Longford GAA - Individual Honours

Hall of Fame

2008: Padraic Gearty (Longford Slashers)
2009: Pearse Daly (Colmcille)
2010: Jim Reynolds (Longford Arms Hotel)
2011: Micko Doyle (Moydow Harpers)
2012: Philomena Donoghue (Mostrim)
2013: Brendan Lennon (Grattan Óg)
2014: John Fay (Abbeylara)
2015: Tom McLoughlin (Mostrim) | Jimmy Fox (Seán Connollys)
2016: Rogie Martin (St. Marys Granard)
2017: Albert Fallon (Ballymahon)
2018: Seamus Flynn (Rathcline)
2019: Eugene McGee (Colmcille)
2020: No Award (Covid-19)
2021: No Award (Covid-19)
2022: John Greene (Mostrim)

Team of Millennium

Goalkeeper: John Heneghan (Ballymahon)
Right Corner Back: Seamus Flynn (Clonguish)
Full Back: Larry Gillen (Ardagh St. Patricks)
Left Full Back: Billy Morgan (Killoe Young Emmets)
Right Half Back: Brendan Barden (Clonguish)
Centre Half Back: Mick Casey (Cashel)
Left Half Back: Eamon Meagher (Drumlish)
Midfield: Jim Hannify (Drumlish)
Midfield: Jimmy Flynn (Clonguish)
Right Half Forward: Jackie Devine (Mostrim)
Center Half Forward: Vincent Tierney (St. Marys Granard)
Left Half Forward: Jimmy Hannify (Drumlish/Fr. Manning Gaels)
Right Full Forward: Dessie Barry (Longford Slashers)
Full Forward: Joe Regan (St. Marys Granard)
Left Full Forward: Seán Donnelly (Longford Slashers)

More details on Longford Team of the Millenium vote in April 2000 can be found here.

Longford GAA - Individual Honours

Top Footballers (1970-2020)

Top Longford footballer from 50-year period 1970-2020 was voted via Irish Independent poll held in May 2020.

1) Paul Barden (Clonguish)
2) Jimmy Hannify (Fr. Manning Gaels)
3) Dessie Barry (Longford Slashers)
4) Liam Tierney (Mostrim)
5) Mick Casey (Cashel)
6) John ‘Speedy’ McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets)
7) Pádraic Davis (Fr. Manning Gaels)
8) Michael Quinn (Killoe Young Emmets)
9) Francis McNamee (Fr. Manning Gaels)
10) Seán Donnelly (Longford Slashers)
11) Mickey O’Hara (Mostrim)
12) Niall Sheridan (Abbeylara)
13) Brian Kavanagh (Ardagh St. Patricks)
14) Dermot Brady (Longford Slashers)
15) Declan Reilly (Colmcille)
16) Enda Barden (Clonguish)
17) Shane Mulligan (Mullinalaghta St. Columbas)
18) Seán McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets)
19) Trevor Smullen (Ballymahon)
20) Joe McCabe (Ballymahon)

Paul Barden was ranked at No. 1 and is widely regarded as Longford’s greatest footballer. Paul’s inter-county senior football career spanned 16 years from his debut aged 17 in October 1998 (NFL vs Carlow) to he retirement aged 34 in February 2015. He played 52 championship games for Longford (19 wins, 3 draws, 30 defeats) and was twice nominated for an All Star award (2006 & 2012). He won two Railway Cups as a player (2001 & 2002) and one as a panel member (2006), was capped in the International Rules Series in 2006 and won O’Byrne Cup (2000), NFL Division 4 (2011) and NFL Division 3 (2012) for Longford. At club level Paul also won 3 Longford SFC titles with Clonguish. As a hurler Paul won 3 NHL Division 3B titles (2013, 2017, 2019) and Kehoe Cup (2018) as well as 5 Longford SHC titles with his club Clonguish.

Jimmy Hannify was ranked at No. 2 and had a very successful inter-county playing career. He debuted for Longford against Meath in the 1965 Leinster Championship semi-final and enjoyed a 12-year inter-county career before retiring at the end of the 1977 season, winning National League (1966), Leinster SFC (1968), 2 NFL Division 2 titles (1966, 1972), O’Byrne Cup (1965), Tir Conaill Cup (1965), Gaelic Weekly Cup (1965) and 2 Feis Cups (1965, 1967). Jimmy was twice nominated for an All Star award (1971 & 1972), was top scorer in the 1970 Leinster SFC and won 2 All-Ireland Colleges titles with St. Mels College (1962, 1963). At club level Jimmy won Intermediate & Junior titles with his native Fr. Manning Gaels club in Drumlish and won Dublin SFC title with Civil Service in 1980. Jimmy was selected on the Longford Team of the Millennium in 2000, along with his father Jim.

Dessie Barry was ranked at No. 3 and was one of the best Longford footballers of the 1980’s and 1990’s. He debuted for Longford in 1982 and enjoyed a 17-year inter-county career, winning NFL Division 4 in 1984 and NFL Division 3N in 1990, and was a key figure in the Leinster team who won the 1988 Railway Cup by defeating Ulster 2-9 to 0-12, with Dessie scoring 2-2. He was part of the 1990 International Rules squad managed by Eugene McGee and played in the warm-up matches. Dessie was nominated for an All Star award 1988, 1989 and 1990 and was chosen as an All Star Replacement for the America tour in 1988. At club level, Dessie won 6 Longford SFC titles with Longford Slashers, including 3-in-row from 1989-1991, receiving the Man of the Match award in all three finals. He was selected on the Longford Team of the Millennium in 2000 and was inducted into the Leinster GAA ‘Hall of Fame’ in 2015. Dessie also played soccer for Longford Town in League of Ireland and FAI Cup.

Longford GAA - Individual Honours

Leinster 'Team 25'

Left Half Forward: Paul Barden

Leinster ‘Team 25’ was selected in 2009 by the Leinster Council from a panel of Leinster players who achieved greatness in the 25 Years since the GAA’s centenary in 1984.

Paul Barden beat off the challenge of Dessie Dolan (Westmeath), Kieran Duff (Dublin) and Tom Prendergast (Laois), who were also nominated for the No 12 jersey. Team 25 (1984-2009): John O’Leary (Dublin), Robbie O’Malley (Meath), Darren Fay (Meath), John Keane (Westmeath), Paul Curran (Dublin), Glenn Ryan (Kildare), Martin O’Connell (Meath), Ciaran Whelan (Dublin), John McDermott (Meath), Barney Rock (Dublin), Trevor Giles (Meath), Paul Barden (Longford), Colm O’Rourke (Meath), Kevin O’Brien (Wicklow), Matty Forde (Wexford).

Longford GAA - Individual Honours

National Honours

All Star Nominations (Football)

1971: Frank Murray (Legan) | Jimmy Hannify (Fr. Manning Gaels)
1972: Seán Donnelly (Longford Slashers) | Jimmy Hannify (Fr. Manning Gaels)
1974: Seán Mulvihill (Kenagh)
1984: Liam Tierney (Mostrim) | John ‘Speedy’ McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets)
1985: John ‘Speedy’ McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets)
1986: John ‘Speedy’ McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets)
1988: Dessie Barry (Longford Slashers)
1989: Dessie Barry (Longford Slashers)
1990: Dessie Barry (Longford Slashers)
2006: Paul Barden (Clonguish) | Brian Kavanagh (Ardagh)
2012: Paul Barden (Clonguish) | Michael Quinn (Killoe Young Emmets)

Cú Chulainn Awards (Football)

1965: Seán Murray (Carrickedmond)
1966: Brendan Barden (Clonguish)

Player of the Week/Month Awards (Football)

In 1996: Niall Sheridan (Abbeylara) – Daily Star Player of the Week.
In 1999: Trevor Smullen (Ballymahon) – Daily Star Player of the Week.
In 2001: Padraic Davis (Fr. Manning Gaels) – Daily Star Player of the Week.
In 2002: Liam Mulvihill (Kenagh) – Daily Star Special Achievement Award.
In 2007: Brian Kavanagh (Ardagh) – GPA/GAA Player of the Month.
In 2012: Paul Barden (Clonguish) – GPA/GAA Player of the Month.
In 2014: Paul Barden (Clonguish) – GAA Player of the Week.
In 2016: Robbie Smyth (Abbeylara) – GAA Player of the Week.
(Please let us know if we are missing anyone from the list above)

Lory Meagher Player of the Year (Hurling)

2010: Gareth Ghee (Longford Slashers)
2014: Martin Coyle (Wolfe Tones)

All Star Championship XV (Hurling)

2005 (NR): Gareth Ghee (Longford Slashers)
2006 (NR): Martin Coyle (Wolfe Tones)
2007 (NR): Brendan Stakem (Wolfe Tones)
2008 (NR): Mark Cassidy (Wolfe Tones)
2009 (LM): Paddy Cullen (Wolfe Tones) | Robert Ryland (St. Rynaghs, Offaly)
2010 (LM): Joe O’Brien (Clonguish) | Gareth McGhee (Longford Slashers) | Seán Browne & Martin Coyle (Wolfe Tones) | Declan Tanner (St. Rynaghs, Offaly)
2011 (LM): Eoin Donnellan (Longford Slashers)
2012 (LM): John Newman (Salthill-Knocknacarra) | Ciaran Finucane (Clonguish)
2013 (LM): Joe O’Brien & Éanna Daly (Clonguish) | Eoin Donnellan (Wolfe Tones) | Conor Egan (Birr, Offaly)
2014 (LM): Joe O’Brien (Clonguish), Karl Murray (Longford Slashers) | Martin Coyle, Paddy Cullen & Cathal Mullane (Wolfe Tones)
2015 (NR): Joe O’Brien (Clonguish)
2016 (NR): Patrick Farrington (Delvin)
2017 (NR): Seamus Hannon (Wolfe Tones)
2018 (NR): John Casey (Longford Slashers)
2022 (NR/LM): Paddy Lynam (St. Oliver Plunketts, Westmeath)

(NR: Nickey Rackard competition | LM: Lory Meagher competition)

Note 1: Cú Chulainn Awards were the forerunner to the All Star Awards, presented from 1963 to 1967 under the auspices of Gaelic Weekly magazine and can be viewed as equivalent to the subsequent All Star awards in terms of significance and merit.

Note 2: Brian Kavanagh received a call-up to the Vodafone All-Star team for the Tour of Dubai in January 2007. He was on the 2006 All-Star team starting XV, managed by Jack O’Connor from Kerry: A Quirke (Cork), B Owens (Fermanagh), K Lacey (Donegal), S Moynihan (Kerry), G Spillane (Cork), A O’Mahony (Kerry), S Ryan (Dublin), N Murphy (Cork), S O‘Sullivan (Kerry), A Brogan (Dublin), A Dillon (Mayo), C Mortimer (Mayo), J Masters (Cork), R Munnelly (Laois), B Kavanagh (Longford).

Note 3: Karl Murray received the Lory Meagher All-Star award in 2014. Karl played for Clonguish Gaels up to 2013 and transferred to Longford Slashers from 2014.

Note 4: Eoin Donnellan received the Lory Meagher All-Star award in 2013. Eoin originally played with Ballymahon Gaels until the club folded in early 2000’s, and then hurled for Longford Slashers thereafter, however due to Slashers not competing in Senior Hurling competition in 2012 and 2013, Eoin hurled for Wolfe Tones at the time of the All-Star award.

Longford GAA - Individual Honours

International Caps

International Rules Series (vs Australia)

1984: Liam Tierney (Mostrim) = 2 Caps
2006: Paul Barden (Clonguish) = 2 Caps
2015: Michael Quinn (Killoe Young Emmets) = 1 Cap

Note 1: Dessie Barry (Longford Slashers) was part of 1990 panel and played in warm up games, but not in the 3 test matches.

Note 2: Eugene McGee (Colmcille) managed the Ireland team in International Rules Series in 1987 and 1990,

Shinty-Hurling International (vs Scotland)

2007: Eoin Donnellan (Longford Slashers)
2016: Karl Murray (Longford Slashers)
2018: Johnny Casey (Longford Slashers)

U21 Shinty-Hurling International (vs Scotland)

2012: Karl Murray (Longford Slashers)

Longford GAA - Individual Honours

Railway Cup Winners

1945: Jim Hannify (Drumlish)
1952: Colm Smith (Colmcille) *
1953: Vincent Tierney (St. Marys Granard) | Jimmy O’Brien (Rathcline) *
1954: Vincent Tierney (St. Marys Granard) *
1955: Eamon Meagher (Drumlish) * | Jim Harold (Army) *
1962: Padraig Gearty (Longford Slashers) | Brendan Barden (Clonguish)
1985: Mick Casey (Cashel) * | Liam Tierney (Mostrim) *
1986: Mick Casey (Cashel) *
1988: Dessie Barry (Longford Slashers) | John ‘Speedy’ McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets) *
1997: Enda Barden (Clonguish) *
2001: Paul Barden (Clonguish) | Padraic Davis (Fr. Manning Gaels) *
2002: Paul Barden (Clonguish)| Padraic Davis (Fr. Manning Gaels) *
2006: Brian Kavanagh (Ardagh) | Paul Barden (Clonguish) * | Declan Reilly (Colmcille) * | Damien Sheridan (Dromard) * | Bernard McElvaney (Ballymore) *

– Brendan Barden and Padraic Gearty played in 1962 Railway Cup final which was the first Gaelic Football match ever televised.

– Padraic Gearty has the distinction of being the first person to score in a Gaelic Football match on live TV.

– Seamus Flynn is the only Longford player to have captained a Leinster Railway Cup team (1969 vs Munster).

– Jim Hannify played inter-county for Longford, Galway & Kildare, including being part of Galway’s 1938 All-Ireland squad.

– Vincent Tierney won two Railway Cup medals. He played for Granard but also won Junior titles with Abbeylara and played Minor for Killoe.

– Paddy Bates played for Longford in the Leinster JFC winning team of 1924. He was in the Army and stationed in Longford at the time, and when he re-located back to his native Laois later in the 1920’s, Paddy played county for Laois and was on the Railway Cup winning Leinster teams of 1928 & 1929. Paddy died in 1957.

– Pearse Park in Longford was the venue for three Railway Cup semi-finals down the years… 1942 (MvL), 1993 (LvC) & 2013 (UvM).

* This denotes panel member (i.e. didn’t play in the Railway Cup final)

Note: The following Longford footballers played on losing Railway Cup final teams: Bobby Burns (1964), Larry Gillen, John Donlon, Seán Donnelly & Jimmy Hannify (1968), Mick Casey (1983), Paul Barden, Trevor Smullen & Padraic Davis (2004), Michael Quinn & Seán McCormack (2013).

Longford GAA - Individual Honours

Sigerson Cup Winners

1937/38: UCG – Con McGovern (Drumlish)
1938/39: UCG – Con McGovern (Drumlish)
1939/40: UCG – Con McGovern (Drumlish)
1944/45: UCD – Tom Deignan (St. Marys Granard)
1949/50: UCD – Gerry Gearty (Longford Wanderers)
1953/54: UCD – Padraig Gearty (Longford Slashers) | Davy Sheeran (Killoe Young Emmets)
1955/56: UCD – Padraig Gearty (Longford Slashers)
1959/60: UCD – Seán Murray (Carrickedmond)
1960/61: UCG – Seán Donnelly (Longford Slashers)
1961/62: UCD – Seán Murray (Carrickedmond)
1962/63: UCG – Seán Donnelly (Longford Slashers)
1963/64: UCG – Seán Donnelly (Longford Slashers)
1967/68: UCD – Tom Mulvihill (Kenagh)
1972/73: UCD – T.P. Cashell (Ballymahon) * | Fintan Farrell (Rathcline) *
1975/76: Maynooth – Tom Barden (Clonguish) | Peter Burke (Clonguish) | Mick McElvaney (St. Marys Granard) | Frank Murray (Legan) *
1979/80: UCG – Joe McCabe (Ballymahon) *
1984/85: UCD – Francis McNamee (Fr. Manning Gaels)
2001/02: Sligo IT – Damien Sheridan (Dromard) | David Barden (Clonguish)
2014/15: DCU – Michael Quinn (Killoe Young Emmets) | Rory Connor (Kenagh) | Daithi Mulvihill (Rathcline)*
2017/18: UCD – Larry Moran (Killoe Young Emmets)

– The only time Longford footballers played against each other in a Sigerson Cup final was in 1961/62 with Seán Murray for UCD and Seán Donnelly for UCG.

– Seán Murray is the only Longford player to captain a winning Sigerson Cup team (1961/62 UCD). He also won Dublin SFC titles with UCD in 1963 & 1965.

– Peter Burke was top scorer in the Sigerson Cup final of 1975/76 (scored 0-4).

* This denotes panel member (i.e. didn’t play in the Sigerson Cup final)

Note: The following Longford footballers played on losing Sigerson Cup final teams: P. M. Farrell (UCD 1933/34), Bernard Burbage (UCD 1940/41 and 1941/42), Padraig Gearty (UCD 1952/53 and 1954/55), Seán Murray, Harry McGann & Jimmy Flynn (UCD 1958/59), Seán Murray & Bobby Burns (UCD 1960/61), Seán Donnelly (UCG 1961/62), Jimmy Hannify (UCG 1966/67 and 1967/68), Frank Murray & Peter Burke (Maynooth 1972/73), David Hannify (UCD 1999/00 and 2000/01), Jamsie Martin (Garda 2007/08), Michael Quinn & Rory Connor (DCU 2015/16) and Larry Moran (UCD 2016/17).

