Longford Club Story

Senior Football Championship

1891
Was: Longford Shamrocks
Now: Not Completed

1896
Was: Longford Shamrocks
Now: No Championship

1911
Was: Killoe vs Drumlish
Now: Killoe 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.

Senior Football League (Leader Cup)

Previous Leader Cup records began in 1938, but our assessment found the 1938 win was the delayed 1937 final.

1937
Was: No Record
Now: Drumlish

1938
Was: Drumlish
Now: No Competition

1941
Was: Killashee
Now: Ardagh St. Patricks

1946
Was: Mullinalaghta
Now: Drumlish

Intermediate Football Championship

Previous IFC records began in 1966, but our assessment found it was also played in 1931 & 1932.

1931
Was: None
Now: Mullinalaghta

1932
Was: None
Now: Edgeworthstown Young Irelands

Junior Football Championship

Previous JFC records began in 1924, but our assessment found JFC began in 1927.

1924
Was: Mullinalaghta
Now: None

1927
Was: Granard
Now: Ardagh St. Patricks

1928
Was: Granard
Now: Clonguish

1940
Was: Killoe Young Emmets
Now: Mostrim (Awarded)

1942
Was: Cashel
Now: Longford Wanderers

1944
Was: No Competition
Now: Dromard

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

Minor Football Championship

1949
Was: Mostrim
Now: No Championship

1951
Was: Clonguish
Now: Abandoned

1974
Was: Longford Slashers
Now: Wolfe Tones/St. Bernards

1985
Was: Killoe
Now: Killoe Region (Killoe + St. Mels Shroid)

1st Harte Cup Winner
Was: Mostrim (1949)
Now: Clonguish (1950)

Senior Hurling Championship

Previous SHC records began in 1902, but our assessment found SHC started in 1904 with final(s) in 1905.

1902
Was: Longford Leo Caseys
Now: No Championship

1903
Was: Longford Leo Caseys
Now: No Championship

1906
Was: Longford Leo Caseys
Now: No Championship

1932/33/34
Was: Granard Shamrocks
Now: Granard Hurling Club

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

New Rolls of Honour

The following competitions did not have any researched Rolls of Honour prior to our research:

Football Titles

• All County Football Leagues (All)
• Senior Football League
• Intermediate Football League
• Junior Football League
• Féile Peile na nÓg

Hurling Titles

• Senior Hurling League
• U-21 Hurling Championship
• Minor Hurling Championship
• Juvenile Hurling Championship
• U-14 Hurling Championship
• U-12 Hurling Championship
• Féile na nGael

Title Allocations

Titles are allocated to club units (not parishes). Where a new club unit is formed by two or more clubs merging, the previous titles of the individual clubs prior to the union are kept separate in Rolls of Honour from titles won by the new club unit. For teams made up of two or more clubs, titles are allocated to the combined team and not assigned separately to the individual club units within it (thus avoiding double-counting).

Some published records count titles of Drumlish and Fr. Manning Gaels clubs together as one count under the name ‘Drumlish/Fr. Manning Gaels‘. In order to consistently allocate titles to club units, this web archive keeps titles for the Drumlish club separate from titles of the Fr. Manning Gaels club which was formed in March 1969 when Éire Óg (Drumlish) and Ballinamuck united into a single unified club for the parish. Similarly, the titles of Longford Slashers are kept separate in rolls of honour from earlier titles of the Longford Wanderers club and Whiterock Slashers club which united in 1954 to create Longford Slashers. More detail and context in the ‘Title Allocations’ section at the bottom of each club titles page.

Club Names

Where possible we show the year-by-year list of club title winners using the name used by the club at that time.

🗓️ 1888: First GAA Club in Longford

While 1887 appears on the modern-day Longford GAA crest, the origin year for the GAA in County Longford was 1888 and the formation of the first GAA club in the county – Granard Healys. The Granard Healys club was formed in late September 1888 and named after Tim Michael Healy, M.P. for North Longford. The elected club officers were: President: James Cosgrave, Captain: L Cosgrave, Secretary: John Cosgrave, Treasurer: W Dawson, Committee: E Tobin, F Kelly, J Kelly, J Smith and JJ Hennessy.

Longford town was next with the formation of the Longford Davitts club on December 2nd 1888. Ballot papers were issued for club officials, and by 6th January 1889 the new Longford Davitts club had JP Farrell as Chairman, William Foran as Secretary, Francis McGuinness as Treasurer and Michael Toolan as Captain. The Ballymahon O’Briens club was next to be formed in February 1889. A challenge match took place between the Longford Davitts and Ballymahon O’Briens on Ballymahon’s Fair Green on 24th February 1889, and appears to have been the first match played under GAA rules in Longford, with the home side winning by 0-3 to 0-0, refereed by Peter Toolan from Longford town. A return game was played on 24th March 1889 in Longford with the home side reversing the result by 1-2 to 0-2 in a game refereed by Joseph Folan.

🗓️ 1889: More Clubs & County Board Formed

Clough Dillons club was formed in April 1889, with Longford’s first official tournament (Grand Gaelic Tournament) under GAA rules taking place in Longford town on Easter Sunday 21st April 1889. The tournament was organised by Longford Davitts and was advertised to include 6 clubs and 3 games. However it ended up with 4 clubs and 2 games. The clubs involved were Ballymahon O’Briens, Clough Dillons, Longford Davitts and Rooskey Pat Molloys. All four teams marched from the Market Square to the grounds at the Springlawn race course, behind the Longford fife-and-drum band. In the first game, Ballymahon O’Briens beat Longford Davitts by 0-1 to 0-0. The second game between the newly formed Clough Dillons club and Rooskey Pat Molloys was interrupted by rain, and once it resumed Rooskey ran out winners by 2-5 to 0-0. More clubs were formed in the months that followed, including Killoe Erins Pride in June 1889, Drumlish Robert Emmets in August 1889 and Clonguish Gallowglasses in October 1889.

On 13th October 1889 two matches took place in Longford town involving Longford Davitts vs Killoe Erin’s Pride and Drumlish Robert Emmets vs Clough Dillons. Following the two games, the Longford County Board (or ‘County Council’ as it was referred to back then) convened for the very first time at 6pm in the League room on the Market Square. Delegates were present from Drumlish-Ballinamuck, Clough, Columbkille, Dromard, Killoe, Longford and Clonguish clubs. Mr. Thompson seconded by Mr. McGrath proposed JP Farrell for the role of chair. It was decided at this first meeting that no club could enter a competition unless every member had a card of the Irish National League. By the end of 1889 the following clubs had also been formed… Mullinalaghta Leaguers, Dromard O’Briens, Clonguish Gallowglasses, Ballywillan Michael Davitts, