round 1 of the Senior Football Championship proper. The six amalgamations were:

• Shroid/Ballymore
• Legan/Carrickedmond
• Abbeylara/Mullinalaghta
• Cashel/Moydow/Grattans
• Clonguish/Killashee
• Ballymahon/Forgney

Killoe Young Emmets 0-9
St. Marys Granard 0-7
↓
Date: 12th September 1993
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: John McCormack
Man of Match: John McCormack
Referee: Pat Keenan (Mostrim)

Mostrim 3-9
Seán Connollys 1-7
↓
Date: 13th September 1992
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Gerry Lynn
Man of Match: Bernie Connell
Referee: Pat O’Toole (Forgney)

Longford Slashers 1-13
Mostrim 3-6
↓
Date: 8th September 1991
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Dessie Barry
Man of Match: Dessie Barry
Referee: Eugene Murtagh (Seán Connollys)

Longford Slashers 2-18
Ardagh St. Patricks 1-11
↓
Date: 23rd September 1990
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Dessie Barry
Man of Match: Dessie Barry
Referee: Pat O’Toole (Forgney)

Longford Slashers 0-7
Ardagh St. Patricks 1-4
↓
Date: 9th September 1990
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Pat O’Toole (Forgney)

1990 Championship Draw:

• Colmcille v Ardagh St. Patricks
• Rathcline v Senior ‘B’ Finalist
• Longford Slashers v Mostrim
• Killoe Young Emmets v Senior ‘B’ Finalist

The SFC structure was changed such that the finalists of the Senior ‘B’ Championship qualified to compete in the SFC Championship proper from 1990. This would change again in 1994 when Senior B was restricted to just Intermediate and/or Junior amalgamations. The Senior ‘B’ Championship in 1990 included the following teams:

• Kenagh
• Cashel
• St. Marys Granard
• Seán Connollys
• Dromard
• Fr. Manning Gaels
• Carrickedmond/Forgney

Longford Slashers 2-10
Mostrim 1-7
↓
Date: 10th September 1989
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Dermot Caslin
Man of Match: Dessie Barry
Referee: Brendan Gilmore (Rathcline)

Note: Longford Slashers went on to win the World 7-a-side Gaelic Football competition in New York in 1989. Slashers lost to Kilmacud Crokes by 2-3 to 0-1 in their opening game, but recovered to beat Beltane Shamrocks from Glasgow by 3-4 to 1-2 and St. Mary’s London by 4-8 to 1-3 to qualify for the Quarter Finals where they beat New York by 3-4 to 2-1. In the semi-final they beat Garryowen of London by 4-4 to 3-3 and in the final defeated Donegal NY by 2-5 to 2-4 in a very exciting game. The tournament highlights included a three-goal spree by Dessie Barry in the semi-final, a crucial Fintan Flanagan goal in the final, and the performance of Leonard Dolan who completed the tournament with an impressive tally of six goals and four points. 

Killoe Young Emmets 3-7
Mostrim 1-7
↓
Date: 11th September 1988
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Declan Rowley
Man of Match: Frank Kennedy
Referee: Jas Brady (St. Marys Granard)

Note: Killoe won the Senior and Junior Championship double in 1988, the first club to win both titles in the same year. 

Ardagh St. Patricks 2-6
Killoe Young Emmets 1-8
↓
Date: 13th September 1987
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Seán Kiernan
Man of Match: Brendan Lennon (Killoe)
Referee: Peter Kane (Young Grattans)

Cashel 2-10
Mostrim 1-8
↓
Date: 14th September 1986
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Frank Carberry
Man of Match: Mick Casey
Referee: Terry McGovern (St. Marys Granard)

Mostrim 1-5
Ardagh St. Patricks 0-6
↓
Date: 20th October 1985
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Mickey O’Hara
Man of Match: John Smith
Referee: Mick Lloyd (Forgney)

Mostrim 2-5
Ardagh St. Patricks 2-5
↓
Date: 6th October 1985
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Mick Lloyd (Forgney)

Mostrim 1-5
Ardagh St. Patricks 0-8
↓
Date: 15th September 1985
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Mick Lloyd (Forgney)

Note 1: It took 210 minutes of football across three games to separate the sides and decide the 1985 title. This was the first (and thus far only) time the SFC final went to a second replay. The ensuring delay meant that the 1984 champions Cashel were nominated to represent Longford in the Leinster Club Championship game versus the Offaly champions on 19th October at Clonbonny. 

Note 2: Man of the Match winner John Smith was also the Mostrim team trainer. 

Cashel 0-9
Mostrim 0-5
↓
Date: 9th September 1984
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Gerry Farrell
Man of Match: Mick Casey
Referee: Rogie Martin (St. Marys Granard)

Cashel 1-9
Killoe Young Emmets 1-8
↓
Date: 11th September 1983
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Peter Bannon
Man of Match: Brendan Smyth
Referee: Leo McCormack (Ballymahon)

🔗 Match Programme Link

St. Marys Granard 4-5
Ardagh St. Patricks 1-9
↓
Date: 12th September 1982
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Padraig Kearney
Man of Match: Kevin O’Rourke
Referee: Peter Kane (Young Grattans)

1982 Championship: The SFC structure in 1982 involved 6 teams in Quarter Final ties with the 7th and 8th team coming from the top and bottom halves of a Section B qualifier group (equivalent of following years ‘Section B’ which was then renamed Senior B Championship). Two teams from Section B advanced to the SFC Quarter Final stage. Killoe Young Emmets and St. Marys Granard both advanced to play Ardagh St. Patricks and Longford Slashers respectively in the SFC Quarter Finals. 

SFC Quarter Finals:

• Cashel v Clonguish
• Dromard v Rathcline
• Longford Slashers v Section B team 1
• Ardagh St. Patricks v Section B team 2

Section B (Qualifier):

• Fr. Manning Gaels v Ballymahon
• Legan Sarsfields v Killoe Young Emmets
• Carrickedmond v Mostrim
• St. Marys Granard v St. Munis Forgney

Note: In Section B, Killoe beat Legan and Fr. Manning Gaels to qualify for SFC Quarter Final vs Ardagh St. Patricks, while St. Marys Granard beat St. Munis Forgney and the winner of Carrickedmond-Mostrim to also advance to the SFC Quarter Final. Later after the SFC had completed, Killoe Young Emmets and St. Marys Granard met in the Section B (aka Senior B) Championship Final which Granard won by 1-10 to 1-7. 

Clonguish 2-2
Longford Slashers 1-2
↓
Date: 13th September 1981
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: John Blessing
Man of Match: Jimmy McCormack
Referee: Rogie Martin (St. Marys Granard)

1981 Championship: The SFC structure in 1981 involved 7 teams in Quarter Final ties with the 8th team coming from the winner of a Section A qualifier group (equivalent of following years ‘Section B’ which was then renamed Senior B Championship). The winner of Section A advanced to the Quarter Final against Cashel. Dromard beat Killoe Young Emmets in the Section A Final and advanced to meet Cashel in the SFC Quarter Final. 

SFC Quarter Finals:

• St. Patricks Ardagh v Clonguish
• Rathcline v St. Marys Granard
• Longford Slashers v Mostrim
• Cashel v Section A Winner

Section A (Qualifier):

• Dromard 🏆
• Killoe Young Emmets
• Fr. Manning Gaels
• Carrickedmond
• St. Munis Forgney
• Ballymahon

Longford Slashers 1-7
Cashel 1-5
↓
Date: 14th September 1980
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: John Murphy
Man of Match: Donal O’Brien
Referee: Brendan Gilmore (Rathcline)

Longford Slashers 1-7
Rathcline 0-9
↓
Date: 23rd September 1979
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: John Murphy
Man of Match: Michael Sexton
Referee: Terry McGovern (St. Marys Granard)

🔗 Match Programme Link

Note: Between 1972 and 1979 amalgamations made up of Intermediate clubs competed for a place in the SFC proper. This qualifier series was part of the overall SFC structure with the winner progressing to Preliminary Round of SFC proper, apart from 1976 and 1979 when they went into the First or Second Round.

Ardagh St. Patricks 3-15
Longford Slashers 0-10
↓
Date: 17th September 1978
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: J.J. Orohoe
Man of Match: Pat Higgins
Referee: J.P. Reilly (Carrickedmond)

Note: Ardagh St. Patricks and Longford Slashers reached both Senior and Junior Championship finals in 1978 – this is the only time in the history of both SFC and JFC that the same teams reached both finals. Ardagh won the SFC title while Longford Slashers won the JFC title.

Qualifiers: Between 1972 and 1979 amalgamations made up of Intermediate clubs competed for a place in the SFC proper. This qualifier series was part of the overall SFC structure with the winner progressing to Preliminary Round of SFC proper, apart from 1976 and 1979 when they went into the First or Second Round.

Michael Moran: The 1978 Senior Championship was overshadowed by the sad passing of Michael Moran (20) who died on 23rd July 1978 after suffering a brain hemorrhage eight minutes into the second half of the SFC game between St. Martins (Carrickedmond/Kenagh) and Legan Sarsfields. Michael from Carrickedmond had played for Longford at Juvenile, Minor and U-21 level and played with the Longford Senior Team in the 1977/78 National Football League campaign as well as being a panellist when Longford played Offaly in the Leinster SFC just a month prior. Today the football park in Carrickedmond is named in his honour and the Michael Moran Cup is presented to the ACFL Division 2 winner. The St. Martins vs Legan Sarsfields game was replayed on 13th August 1978 with Legan winning by 3-5 to 1-4 and recording their first ever win in Senior Football Championship. Legan were then beaten by Ardagh St. Patricks in the Quarter Final and Ardagh beat St. Marys Granard in the semi-final, while Longford Slashers beat Rathcline in the other semi-final. 

Cashel 1-8
Longford Slashers 1-6
↓
Date: 28th August 1977
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Mike Kenny
Man of Match: Jim Kenny
Referee: Rogie Martin (St. Marys Granard)

Note: Between 1972 and 1979 amalgamations made up of Intermediate clubs competed for a place in the SFC proper. This qualifier series was part of the overall SFC structure with the winner progressing to Preliminary Round of SFC proper, apart from 1976 and 1979 when they went into the First or Second Round.

Missing Cup: The 1977 final was unique in that the Cashel captain Mike Kenny had no cup to lift after the win. The Seán Connolly cup could not be located on the day of the final and didn’t materialise until later that evening. 

New MoM Award: 1977 was the first final to have a Man of the Match award. The Fr. McGee trophy has been presented each year since 1977 to the winner of the Longford Senior Football Championship Man of the Match award. The award is named in honour of Fr. Phil McGee from Colmcille who was heavily involved with the great Longford teams of the 1960’s and was the first principal of Moyne Community School. He passed away on 27th January 1975 at the age of 46 years, just a few months after the school opened. Fr. McGee (brother of Eugene McGee) had a big impact on football in Longford at both minor and senior level and the Colmcille club grounds is named in his honour.

Rathcline 2-7
Clonguish 0-6
↓
Date: 19th September 1976
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Pat McCormack
Referee: Tom McLoughlin (Mostrim)

Note: Between 1972 and 1979 amalgamations made up of Intermediate clubs competed for a place in the SFC proper. This qualifier series was part of the overall SFC structure with the winner progressing to Preliminary Round of SFC proper, apart from 1976 and 1979 when they went into the First or Second Round.

FYI: Rathcline lined out in white jerseys. The victorious Rathcline team included Seán Kilroy. Seán had previously played at #13 for Offaly in the 1969 All-Ireland Senior Football final loss to Kerry and won an All-Ireland Senior Football title as a sub with Offaly in 1972. An ESB employee, he moved to work in Lanesboro in 1973 and played Gaelic football with Rathcline and Longford in the 1970’s. 

Longford Slashers 2-13
Mostrim 2-5
↓
Date: 14th September 1975
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Hal Carey
Referee: Jimmy Fox (Seán Connollys)

Note: Between 1972 and 1979 amalgamations made up of Intermediate clubs competed for a place in the SFC proper. This qualifier series was part of the overall SFC structure with the winner progressing to Preliminary Round of SFC proper, apart from 1976 and 1979 when they went into the First or Second Round. Mostrim beat an amalgamation of two Intermediate clubs – Dromard & Fr. Manning Gaels (called Northern Gaels) – in the semi-final. This was the furthest stage any Intermediate combination progressed in SFC history.

Mostrim 2-6
Ardagh St. Patricks 1-5
↓
Date: 29th September 1974
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Declan Dockery
Referee: Tom Hayden (Longford Slashers)

Note: Between 1972 and 1979 amalgamations made up of Intermediate clubs competed for a place in the SFC proper. This qualifier series was part of the overall SFC structure with the winner progressing to Preliminary Round of SFC proper, apart from 1976 and 1979 when they went into the First or Second Round.

Mostrim’s path to the title: 

Round 2 (4th Aug) – Pearse Park
Mostrim 3-16
Colmcille/Dromard 1-2
Referee: Tom Reilly

Semi-Final (25th Aug) – Pearse Park
Mostrim 1-6
Rathcline 0-9
Referee: Leo McCormack

Semi-Final Replay (15th Sep) – Pearse Park
Mostrim 3-5
Rathcline 1-5
Referee: Leo McCormack

Final (29th Sep) – Pearse Park
Mostrim 2-6
Ardagh St. Patricks 1-5
Referee: Tom Hayden

Mostrim’s top scorers in 1974 SFC:

• Gerry Reynolds 1-10
• Gerry Madden 2-7
• Declan Dockery 2-4
• Liam Tierney 1-7
• Declan Tuite 1-3
• Paddy Noonan 1-1
• Mel Noonan 1-0
• Seamus Flood 0-1

Note 1: The County Final date was undecided for a while. Original date was 29th September however Mostrim applied for a later date due to Ciaran Tuite getting married on 21st September. The final was refixed for 6th October but this had to be changed because John Joe Orohoe of Ardagh who is on the Aer Lingus catering staff, would be flying to Australia the following day for a 3-month stay, while John Smith had planned his wedding day for 28th September. It was eventually decided to be on 29th September.

Note 2: It is worth noting that the Colmcille/Dromard amalgamation which played Mostrim in Round 2 had beaten Cashel in Round 1 and was an amalgamation of Intermediate teams which were allowed participate in SFC in a qualifier competition before the winner advanced to play in Round 1 of the SFC proper. That Colmcille/Dromard team was managed by Fr. McGee.  

Clonguish 1-15
St. Martins 0-5
↓
Date: 9th September 1973
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Kevin Doyle
Referee: Tom Reilly (Ballymahon)

(St. Martins was a combination of Kenagh and Carrickedmond)

Note: Between 1972 and 1979 amalgamations made up of Intermediate clubs competed for a place in the SFC proper. This qualifier series was part of the overall SFC structure with the winner progressing to Preliminary Round of SFC proper, apart from 1976 and 1979 when they went into the First or Second Round.

Clonguish 1-15
St. Marys Granard 1-6
↓
Date: 17th September 1972
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Seamus Flynn
Referee: Leo McCormack (Ballymahon)

Note: Between 1972 and 1979 amalgamations made up of Intermediate clubs competed for a place in the SFC proper. This qualifier series was part of the overall SFC structure with the winner progressing to Preliminary Round of SFC proper, apart from 1976 and 1979 when they went into the First or Second Round.

Longford Slashers 0-7
St. Martins 1-3
↓
Date: 29th September 1971
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Alex Baxter
Referee: Tom McLoughlin (Mostrim)

(St. Martins was a combination of Kenagh and Carrickedmond)

St. Marys Granard 0-10
Clonguish 0-7
↓
Date: 30th August 1970
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Charlie Martin
Referee: Tom McLoughlin (Mostrim)

Clonguish 2-6
St. Marys Granard 1-7
↓
Date: 31st August 1969
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Pat Burke
Referee: Leo McCormack (Ballymahon)

The 1969 SFC draw was made in January 1969, with 8 clubs involved (See here):

Cashel
Éire Óg (Drumlish)
Kenagh St. Dominics
St. Marys Granard
Mostrim
Clonguish
Longford Slashers
Carrickedmond

In March 1969, partway through the league programme, the clubs of Éire Óg (a Senior club) and Ballinamuck (a Junior club) – both in the same parish of Drumlish – amalgamated to form Fr. Manning Gaels and affiliated at Intermediate grade. Hence the SFC of 1969 ended up being reduced to 7 teams instead of the above-listed 8 teams, with Cashel getting a bye to the semi-final. 

Clonguish 0-12
Longford Slashers 1-8
↓
Date: 15th September 1968
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Seamus Flynn
Referee: Leo McCormack (Ballymahon)

St. Marys Granard 1-7
Carrickedmond 0-6
↓
Date: 27th August 1967
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Martin Clyne
Referee: Leo McCormack (Ballymahon)

St. Marys Granard 0-9
Éire Óg Drumlish 0-2
↓
Date: 28th August 1966
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Seán O’Rourke
Referee: Leo McCormack (Ballymahon)

Note: Drumlish club adopted the name Young Irelands in 1951. The name changed to Éire Óg from the late 1950’s with both Young Irelands and Éire Og found interchangeably in published sources from late 1958 and full transition to Éire Óg found throughout the 1960’s. Titles of 1951, 1953 & 1955 all won as Young Irelands not as Éire Óg. In March 1969 Éire Óg (Drumlish) and Ballinamuck clubs amalgamated to form Fr. Manning Gaels. 

Clonguish 0-11
St. Marys Granard 2-4
↓
Date: 24th October 1965
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Paddy Hanrahan
Referee: John Greene (Mostrim)

Clonguish 1-10
Longford Slashers 1-2
↓
Date: 30th August 1964
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Paddy Hanrahan
Referee: Niall McKnight (Ballymahon)

Clonguish 2-7
Longford Slashers 1-4
↓
Date: 1st September 1963
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Paddy Hanrahan
Referee: Richard Culhane

Clonguish 2-10
St. Marys Granard 0-9
↓
Date: 2nd September 1962
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Paddy Hanrahan
Referee: Jimmy Martin (Roscommon)

1962 Senior Championship Draw
Clonguish 2-9, Cashel 1-2
Éire Óg beat Longford Slashers
Colmcille beat Ballymahon
St. Marys Granard 0-10, Killoe Young Emmets 0-4

Semi-Finals
Clonguish 1-9, Éire Óg 1-4
St. Marys Granard 1-14, Colmcille 0-2

Longford Slashers 2-8
Éire Óg Drumlish 0-4
↓
Date: 3rd September 1961
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Michael Kelly
Referee: Richard Culhane (Colmcille)

Note: Drumlish club adopted the name Young Irelands in 1951. The name changed to Éire Óg from the late 1950’s with both Young Irelands and Éire Og found interchangeably in published sources from late 1958 and full transition to Éire Óg found throughout the 1960’s. Titles of 1951, 1953 & 1955 all won as Young Irelands not as Éire Óg. In March 1969 Éire Óg (Drumlish) and Ballinamuck clubs amalgamated to form Fr. Manning Gaels. 

Killoe Young Emmets 2-10
Longford Slashers 1-6
↓
Date: 4th September 1960
Venue: Pearse Park
Winning Captain: Billy Morgan
Referee: Seán Murray (Carrickedmond)

🏆  First final with Seán Connolly Cup presented to the winner!

Round 1: 

• Clonguish v St. Marys Granard
• Colmcille v Éire Óg (Drumlish)
• Rathcline v Killoe Young Emmets
• Longford Slashers bye

Semi-Finals:

• Killoe Young Emmets v Éire Óg (Drumlish)
• Longford Slashers v St. Marys Granard

Note: Jimmy Martin from Kiltoom in Roscommon was advertised as the referee for the 1960 final, but the referee on the day was Seán Murray. 