Longford GAA - Individual Honours

All-Ireland Kick Fada

1989: Oliver Barry – U14 (Longford Slashers)
2010: Damien Sheridan (Dromard)
2012: Damien Sheridan (Dromard)
2013: Damien Sheridan (Dromard)
2014: Damien Sheridan (Dromard)

Longford GAA - Individual Honours

MacNamee Awards

1991: Best Match Programme: Longford GAA (Pat Chapman)
1993: Best Provincial Article: Longford Leader (Joe Flaherty)
2013: Best Website: Killoe GAA (Paul, Colm & John Devaney)

Longford GAA - Individual Honours

Leinster Awards

Leinster GAA Hall of Fame

2007: Eugene McGee (Colmcille)
2015: Dessie Barry (Longford Slashers)

Leinster GAA Presidents Award

2008: John Ryan (Ballymahon)
2010: Tommy McLoughlin (Mostrim)

Leinster GAA Volunteer Award

2006: Best Match Programme: Longford GAA (John Duffy)
2014: Best Website: Killoe GAA (Paul, Colm & John Devaney)

Longford GAA - Individual Honours

Officials on National Stage

1979-2007: Director General of GAA – Liam Mulvihill (Kenagh)
1993-1995: Leinster Council Chairperson – Albert Fallon (Ballymahon)
2015-2016: National Féile Chairperson – Martin Skelly (Cashel)
2011-2013: Leinster Council Chairperson – Martin Skelly (Cashel)
2008-2010: Leinster Council Vice-Chairperson – Martin Skelly (Cashel)
2012-2014: Leinster Council PRO – John Greene (Mostrim)
2001-present: GAA Stadium & Commercial Director – Peter McKenna (Cashel)
2020-present: Down County Board Chairperson – John Devaney (Killoe)
2021-2023: Connacht Camogie Chairperson – Brian Molloy (Lanesboro)
2024: Camogie Association President (Elect) – Brian Molloy (Lanesboro)

(In 2023 Brian Molloy was elected the first male president of the Camogie Association in its 118 year history. His term begins from 2024)

Longford GAA - Individual Honours

Referees on National Stage

1933: Leinster Senior Football Final – J.V. Kelly (Longford)
1934: National Football League Final (R) – J.V. Kelly (Longford)
1938: National Football League Final – J.V. Kelly (Longford)
1939: National Football League Final – J.V. Kelly (Longford)
1939: Connacht Senior Football Final – J.V. Kelly (Longford)
1991: Leinster Club Football Final – Pat O’Toole (St. Munis Forgney)
1994: Railway Cup Final – Pat O’Toole (St. Munis Forgney)
1997: All-Ireland Minor Football Final – John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields)
1998: Leinster Senior Football Final – John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields)
1998: All-Ireland Senior Football Final – John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields)
1999: All-Ireland Club Football Final – John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields)
2000: All-Ireland Junior Football Final – Eugene Murtagh (Seán Connollys)
2001: All-Ireland Club Football Final – John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields)
2002: All-Ireland Senior Football Final – John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields)
2003: Vodafone GAA All-Star Referee Award – John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields)
2006: National Football League Final – Eugene Murtagh (Seán Connollys)
2007: National Football League Final – John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields)
2007: All-Ireland Minor Football Final – Derek Fahy (Ballymore)
2007: All-Ireland Senior Club Football Final (R) – Eugene Murtagh (Seán Connollys)
2010: All-Ireland Senior Club Football Final – Derek Fahy (Ballymore)
2012: National Football League Division 4 Final – Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon)
2013: Leinster Intermediate Club Football Final – Patrick Maguire (St. Marys Granard)
2013: Leinster Senior Club Football Final – Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon)
2014: All-Ireland Minor Football Final – Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon)
2015: All-Ireland U-21 Football Final – Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon)
2016: Leinster Senior Football Final – Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon)
2013: Leinster Senior Club Football Final – Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon)
2017: Leinster Minor Football Final – Patrick Maguire (St. Marys Granard)
2019: National Football League Final – Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon)
2022: Leinster Senior Club Football Final – Patrick Maguire (St. Marys Granard)