Longford Slashers 3-5
Killoe Young Emmets 1-5
↓
Date: 25th October 1959
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: John Dowling (Offaly)

Longford Slashers 1-5
Killoe Young Emmets 1-5
↓
Date: 6th September 1959
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: E. O’Reilly (Westmeath)

Note: John Dowling from Tullamore was appointed referee for the replay. He had previously taken charge of the 1959 All-Ireland Senior Football Final and the 1959 All-Ireland Junior Football Final in London and was umpire in the 1959 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final replay. He was also referee for the 1960 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final and the 1960, 1962 & 1968 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship finals. He went on to serve as the 29th President of the Gaelic Athletic Association from 1988 to 1991.

Colmcille 1-4
Drumlish Young Irelands 1-2
↓
Date: 7th September 1958
Venue: Pearse Park
Captain: Paddy Mulligan
Referee: John Greene (Mostrim)

Colmcille Team: Dermot Smith, Paddy Mulligan (Captain), Larry Kiernan, Mel Murtagh, Jimmy Reilly, Tom Murtagh, Eugene Lynch, Owen Corcoran, Liam Higgins, Batt Lynch, Noel Dodd, Owen Denneny, Tommy Farrell, Seamus Doyle and Jim Smith.

Note: Drumlish club adopted the name Young Irelands in 1951. The name changed to Éire Óg from the late 1950’s with both Young Irelands and Éire Og found interchangeably in published sources from late 1958 and full transition to Éire Óg found throughout the 1960’s. Titles of 1951, 1953 & 1955 all won as Young Irelands not as Éire Óg. In March 1969 Éire Óg (Drumlish) and Ballinamuck clubs amalgamated to form Fr. Manning Gaels. 

Longford Slashers 2-7
Rathcline 0-4
↓
Date: 1st September 1957
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Fr. Arnold Meagher (Drumlish)

Longford Slashers 2-7
Colmcille 0-6
↓
Date: 9th September 1956
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Arnold Meagher (Drumlish)

Note: Match programme shows referee as P Connell, however the match report shows Arnold Meagher was referee on the day. 

Drumlish Young Irelands 2-7
Ardagh St. Patricks 0-3
↓
Date: 9th October 1955
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: P Connell (Offaly)

Note: Drumlish club adopted the name Young Irelands in 1951. The name changed to Éire Óg from the late 1950’s with both Young Irelands and Éire Og found interchangeably in published sources from late 1958 and full transition to Éire Óg found throughout the 1960’s. Titles of 1951, 1953 & 1955 all won as Young Irelands not as Éire Óg. In March 1969 Éire Óg (Drumlish) and Ballinamuck clubs amalgamated to form Fr. Manning Gaels. 

1955 SFC Controversy: In the opening round of the 1955 SFC, Mostrim played holders Longford Slashers on 26th June. The game ended in a draw (0-4 apiece). The replay was on 7th August and Longford Slashers won 2-10 to 0-8. However Mostrim raised an objection to the constitution of the Slashers team and that objection held up the Championship for weeks before being resolved. Eventually Mostrim had their objection upheld and were awarded the game, advancing to the semi-final to play Drumlish Young Irelands on 18th September, which Young Irelands won 0-14 to 0-5. At that stage Longford Slashers were still appealing the decision to award the game to Mostrim, so nobody was quite sure if Drumlish Young Irelands were through to the final or not. The final went ahead and Drumlish Young Irelands beat Ardagh St. Patricks to win the title.

Longford Slashers 1-6
Seán Connollys 1-3
↓
Date: 29th August 1954
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: PJ Sheehy (Ballymahon)

Note: Longford Slashers won their first SFC title in the year of the clubs formation in 1954. The club was formed when the Longford Wanderers and Whiterock Slashers clubs merged in January 1954. Mostrim decided to compete at Senior grade in 1954 in addition to their usual Junior grade at the time. 

1954 Round 1:

1. Drumlish Young Irelands v Mostrim
2. Seán Connollys v Ballymahon*

1954 Semi-finals:
Longford Slashers v Colmcille
Winner 1 v Winner 2

* It took three attempts to get this game played. 

Drumlish Young Irelands 2-6
Colmcille 1-7
↓
Date: 18th October 1953
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: No Record

Drumlish Young Irelands 0-7
Colmcille 0-7
↓
Date: 4th October 1953
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: No Record

Note: Drumlish club adopted the name Young Irelands in 1951. The name changed to Éire Óg from the late 1950’s with both Young Irelands and Éire Og found interchangeably in published sources from late 1958 and full transition to Éire Óg found throughout the 1960’s. Titles of 1951, 1953 & 1955 all won as Young Irelands not as Éire Óg. In March 1969 Éire Óg (Drumlish) and Ballinamuck clubs amalgamated to form Fr. Manning Gaels. 

Colmcille 2-8
Mullinalaghta 1-5
↓
Date: 9th November 1952
Venue: Pearse Park
Captain: Seán Murtagh
Referee: Fr. J Reynolds (C.C. Dromard)

Colmcille 1-3
Mullinalaghta 0-6
↓
Date: 26th October 1952
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Fr. J Reynolds (C.C. Dromard)

1952 Senior Championship Draw:

1) Mullinalaghta v Drumlish Young Irelands
2) Seán Connollys v Ballymahon
3) Killoe Young Emmets v Shannon Gaels
4) Colmcille v Longford Wanderers

Semi-Finals: 1 v 2 and 3 v 4

Drumlish Young Irelands 4-3
Mullinalaghta 1-8
↓
Date: 30th September 1951
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Fr. J Reynolds (C.C. Dromard)

Note: Drumlish club adopted the name Young Irelands in 1951. The name changed to Éire Óg from the late 1950’s with both Young Irelands and Éire Og found interchangeably in published sources from late 1958 and full transition to Éire Óg found throughout the 1960’s. Titles of 1951, 1953 & 1955 all won as Young Irelands not as Éire Óg. In March 1969 Éire Óg (Drumlish) and Ballinamuck clubs amalgamated to form Fr. Manning Gaels. 

1951 Senior Championship Draw:

1. Colmcille v Drumlish Young Irelands
2. Ardagh St. Patricks v Newtowncashel
3. Mullinalaghta v Longford Wanderers
4. Ballymahon v Seán Connollys

Semi-finals: 1 v 2 / 3 v 4

Mullinalaghta 2-2
Ballymahon 0-4
↓
Date: 17th September 1950
Venue: Pearse Park
Captain: Harry Rogers
Referee: Fr. J Reynolds (C.C. Dromard)

Mullinalaghta Team: M Matthews, P Kiernan, P Rogers, J Reilly, P Reilly, T Dolan, F Reilly, E McCormack, J Keogh, J Matthews, M Matthews, P Early, H Rogers, J Rogers, P Rogers. 

1950 Senior Championship Draw:

1. Ballymahon v Drumlish
2. Cashel v Colmcille
3. Ardagh St. Patricks v Mullinalaghta
4. Longford Wanderers v Clonguish

This SFC marked the return of Drumlish to competition for the first time since 1947.

Colmcille 3-7
Mullinalaghta 0-4
↓
Date: 18th September 1949
Venue: Pearse Park
Captain: Seán Murtagh
Referee: Fr. Reid (St. Mels College)

Note: Pat McEoin won 1948 Senior Championship with Mullinalaghta and then won the 1949 Senior Championship with Colmcille when the beat Mullinalaghta in the final.

Mullinalaghta 1-12
Longford Wanderers 1-3
↓
Date: 3rd October 1948
Venue: Pearse Park
Captain: Jimmy Reilly
Referee: John Dunne (Galway)

Note: Mullinalaghta wore red & white, Wanderers wore blue and gold. The winning Mullinalaghta team was picked from 10 households. 

Longford Wanderers 2-4
United Gaels 0-5
↓
Date: 12th October 1947
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: PJ Sheehy (Ballymahon)

(United Gaels was a combination of St. Marys Granard and Abbeylara)

Note 1: United Gaels wore blue & white, Longford Wanderers wore blue and gold. 

Note 2: Killoe elected not to take part in the Championship, thus giving Dromard a walkover in the first round. 

1947 Senior Championship Draw:

1. Killoe Young Emmets* v Dromard
2. Mullinalaghta v Longford Wanderers
3. Ballymahon v Drumlish
4. Seán Connollys v United Gaels

Second Round: 1 v 2 and 3 v 4. 

Dromard 1-4
Ballymahon 0-4
↓
Date: 14th April 1947
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: No Record

Dromard 0-0
Ballymahon 0-0
↓
Date: 7th April 1947
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: No Record

Note: The County Final of 1946 between Dromard and Ballymahon is noteworthy for a few reasons. The final dragged into the following year due to a mixture of issues including the harvest crisis and a semi-final objection involving Dromard and Mullinalaghta. It was eventually fixed for March 23rd 1947 but the big blizzards at that time forced another postponement. The final eventually took place on April 7th 1947 and remarkably finished scoreless (still the only SFC final to end scoreless). The replay on 14th April 1947 resulted in a Dromard win by 1-4 to 0-4. It is also noteworthy that both teams had recently been promoted from Junior ranks: Ballymahon won JFC in 1945 while Dromard won the JFC in 1944. 

1946 Senior Championship Draw:

1. Dromard v Longford Wanderers
2. Killoe Young Emmets* v Mullinalaghta
3. Drumlish v Ballymahon
4. Mostrim v Columcille

Second Round: 1 v 2 and 3 v 4. 

* Killoe elected not to take part in the Championship, thus giving Mullinalaghta a walkover in the first round. 

Drumlish 1-7
Longford Wanderers 1-6
↓
Date: 30th September 1945
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: B Masterson (Cavan)

Note: The SFC final of 1945 was between Longford Wanderers and Drumlish, and was originally fixed for Pearse Park on 16th September, but due to bad weather was postponed until 30th September. The result was carried in local media later that week as Drumlish 1-7, Longford Wanderers 1-6. However at the County Board meeting on 18th October 1945 a decision was taken to suspend Drumlish and award the title to Longford Wanderers. This decision cited the referee’s report which alleged rough play and threats to himself on the part of members of the Drumlish team. The Drumlish players denied the allegations but the vote was 6 to 4 in favour of awarding the title to Wanderers and suspending the Drumlish club. The club escalated their objection to the Leinster Council who upheld it on the grounds that five days notice had not been served on Drumlish by the Longford County Board. The original county final result stood and the suspension was voided. 

Longford Wanderers 2-4
Drumlish 2-3
↓
Date: 5th November 1944
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: No Record

Note: Drumlish wore orange with dark collar, Wanderers wore blue and gold. 

Drumlish 0-6
Mullinalaghta 0-2
↓
Date: 3rd October 1943
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: No Record

Ardagh St. Patricks 5-7
Colmcille 1-1
↓
Date: 4th October 1942
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Patrick Mallon (Longford Wanderers)

Note: Ardagh St. Patricks won the 1942 Senior Football Championship with a team that included players from Whiterock Slashers. Some later published accounts claim this was a temporary amalgamation of Ardagh and Whiterock, but the available published evidence of the time suggests that it was an Ardagh team containing some Whiterock players.

St. Marys Granard 2-8
Ardagh St. Patricks 1-6
↓
Date: 28th September 1941
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: No Record

Round 1:
St. Marys Granard beat Whiterock Slashers
Ardagh St. Patricks beat Mullinalaghta (W/O)

Semi-Final:
St. Marys Granard beat Drumlish
Ardagh St. Patricks beat Columcille

Drumlish 4-10
St. Marys Granard 0-4
↓
Date: 29th September 1940
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Fr. Seán Manning (St. Mels College)

1940 SFC Draw: Seán Connollys v St. Brigids Killashee; Drumlish v Mullinalaghta; Whiterock Slashers v Ardagh St. Patricks; St. Marys Granard a bye. Initially Moydow Harpers were drawn against Granard, but they withdrew from the competition stating that they would only play at Pearse Park. 

Note 1: The County Final was originally scheduled for 15th September 1940, but was postponed because of Local Security Force (LSF) activities in Granard area on that Sunday. It was noted that the Junior final between Killoe and Mostrim would also be postponed due to members of both clubs participating in LSF activities. Both finals took place two weeks later on 29th September 1940. 

Note 2: It is worth noting that there was no club in Dromard at the time (lapsed in second half of the 1930’s and did not revive until October 1943), and some Dromard players went to play with neighbouring clubs (Colmcille, Drumlish and Ballinamuck). One of those players was Fr. Thomas O’Reilly from Moyne who won the JFC with Ballinamuck in 1938 and then went on to win SFC with Drumlish in 1940. 

Drumlish (awarded)
Ardagh St. Patricks
↓
Date: 3rd September 1939
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: J.V. Kelly (Longford Wanderers)

Note: The county final, held on 3rd September 1939, descended into a fiasco and was declared null and void by the County board. The referee appointed to the fixture was unavailable, and the County Secretary (Mr. J.V. Kelly – an inter-county referee of some note) stepped in at the last minute to referee the game. With 20 minutes played, Ardagh were leading by a 1-0 to 0-2 when Bill Keenan was fouled and went down injured. A big row followed and by the time order was restored, the Ardagh players left the field and did not return. The subsequent County Board meeting declared the game null and void because it hadn’t started at the appointed time and did not have the appointed referee. It was also decided not to replay the fixture. Drumlish escalated the issue to the Leinster Council who ruled on 6th January 1940 that the Ardagh players had in effect suspended themselves by leaving the field of play, and did not find that the game was late in starting. The title was awarded to Drumlish and Ardagh received a 24 week suspension.

Colmcille 1-5
Whiterock Slashers 2-1
↓
Date: 4th December 1938
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: J.V. Kelly (Longford Wanderers)

Note: This was the first (and thus far only) instance of a club gaining promotion to Senior grade and immediately winning the SFC title. Colmcille won the JFC in 1937 to gain promotion to Senior for 1938 (no IFC in those days) and then won the SFC in 1938.

1938 Senior Championship Draw:

• St. Marys Granard v Mullinalaghta
• Clonguish v St. Brigids Killashee
• Whiterock Slashers v Seán Connollys
• St. Patricks Ardagh v Colmcille
• Drumlish v St. Marys or Mullinalaghta

Semi-finals:

• Colmcille v Drumlish
• Whiterock Slashers v Clonguish

Note: Colmcille club name also appeared as Columcille in published records of that era. 

Drumlish 3-6
St. Brigids Killashee 1-4
↓
Date: 15th May 1938
Venue: Pearse Park
Referee: Jim O’Flaherty (Offaly)

Note: This was the first SFC final played after the official opening of Pearse Park in April 1937 (was previously called Gaelic Grounds). The County final was heavily delayed and didn’t take place until may 1938 because of Longford’s successful run in Leinster and All-Ireland Junior Championship in 1937.

1937 Senior Football Championship Draw:

A) Mullinalaghta vs Seán Connollys
B) St. Marys Granard vs Drumlish
C) Whiterock Slashers vs Ardagh St. Patricks
D) St. Brigids Killashee vs Clonguish

Semi-Finals:
Drumlish 2-8
Mullinalaghta 0-4

St. Brigids Killashee 2-6
Ardagh St. Patricks 0-4

Ardagh St. Patricks 1-5
Drumlish 0-5
↓
Date: 30th August 1936
Venue: Longford Gaelic Grounds
Referee: PJ Masterson (Cavan)

St. Marys Granard 3-6
Ardagh St. Patricks 2-6
↓
Date: 29th September 1935
Venue: Longford Gaelic Grounds
Referee: Fr. James O’Farrell (C.C. Drumlish)

St. Marys Granard 0-8
United Gaels 0-6
↓
Date: 26th August 1934
Venue: Longford Gaelic Grounds
Referee: T Kelly (Roscommon)

Note: United Gaels was a combination of Clonguish and Longford Wanderers.

United Gaels reached the 1934 Senior Championship final having played no games. They were drawn against Mullinalaghta but the latter were suspended for 6 months. In the County Final, St. Marys led by 0-8 to Nil at half time, and won by 0-8 to 0-6. 

St. Marys Granard 0-13
United Gaels 0-5
↓
Date: 6th August 1933
Venue: Longford Gaelic Grounds
Referee: T Kelly (Roscommon)

Note: United Gaels was a combination of Clonguish and Longford Wanderers.

Round 1:
St. Marys Granard 3-7
Drumlish 2-6

Semi-Final:
St. Marys Granard 3-2
Mullinalaghta 0-2

Note: This was the first SFC final played at the new Gaelic Grounds (later Pearse Park) following the move from Longford Park at the end of May 1933. The first round game between St. Marys Granard and Drumlish was the last GAA match played at Longford Park on 28th May 1933, with St. Marys winning by 3-7 to 2-6. 

Drumlish won
St. Marys Granard lost
↓
Date: 7th August 1932
Venue: Longford Park
Referee: No Record

Note: Efforts to establish the scoreline for 1932 has proved fruitless thus far. It is the only SFC final record which does not have a scoreline. There was no match report in the newspaper in the weeks following the county final, and Jim Mannix apologised to readers in the Longford Leader some weeks later, explaining that he was not within comfortable travelling distance and was unable to be present at the match and could therefore not write about it. He also noted that other County Board Officials were absent too and states that it was a pity that somebody, knowing the officials were away, didn’t try their hand at a little journalism. His apology however failed to inform readers of the scoreline. 

St. Marys Granard 1-9
Edgeworthstown Young Irelands 0-3
↓
Date: 6th September 1931
Venue: Longford Park
Referee: Fr. M McLoughlin (St. Mels College)

Note: Edgeworthstown was originally formed in 1889 as Edgeworthstown Volunteers and by 1910’s the club name had been shortened to Edgeworthstown. A few months after the delayed 1929 Junior Championship final in February 1930, the club was renamed Edgeworthstown Young Irelands. The Edgeworthstown club that won the Junior Championship of 1929 (in 1930) is the same Edgeworthstown Young Irelands club that reached the Senior Championship final in 1931 and won the Intermediate Championship title in 1932. Shortly thereafter the club split and this led to the formation of  the Edgeworthstown Geraldines club which competed alongside Edgeworthstown Young Irelands for a period. By the mid 1930’s both clubs are gone and we see the brief emergence of Edgeworthstown Wolfe Tones and Manor Rovers clubs in the parish, with both no longer evident by the end of 1936. In 1937 the Mostrim Eoin Ruadhs club was formed with name then hortened to Mostrim from 1938. For consistency, we keep the titles of Edgeworthstown (including Young Irelands) separate from titles of the later Mostrim club. 

St. Marys Granard 1-5
Longford Wanderers 1-3
↓
Date: 26th October 1930
Venue: Lacken Park (Mostrim)
Referee: Fr. Andrew Lynch (C.C. Cashel)

St. Marys Granard 1-3
Longford Wanderers 0-2
↓
Date: 23rd March 1930
Venue: Lacken Park (Mostrim)
Referee: Fr. Andrew Lynch (C.C. Cashel)

(Competition dragged into 1930, with final played in March 1930)

Drumlish (awarded)
Longford Wanderers
↓
Date: 27th May 1928
Venue: Longford Park
Referee: J.V. Kelly (Longford)

Note: The County Final was scheduled for Sunday 27th May 1928 at Longford Park. However due to very heavy rain from an early hour that day, the Junior opener between Ballymahon and Newtowncashel was called off, with an expectation that the Senior game would be called off too. However, and rather unexpectedly, the Drumlish team fielded, while Longford Wanderers were unable to field a team, citing the atrocious weather conditions. Later references to Drumlish as Champions suggests that the County Board awarded the game and the title for 1928 to Drumlish. 

Drumlish 1-1
Ballinamuck 98s 0-1
↓
Date: 10th April 1927
Venue: Ballinalee
Referee: Fr. Andrew Lynch (C.C. Carrickedmond)

📷 1927 Senior Championship Final

Note 1: This was the 1st (and thus far only) SFC final involving two clubs from the same parish. The parish of Drumlish (or Drumlish & Ballinamuck) was home to two separate clubs for most of the period from 1890 to 1949 and again from 1967 to 1969 prior to the formation of the Fr. Manning Gaels club in March 1969.

Note 2: 1927 was a complex year because after the Championship draw was made on January 29th 1927, the County Board became entangled in a dispute and was dissolved, which meant that there was no County Board in the county for a brief period. By the end of March 1927 the dispute had been resolved and the County Board was in place once again, just in time for the inaugural Junior Championship final on 3rd April 1927 and the Senior Football Championship final on 10th April 1927. The Ballinamuck club name is later referenced without the ’98’s’ suffix. 

Due to a combination of factors including the War of Independence, Civil War and Longford’s prolonged involvement in the 1924 Junior championship (reaching the All-Ireland JFC final which was played in July 1925), there was no Senior Football Championship competition in the years from 1921 to 1926. Some previous records cited SFC titles won in these years, but that assumption has now been investigated and debunked. League-Championship competition did take place in some of these years, which was then conflated with SFC, not least because of wording used in some publications at the time which used a shorthand of ‘County Championship’ for the League-Championship.

Here is what our research found for these years:

1921: No evidence of Senior Championship or League-Championship competition for that year.

1922: Senior Championship title was previously credited to Longford Wanderers but they won the League-Championship title of that year completed in May 1923 [📷 Report]. No evidence has been found of Senior Championship competition for 1922.

1923: Senior Championship title was previously credited to Longford Wanderers but they won the League-Championship title of that year completed in October 1925 [📷 Report]. No evidence has been found of Senior Championship competition for 1923.

1924: No evidence of Senior Championship or League-Championship competition for that year.

1925: Fixtures for Senior competition (sometimes cited as Senior Championship) are published in mid November 1925, including Longford Rovers, Columbkille, Longford Wanderers, Ballinamuck 98’s, Edgeworthstown, Mullinalaghta & St. Marys Granard. A final between St. Marys Granard and Mullinalaghta is recorded on 26th June 1926 and was abandoned due to violent scenes (and two arrests). A dispute arose during the game when a Mullinalaghta player was struck by a spectator. Fans rushed the pitch and palings were ripped up and used. The melee lasted 10 minutes and the Gardai were called to restore the peace. Two were arrested and match was abandoned with 5 minutes to go. The drama made the national news. This was previously cited as the SFC final of 1926, however it was the League-Championship final of 1925 [📷 Report].

1926: No evidence of Senior Championship or League-Championship competition for that year.

Ballinamuck 98’s 1-4
Longford Wanderers 0-0
↓
Date: 17th October 1920
Venue: Longford Park
Referee: Thomas Connolly (Clonbroney)

📷 1920 Senior Championship Final

Note: Ballinamuck 98’s was the first club from the parish of Drumlish to win a Senior Football Championship title. It is worth noting that the main report of the game in the Longford Leader reported the final score as 1-4 to 0-0 while another account in the same paper reports the final scores as 1-3 to 0-1. The Ballinamuck club name is later referenced without the ’98’s’ suffix. 

Clonbroney 1-3
Killoe Young Emmets 0-3
↓
Date: 3rd August 1919
Venue: Longford Park
Referee: Laurence Kiernan (Mullinalaghta)

Clonbroney 1-1
Killoe Young Emmets 1-1
↓
Date: 13th July 1919
Venue: Longford Park
Referee: Laurence Kiernan (Mullinalaghta)

📷 1919 Senior Championship Final

(The Clonbroney club was later renamed Seán Connollys)

Clonbroney squad: Paddy ‘Bug’ Callaghan, Seán Connolly, Charlie Miner, Peter McGrath, Michael ‘Pinch’ Donohoe, Jim Donohoe, Johnny Smith, James O’Connor, Harry Grier, Johnny Donohoe, Mick Kenny, Fred Browne, Tommy Connolly, Joe Donohoe, John ‘Bun’ McDowell, Pat Donohoe, John McCarthy, James Feeley & Mick Burke. 

Note: Previous records allocated the 1919 title to Clonguish, beating Mullinalaghta in the final. Our research found this to be the League-Championship (aka League) title. 

The 1919 Senior Championship draw was made immediately following the playing of the delayed 1917 League-Championship final in March 1919. The 1919 county final was held on 3rd August 1919 with Clonbroney beating Killoe Young Emmets by 1-3 to 0-3 in a replay at Longford Park (now the greyhound stadium). The Clonbroney club was later renamed Seán Connollys. It is worth noting that published records of the time all cite ‘Clonbroney’ in competition and as winners in 1919 whereas the ‘Clonbroney Camlin Rovers’ name is cited years later in a Roll of Honour published in Longford Leader in 1933. That roll had a range of fundamental errors, including title and naming errors and so is not an entirely reliable source. We are unable to assert with confidence whether the name used in 1919 was Clonbroney Camlin Rovers or just Clonbroney. All contemporaneous records analysed for the immediate years prior to and following the 1919 title win suggest the club was called Clonbroney at the time and the Camlin Rovers name had not been used for some years prior to the title win. 

(Medal image supplied by a relative of a player from the 1919 Clonbroney team)

The 1919 League-Championship draw was made on 23rd July 1919 and competition started on August 10th 1919, but continued into 1920 with Clonguish (winners of the Southern Division) beating Mullinalaghta (winners of the Northern Division) by 1-1 to 0-2 in the 1919 League-Championship final, played on 11th April 1920 in Longford Park (referee: Tommie Shevlin from Strokestown). The delay was caused by objections and lack of light at afternoon matches which ran into evenings. This 1919 League-Championship title was previously incorrectly conflated with the 1919 Senior Championship title in rolls of honour prior to 2014. Clonguish did not win a first Senior Football Championship title until 1962.

📷 1919 League-Championship Final

(Some of the conflation in records for this era stems from the fact that some League-Championship medals had ‘Championship’ inscribed on them)

1918: No record found of a completed Senior Football Championship. A newspaper article appeared in April 1918 carrying the following official notice… “Owing to the somewhat disturbed state of the country, all football fixtures are postponed until further notice”. On 21st September 1918 the Longford Leader reports that the Longford Championship semi-final between Granard and Killoe was to be played. However It does not appear to have been played and was subsequently re-scheduled. No further reports or evidence relating to 1918 championship has been found. The Longford GAA Yearbook of 1981 allocated the 1918 Senior Championship title to Ballinamuck or Granard, but no evidence was found to support this claim.

📷 1918 No Competition Notice

Previous records allocated the 1917 title to Clonbroney Camlin Rovers. Our research found that there was no Senior Championship played in 1917. A chapter on the early county final records in the 1987 ‘Comóradh an Chéid’ publication stated that for the period 1917 to 1919… “Clonbroney appear to have won the 1917 Championship with victory over Killoe in a replay, and Clonguish emerged victorious over Mullinalaghta to win 1919 Championship title“. However the 2014 research found no Senior Championship competition organised or played in 1917. The Clonbroney versus Killoe final referred to was in fact the 1919 Senior Championship Final while the Senior Championship title previously allocated to Clonguish for 1919 was the League-Championship title of 1919 which was completed in April 1920.

The 1917 League-Championship was played, and began in April 1917 but overran heavily and recommenced in July 1918 after a delay, eventually completing in early 1919 with Granard Shamrocks beating Killashee on a scoreline of 2-4 to 0-0. See report below.

📷 1917 League-Championship Final

No record exists of any Senior Football Championship for 1916.

The 1915 Senior Championship final was played in July 1916. There was no further championship action recorded thereafter until 1919. The 1916 Senior Championship was incorrectly allocated to Ardagh St. Brigids in 1981 Yearbook and in older rolls of honour from 1933 & 1944, however there is no evidence to support this and no evidence of any Ardagh St. Brigids club in active competition at all.

Granard Shamrocks won 1916 League-Championship beating Ardagh St. Patricks in March 1917. This is sometimes assumed to be the Senior Championship final of 1916 (and allocated as SFC title in some early records), however an examination of published accounts leading up to and around this final shows it to be the League-Championship final, not the Championship final.

📷 1916 League-Championship Final

Killoe Young Emmets 3-0
Clonguish Gallowglasses 0-3
↓
Date: 9th July 1916
Venue: Longford Park
Referee: J Scott (Longford)

📷 1915 Senior Championship Final

Note 1: Championship overran and final was played in July 1916. One match report in local media has Killoe named incorrectly as ‘Granard’ at the start of the report. 

Note 2: There was no League-Championship for 1915. This is likely because 1914 League-Championship spilled into 1915 with the final in July 1915 which ended in a draw, with replay completed in September 1915.

No record exists of any Senior Football Championship for 1914.

The 1913 Senior Championship ran into 1914 with Killoe Young Emmets winning the title on 15th February 1914. No Championship for 1914 itself. The 1914 championship title had been incorrectly allocated to Granard Slashers in previous publications from the 1980’s, however this is not the case.

📷 1913 Senior Champions (Won in 1914)

The 1914 League-Championship competition ran into 1915 with Granard Shamrocks beating Killoe Young Emmets in a replay in September 1915. The League-Championship final (August 1915) and replay (September 1915) are cited as ‘Championship’ in match reports, however the headline alongside the team photos on the front page of the Longford Leader in September 1915 clarifies it as ‘County Longford League Championship’ as does the series of previews ahead of the final and replay. An examination of the wider records leading up to and around this final confirms it as a League-Championship, not Championship. The competition kicked off in 1914 and spilled into 1915 with final held on 7th August 1915 which ended in a draw (1-1 to 0-4), and Granard won the replay on 19th September 1915 (0-6 to 0-2).

📷 1914 League-Championship Final

Killoe Young Emmets 1-3
Longford Commercials 0-1
↓
Date: 8th February 1914
Venue: Longford Park
Referee: J. Toher (Clonguish)
Objection raised – Replay ordered. 

Killoe Young Emmets 0-2
Longford Commercials 0-1
↓
Date: 5th April 1914
Venue: Longford Park
Referee: J. Toher (Clonguish)
Winning Captain: J Breslin

📷 1913 Senior Championship Final
📷 1913 Senior Championship Final Replay
📷 1913 Senior Champions – Team Photo

Note: Killoe Young Emmets won the 1913 Championship with victory over Longford Commercials in the replayed final in April 1914. The original final was played on 8th February 1914 which Killoe won, but following an objection the final was replayed on 5th April 1914. This victory was previously thought to have achieved the first 3-in-a-row of Championship titles in Longford, however the correction to the records for 1912 to remove that years title now invalidates that 3-in-a-row.

This title was previously inaccurately allocated to Killoe Young Emmets, however our research indicates that this final was in fact the 1911 SFC decider, concluding in early 1912.

Killoe Young Emmets won four championships (1907, 1911, 1913, 1915) over a nine year period between 1907 and 1915. However, having previously been credited with the 1912 championship, the 2014 research found that this was more likely the conclusion of the 1911 SFC played in 1912. In previous records, the 1911 championship had seemingly concluded with the awarding of the title to Killoe (who had defeated Drumlish in the semi-final in November 1911) due to the fact that the second semi-final between Clonguish and Edgeworthstown had not been played as a result of a dispute. The 1912 final had previously been recorded as a 0-2 to 0-1 victory for Killoe Young Emmets over Edgeworthstown Volunteers in the county final played on 3rd March 1912.

However, a closer examination of the records in 2014 showed that the only competitive championship game played between November 1911 and the Killoe vs Edgeworthstown “final” of March 1912 was the meeting of Clonguish and Edgeworthstown in February 1912 (which was won by Edgeworthstown). It seems more logical and likely that this game was in fact the disputed 1911 semi-final, re-fixed and played in February 1912 instead, with the winners advancing to play Killoe in the delayed 1911 final in March 1912 with Killoe Young Emmets winning that delayed 1911 Championship. Hence the previously assumed 1912 final was in fact the delayed 1911 final. No further records have been found of any further competition in 1912, hence it is assumed that there was no SFC for that year itself.

It is worth noting that a one-time competition called the Forresters Cup was played in 1912, concluding in 1913 with victory for Columbkille over Clonguish. The Longford branch of the INF organised the competition and donated the cup. This competition may have been confused for Senior Championship in some early rolls of honour.

Killoe Young Emmets 0-1
Edgeworthstown Volunteers 0-0
↓
Date: 3rd March 1912
Venue: Longford Park
Referee: J Burns (Ballymahon)

📷 1911 Championship Semi Final
📷 1911 Championship Final

1911 Senior Championship Draw:

The draw for the 1911 Senior Football Championship took place at the County Board meeting on 20th August at Longford Park. Patrick Hagan presided over the meeting. The draw for the Championship involved 9 teams (it is noted that Clonbroney are not taking part in the Championship) and the fixtures were agreed as follows, with all games at Longford Park:

• 18th Sep: Longford Commercials v Drumlish (Ref: Burns, Ballymahon)
• 18th Sep: Longford Leo Caseys v Clonguish (Ref: P Hagan, Killoe)
• 1st Oct: Ballymahon v Edgeworthstown Volunteers (Ref: P Fanning, Longford)
• 1st Oct: Columbkille v Killoe Young Emmets (Ref: J Toher, Clonguish)
• Ardagh St. Patricks a bye

Drumlish played Ardagh in Round 2 on 22nd October 1911 which Drumlish won by 0-3 to 0-1. 

Semi-final games were Killoe v Drumlish and Edgeworthstown v Clonguish. See note further below for progress of those games. 

Decoding the 1911 Title: Prior to the 2014 research, the championship game between Killoe Young Emmets and Drumlish in November 1911 was assumed (and reported at the time) to have decided the 1911 Championship title, because the teams in the other semi-final (Edgeworthstown & Clonguish) did not field in their game. However the next Championship action recorded in Longford was a match between Edgeworthstown and Clonguish just three months later in February 1912, and almost immediately thereafter a ‘Championship final’ was played between Killoe and Edgeworthstown in March 1912 which prior to the 2014 research had been been assumed to be the separate 1912 championship final (hence back-to-back titles for Killoe). However an objective examination of the published records suggests that the unfinished semi-final from 1911 between Edgeworthstown Volunteers and Clonguish Gallowglasses was eventually played in February 1912 leading to the delayed 1911 championship final between Killoe and Edgeworthstown taking place in March 1912. There are also no other games around those championship games in 1912, which along with the dates of the games themselves supports the theory that this was all part of the 1911 competition and not a new a separate Championship in 1912. Nobody joined these dots prior to 2014, leaving the reader to assume two different championship title where there was most likely only one. There was no additional championship action recorded in 1912.

Clonguish Gallowglasses won the League-Championship (aka League) title of 1911. No match report has been found but we find evidence of Clonguish referred to as League champions in Autumn 1911 at link below.

📷 1911 League-Championship citation

No record exists of any Senior Football Championship for 1908, 1909 or 1910.

A notice was carried in the Longford Leader in March 1908 regarding ‘Revival of GAA football in Longford’ and citing an upcoming fixture between Ardagh St. Patricks and Clonguish Gallowglasses. However no record has been found of SFC competition in this period.

The Longford GAA Yearbook in 1981 allocated the 1910 title to Clonguish Red Branch Knights, and other published records refer to match played in 1910 between Drumlish and Killoe Young Emmets (won by the former) and a match is also recorded on St. Patricks Day 1910 in Longford Park between Killoe Young Emmets and Longford Leo Caseys, however no record exists of any Senior Championship competition in 1910. There is also no evidence of any club named Clonguish Red Branch Knights during these years. The Clonguish club in these early years was known as Clonguish Gallowglasses. The records were later updated in 1983 to remove these errors.

Killoe Young Emmets 1-8
Drumlish & Ballinamuck 98’s 1-0
↓
Date: 14th July 1907
Winning Captain: JJ Heslin
Venue: Newtownforbes
Referee: T.H. Redmond (Dublin)

Killoe Young Emmets 0-4
Drumlish & Ballinamuck 98’s 1-1
↓
Date: 7th July 1907
Venue: Newtownforbes
Referee: P. McGuinness (Newtownforbes)

Killoe Young Emmets: JJ Heslin (Captain), J Tynan, J Prunty, J Morgan, P Clarke, J Cosgrove, J Breslin, M Murtagh, T Quinn, M Loughrey, P Hagan, J McKenna, J Clarke, J Armstrong, T Henry, J Kane, H Columb.

Drumlish & Ballinamuck 98’s: Harry Quinn (Captain), D Walpole, M Lennon, F Furey, W Dolan, James Gill, J Mimnagh, J McNamee, J Sorohan, Thomas O’Hara, Lauernce Corr, Patrick Loughrey, Joseph Casey, John Whitney, Joseph McKeon, James Devine, John J O’Neill.

📷 1907 Senior Football final replay – Preview
📷 1907 Senior Championship final – Report 1
📷 1907 Senior Championship final – Report 2
📷 1907 Championship Medals

The first final between these sides was played on 7th July 1907 in Newtownforbes and ended in a draw (1-1 to 0-4). Killoe won the replay by 1-8 to 1-0. The losing team lodged an objection but it was over-ruled at a meeting of the County Committee. Many years later the Longford Leader ran a look-back piece (error in the year cited in the piece) on the drawn game using a report from the Roscommon Herald here. The referee for the replay game was T.H. Redmond from the Geraldines club in Dublin. It is worth noting that Comóradh an Chéid (1987) cites the referee in the replay game as D.E. McCarthy from Kilkenny who was living in Dublin, however the match report from the final confirms otherwise. 

In October 1906 Drumlish Wolfe Tones and Ballinamuck 98’s clubs came together to compete jointly for a period as Drumlish & Ballinamuck 98’s. The teams first game was against Gorletteragh St. Patricks on 27th October 1906. The combination took part in official competition once – 1907 Senior Football Championship, reaching the county final and losing to Killoe Young Emmets after a replay. 

1907 Senior Football Championship Semi-Finals:

Drumlish & Ballinamuck 98’s 0-7
Longford Leo Caseys 0-5
↓
Referee: Paddy Hagan (Killoe)
Date: 26th May 1907

Killoe Young Emmets 1-4
Clonguish Gallowglasses 0-6
↓
Referee: P. Gilchrist (Longford)
Date: 5th May 1907

No record exists of any Senior Football Championship for 1906.

The 1905 championship ran into 1906 with the final played in July 1906.

Longford Leo Caseys 1-7
Edgeworthstown Volunteers 0-3
↓
Date: 8th July 1906
Venue: Longford Park
Referee: Mr. Flynn (Newtownforbes)

📷 1905 Senior Championship Final

Championship was typically played over the Winter months. 1905 championship spilled into 1906 with the final played on 8th July 1906. Longford Leo Caseys retained their title with victory over Edgeworthstown Volunteers by 1-7 to 0-3 in the final.

It is worth noting that one published source cited Clonguish Gallowglasses as having beat Longford Leo Caseys in the county final which was replayed following an objection in April 1906. However our research located the match report from the 1905 final (link above) showing Longford Leo Casey’s beating Edgeworthstown Volunteers. The claim of Clonguish winning the title seems to conflate the semi-final objection raised by Clonguish regarding an apparent early termination of their clash with Longford Leo Caseys which the latter won by 2-1 to 0-2. The objection was upheld by the County Board and a replay was ordered. However Leo Caseys escalated the issue to the Leinster Council who overturned the decision, enabling Leo Caseys to progress to the final. 

Longford Leo Caseys 2-7
Killoe Young Emmets 0-1
↓
Date: 23rd April 1905
Venue: Longford Park
Referee: E. Rhatigan (Killashee)

📷 1904 Senior Championship Final

The nine clubs who participated in the 1904 Senior Championship were:

• Ardagh St. Patricks
• Clonbroney
• Clonguish Gallowglasses
• Drumlish Wolfe Tones
• Edgeworthstown Volunteers
• Killashee Mitchells
• Killoe Young Emmets
• Longford Leo Caseys
• Rathcline

The initial pairings were as follows…

• Longford Leo Caseys v Killashee Mitchells
• Ardagh St. Patricks v Rathcline
• Killoe Young Emmets v Clonguish Gallowglasses
• Drumlish Wolfe Tones v Clonbroney
• Edgeworthstown Volunteers a bye

The semi-final pairings were as follows…

• Longford Leo Caseys 0-3 v Ardagh St. Patricks 0-1
• Killoe Young Emmets 1-4 v Drumlish Wolfe Tones 0-3

The Longford County Board was re-established in 1904 and official competition started again for the first time since 1891. With the resumption of GAA activity in Longford, the senior championship draws would now involve a smaller group of clubs (26 clubs in 1891 versus 9 clubs by 1904). The 1904 senior championship had nine clubs participating and in the County Final played in April 1905, Longford Leo Caseys defeated Killoe Young Emmets to take the title. The three local newspapers of the time (Longford Leader, Roscommon Herald and Longford Journal) each reported different score-lines which are shown above. A closer analysis of these reports suggests that the Roscommon Herald result of 2-7 to 0-1 is likely to be the most accurate scoreline based upon the context within that match report versus the others.

Note: Prior records claimed this final was played on 29th April 1905, but this was the date the final report appeared in the Longford Leader (i.e. Saturday after the final). 

No record exists of any Senior Football Championship from 1892 to 1903.

It is worth noting that following the unfinished championship of 1891, the next attempt to form a County Board in Longford saw four clubs represent in 1896 where five was needed to form a committee, so the County Board could not be reformed.

The 1896 SFC title had previously been allocated to Longford Shamrocks. Our research found that this was in fact a friendly match in December 1896 at Ballinalee between Granard Slashers and Longford Shamrocks, following an invite issued by Granard Slashers. After many rows, the referee awarded the game to Longford. For some years this game was included in the Senior Championship roll of honour, however this is not a Senior Championship title because (a) there were no medals presented, (b) it was a single friendly game and not part of any wider championship competition, and (c) there was no Longford County Board in place at the time the game occurred. Worth noting that Longford Shamrocks represented Longford in the Croke Cup in early 1897, as ‘unofficial’ champions.

It is also worth noting that club activity can be found in both hurling and football in Longford in 1900-1903, but no official competition. The re-establishment of the Longford County Board in 1904 and the organisation of the first Senior Football Championship since the unfinished 1891 Championship represented the restart of official club competition in the county.

The 1891 title had previously been allocated to Longford Shamrocks, however our research showed that the 1891 SFC was unfinished.

The 1891 Senior Football Championship involved 26 clubs and was, by accounts of the day, “a disaster”. The Clergy requested 1st round matches to be postponed as the Lenten season had begun. The county chairman complied but then changed his mind. An eleventh hour letter in the Roscommon Herald recommended postponement. There was confusion over the notice given for first round games and as a result, teams that failed to field were given a second chance with an additional round. Many of the 2nd round games were subject to objections which was a common occurrence and as the county board had ceased to function by the year end, the championship was deemed not completed with only three of the eight second round matches played.

The 26 clubs who participated in the unfinished 1891 Senior Championship were:

• Ardagh St. Patricks
• Ballinamuck 98s
• Ballymacormack Grattans
• Ballymahon Leos *
• Ballywillan Faugh a’Ballagh *
• Carrickedmond O’Connells
• Clonbroney Esmondes
• Clonguish Gallowglasses
• Clough Dillons
• Columbkille St. Columbkilles
• Cranley Hearts of Erin
• Dromard O’Donnells *
• Drumlish Robert Emmets
• Edgeworthstown Volunteers
• Ferefad Mandevilles
• Granard Healys
• Granard Slashers
• Killashee Mitchells
• Killoe Erins Pride
• Killoe McMahons
• Legan Sunbursts
• Moydow Harpers
• Mullinalaghta Leaguers
• Newtowncashel sons of St. Kieran
• Rathaspic Leaguers (from Westmeath)
• Rathcline John Martins

* In the months following the 1890 Championship, Ballymahon O’Briens and Shrule Leo’s amalgamated to form Ballymahon Leo’s while Dromard O’Briens and Dromard Owen Roes amalgamated to form Dromard Hugh Roe O’Donnells (Dromard O’Donnells) while Ballywillan Faugh a’Ballagh appear to have started the 1891 Championship as Ballywillan Michael Davitts and underwent a name change during the competition.

(Note: The GAA was faced with its first crisis in the aftermath of the Parnell affair, and activities and structures in Longford and other counties had effectively ceased. It should be noted that Longford was predominantly anti-Parnell during the crisis period. The 1891 championship in Longford was started but remained unfinished and another decade would pass before games resumed. The number of clubs in Ireland dropped from 879 to 200 between 1890 and 1892 – the height of the Parnell scandal. The impact on Longford was a decimation of clubs and competition)

Columbkille St. Columbkilles 1-0
Rathcline John Martins 0-4
↓
Date: 8th June 1890
Venue: Abbeycartron
Referee: Patrick Baxter (Ardagh St. Patrick)
Winning Captain: Phil Hourican
Losing Captain: Patrick Casey

Note: A goal was worth more than any number of points at the time.

📷 1890 Senior Championship Final

Columbkille St. Columbkilles: Phil Hourican (Captain), Danny Hanlon, Hughie McGovern, Charlie Hourican, Tom McKeon, Brian Sexton, Mickie Hanlon, Phil McKeon, Phil Brady, J Brady, John Clarke, Frankie Kiernan, James McKeon, Brian Mulligan, James Donohoe, Eddie Rogers, Mikie McNerney, John McDowell, Peter Kiernan, James Hourican. 

Rathcline John Martins: Patrick Casey (Captain), John Farrell, James Skelly, Pat Connaughton, Thomas Fallon, Pat Farrell, James Costello, Thomas Killian, Pat Mulloly, James Fallon, Pat Fallon, Pat Curran, Pat McGuinness, Peter McGinley, John Smith, Thomas Hynes, Thomas Dempsey, John Fallon, Matt Dowd, Michael Reilly, Pat Fallon.  

(Columbkille St. Columbkilles was later shortened to Columbkille and then Colmcille. Rathcline John Martins was later shortened to Rathcline)

In March 1890 it was decided to run a Senior Football Championship competition. The 1st Senior Football Championship involved 21 affiliated clubs (teams were 21-a-side at that time). The County Final was played between Columbkille St Columbkilles and Rathcline John Martins (also referred to as Honest John Martins) in Abbeycartron on 8th June 1890 (field provided by Peter McLoughlin), with Columbkille winning by 1-0 to 0-4. Lest anyone be confused by that score-line, it should be noted that a goal at that time could not be beaten by any number of points. 

The 21 affiliated in that historic first Senior Football Championship in 1890 were:

• Granard Healys
• Ardagh St. Patricks
• Ballymacormack Grattans
• Ballywillan Michael Davitts
• Carrickedmond O’Connells
• Clonguish Gallowglasses
• Clough Dillons
• Columbkille St. Columbkilles
• Crosskeys Fitzgeralds
• Dromard O’Briens
• Drumlish Robert Emmets
• Edgeworthstown Volunteers
• Ferefad Mandevilles
• Killashee Mitchells
• Killoe Erins Pride
• Legan Sunbursts
• Longford Davitts
• Moydow Harpers
• Newtowncashel Sons of St Kieran
• Rathcline John Martins
• Shrule Leos

Note: Granard Healys was the first GAA club founded under GAA rules in Longford and was founded in September 1888 (📷 Source Longford Independent – 27th October 1888). The town of Longford was next with Longford Davitts club founded on 2nd December 1888 and Ballymahon O’Briens was next in February 1889. Many more clubs were formed in 1889 and 1890 with 21 clubs taking part in the first Senior Football Championship in 1890.

Our research found the following SFC title changes which were supplied to and adopted by Coiste Chontae an Longfort from 2014 onward. This marked the first material change to the official record since the early 1980’s.

1891
Was: Longford Shamrocks
Now: Not Completed

1896
Was: Longford Shamrocks
Now: No Championship

1911
Was: Killoe Young Emmets vs Drumlish
Now: Killoe Young Emmets vs Edgeworthstown

1912
Was: Killoe Young Emmets
Now: No Championship

1917
Was: Clonbroney
Now: No Championship

1919
Was: Clonguish
Now: Clonbroney

1922
Was: Longford Wanderers
Now: No Championship

1923
Was: Longford Wanderers
Now: No Championship

1925
Was: Game Abandoned (Granard v Mullinalaghta)
Now: No Championship

Note 1: The old winners for 1919, 1922 & 1923 above all won that seasons Senior League-Championship title, not the Senior Championship title. The abandoned final between Granard and Mullinalaghta in 1925 was also the Senior League-Championship final not the Senior Championship final. 

Note 2: The Gaelic Athletic Annuals of the 1920’s and 1930’s show a list of SFC winners for 1900’s, 1910’s and 1920’s which is almost entirely inaccurate.

The following key clarifications apply to SFC clubs down the years:

• Newtowncashel St. Ciarans was shortened to Cashel since around 1947.
• Killashee added St. Brigids to the club name from 1934 onward.
• Mullinalaghta added St. Columbas to the club name from 1955 onward.
• Clonguish was called Clonguish Gallowglasses in the early years of competition.
• Rathcline was called Rathcline John Martins in the early years of competition.
• Killoe Young Emmets is also referred to by the names Emmet Óg or Killoe Emmet Óg.
• Clonbroney was renamed Clonbroney Seán Connollys in 1935, and later just Seán Connollys.
• Columbkille St. Columbkilles was shortened to Columbkille then to Columcille and finally Colmcille.
• Edgeworthstown Volunteers shortened to Edgeworthstown in 1910’s and added Young Irelands in 1930.
• Ballinamuck club was initially formed as Ballinamuck 98’s and later competed as Ballinamuck (no ’98s).
• Drumlish club was re-organised in 1951 adopting the name ‘Young Irelands’ (later changed to Éire Óg).
• United Gaels (Longford Wanderers/Clonguish) competed in Senior Championship in 1933 and 1934.
• United Gaels (Granard/Abbeylara) competed in Senior and Junior from 1947-1948 and Junior in 1951.
• United Gaels (Abbeylara/Mullinalaghta) competed in Senior Championship for one season in 1953.
• St. Martins (Carrickedmond/Kenagh) competed in Junior from 1971-1972 and Senior from 1971-1975.
• Ballymore club reformed in 1967. Had previously competed in 1910’s and 1920’s and disbanded.
• Ballinamuck club reformed in 1967. Founded in 1890, previously competed until 1949 and disbanded.
• Young Grattans club reformed in 1980. Had previously competed from 1950 to 1954 and disbanded.
• Longford Slashers (estd. 1954) = Longford Wanderers + Whiterock Slashers. (📷 Image) (📑 Details)
• Fr. Manning Gaels (estd. 1969) = Éire Óg (Drumlish) + Ballinamuck. (📷 Image) (📑 Details)
• Ardagh Moydow (estd. 2019) = Ardagh St. Patricks + Moydow Harpers. (📷 Image) (📑 Details)

(Note: This is not all club/team names, only those where clarity is needed to understand key title winners or finalists)

Titles are allocated to club units (not parishes). Where a new club unit is formed by two or more clubs amalgamating, the previous titles of the individual clubs prior to the union are kept separate from titles won by the new club unit. Here are some examples from across the country of similar practice (📑 Examples). For teams made up of two or more clubs in an amalgamation, titles are allocated to the combination team and not assigned separately to the individual club units within it (thus avoiding double-counting).

To allocate titles accurately and consistently to club units, it was necessary to dig into specific instances where key titles were won by different or differently named entities from the same parish down the years, and determine, using as much primary evidence, as possible how to allocate those titles to club units.

Longford has seen a large number of clubs come and go over the years, including multiple clubs in the same parish at the same time (This was true in multiple instances prior to the 2010’s, and is still true today for the Longford and Granard parishes). Historically there are a few instances of key titles won by different or differently named units from the same parish. Some were merely the same club renamed over time, while others were separate club units including new clubs formed by the merging of two or more existing club units.

There are five key examples of title allocations which needed clarification:

1. Longford Parish
2. Mostrim Parish
3. Granard Parish
4. Drumlish Parish
5. Ardagh & Parish

Note: Titles in this context refers to SFC, SFL, SHC, IFC, JFC or U-21 Championship titles.

SFC Structure since straight knockout ended in 1999:

• 2027: 10 of 21 clubs  (2 Qualifier Groups 5/5) – Proposed
• 2026: 11 of 21 clubs  (2 Qualifier Groups 6/5) – Proposed
• 2025: 12 of 21 clubs  (2 Qualifier Groups 6/6)
• 2024: 12 of 21 clubs  (2 Qualifier Groups 6/6)
• 2023: 12 of 21 clubs  (2 Qualifier Groups 6/6)
• 2022: 12 of 21 clubs  (2 Qualifier Groups 6/6)
• 2021: 12 of 21 clubs  (2 Qualifier Groups 6/6)
• 2020: 12 of 21 clubs  (4 Qualifier Groups 3/3/3/3)
• 2019: 11 of 21 clubs  (3 Qualifier Groups 4/4/3)
• 2018: 11 of 23 clubs  (3 Qualifier Groups 4/4/3)
• 2017: 13 of 23 clubs  (3 Qualifier Groups 4/4/5)
• 2016: 13 of 24 clubs  (3 Qualifier Groups 4/4/5)
• 2015: 12 of 24 clubs  (Open Draw Qualifier Group)
• 2014: 12 of 24 clubs  (Open Draw Qualifier Group)
• 2013: 12 of 24 clubs  (Open Draw Qualifier Group)
• 2012: 12 of 24 clubs  (Open Draw Qualifier Group)
• 2011: 16 of 24 clubs  (4 Qualifier Groups 4/4/4/4)
• 2010: 15 of 24 clubs  (4 Qualifier Groups 4/4/4/3)
• 2009: 14 of 24 clubs  (4 Qualifier Groups 4/4/3/3)
• 2008: 15 of 24 clubs  (Backdoor qualifiers after Rounds 1 and 2)
• 2007: 15 of 24 clubs  (Backdoor qualifiers after Rounds 1 and 2)
• 2006: 15 of 24 clubs  (Backdoor qualifiers after Rounds 1 and 2)
• 2005: 15 of 24 clubs  (Backdoor qualifiers after Rounds 1 and 2)
• 2004: 16 of 24 clubs  (Backdoor qualifiers after Rounds 1 and 2)
• 2003: 16 of 24 clubs  (Backdoor qualifiers after Rounds 1 and 2)
• 2002: 16 of 24 clubs  (Backdoor qualifier via Senior B Championship)
• 2001: 15 of 24 clubs   (Backdoor qualifier via Senior B Championship)
• 2000: 15 of 24 clubs  (Backdoor qualifier via Senior B Championship)
• 1999: 13 of 24 clubs  (Last Straight Knockout Senior Championship)

2025 Note: Senior Championship was due to be reduced from 12 teams in 2024 to 10 teams from 2026 by having two teams relegated to, and one promoted from, Intermediate Championship in 2024 and 2025. This would result in 10 teams in Senior Championship, 8 teams in Intermediate Championship and 6 teams in Junior Championship (3 Junior + 3 Second teams) from 2026 onward. However in March 2025 the County Board decided to retain a 12-team competition in 2025, and reduce teams to 11 in 2026 and 10 from 2027 instead. Similarly the plans for changes in IFC and JFC were deferred by a year. 

1999 Note: 1999 was the final year of straight knockout SFC. 2000 saw the introduction of a backdoor qualifier system for first round losing teams to compete in a losers competition (Senior B Championship) for a Quarter Final spot. In 2000 the SFC had 7 Round 1 games, with 7 winners progressing to the Quarter Finals, while 7 Round 1 losers along with the last team pulled out at the Championship draw entered a Senior ‘B’ Championship with winner receiving the Kevin Hughes Cup and qualifying as the 8th team in the Quarter Final stage of the Senior Championship. This backdoor qualifier structure continued until 2009 when the league-style group stage structure was introduced, leading into knockout from Quarter Final onward.

1990 Note: In 1990 a series of changes were implemented which linked League and Championship together. From 1991 the Senior Championship would contain teams from Divisions 1 and 2 of the ACFL with a seeding system in place whereby the top four teams in Division 1 of the ACFL at the end of the 1990 season would go straight into the Quarter Final of the 1991 Senior Championship. This linkage between League and Championship meant that if a team was relegated from Division 2 of the ACFL in 1990 they would then play Intermediate Championship football in 1991. 

Relegation from Senior to Intermediate from 2000 to 2025:

• 2025: Fr. Manning Gaels, Mostrim
• 2024: Kenagh, (Carrickedmond) ¹
• 2023: Ballymahon
• 2022: St. Brigids Killashee ²
• 2021: Fr. Manning Gaels
• 2020: None ³
• 2019: None (St. Marys Granard, Rathcline) ⁴
• 2018: Ballymahon ⁵
• 2017: Fr. Manning Gaels, St. Brigids Killashee
• 2016: Rathcline
• 2015: None (Carrickedmond) ⁶
• 2014: Ardagh St. Patricks
• 2013: St. Brigids Killashee, (St. Marys Granard, Fr. Manning Gaels) ⁷
• 2012: Seán Connollys
• 2011: Cashel, Rathcline, St. Marys Granard, Ardagh St. Patricks, Carrickedmond
• 2010: None (Ardagh St. Patricks) ⁸
• 2009: None (Mullinalaghta St. Columbas) ⁹
• 2008: Ballymore
• 2007: Cashel
• 2006: None (Cashel, Fr. Manning Gaels, Ballymore) ¹⁰
• 2005: Carrickedmond, St. Brigids Killashee
• 2004: Ardagh St. Patricks, Rathcline
• 2003: Mullinalaghta St. Columbas
• 2002: None
• 2001: None
• 2000: Kenagh

(Parenthesis shows teams relegated but did not make the drop due to restructuring of SFC or decision by CB) 

Notes & Caveats:

1. The 2024 relegation of Carrickedmond was later reversed in March 2025 when the County Board announced their decision to retain 12-teams in SFC for 2025.
2. In 2022 St. Brigids Killashee withdrew from the SFC after the first round and were duly relegated.  
3. In 2020 there was no promotion/relegation due to Covid-19 related impact. 
4. The 2019 relegation of St. Marys Granard and Rathcline was later reversed as a result of Covid-19 related impact and a desire to retain 12 teams in SFC for 2020.
5. In 2018 Ballymahon volunteered for relegation ahead of the relegation play-off games. 
6. In 2015 Carrickdmond were relegated, however SFC structure increased to 13 teams in 2016 and they retained their Senior status. 
7. In 2013 St. Marys Granard and Fr. Manning Gaels were both relegated, however at a later meeting of the County Board it was agreed that they would both remain at Senior grade for 2013. 
8. In 2010 Ardagh St. Patricks were relegated, however SFC was increased from 15 to 16 teams in 2011, hence Ardagh retained their Senior status.
9. In 2009 Mullinalaghta were relegated, however SFC was increased from 14 to 15 teams in 2010, hence Mullinalaghta retained their Senior status.
10. In 2006 Cashel, Fr. Manning Gaels and Ballymore were all relegated. However in early 2007 the County Board decided to allow all three clubs to remain at Senior grade following a motion at Convention which called for the SFC structure to be re-examined. It was decided that 15 clubs would continue to compete in SFC in 2007, though with a change that only losers of first round games will get a second chance via the back door. Hence all three retained their Senior status for 2007.

Prior to our research, the first 3-in-a-row of SFC titles had been allocated for more than a century to Killoe Young Emmets (1911-1913) in all published rolls of honour and history publications. Our research found sufficient circumstantial evidence to suggest that the 1912 title was more likely the completion of the delayed 1911 competition and not a separate title for 1912. We subjected our findings to external scrutiny via an established sports historian outside the county, to avoid any unconscious bias (the club involved was actually our native club). Our findings were upheld, hence the change to the records displayed on this archive.

Five clubs achieved 3-in-a-row of Senior Football Championship titles between 1890 and 2025.

• St. Marys Granard (2): 1929-1931 and 1933-1935
• Clonguish (1): 1962-1965
• Longford Slashers (1): 1989-1991
• Fr. Manning Gaels (1): 1996-1998
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (1): 2016-2018

One club has achieved 4-in-a-row of Senior Football Championship titles between 1890 and 2025:

• Clonguish (1): 1962-1965

The article below from the Longford Leader in 2015 looks back at those wins.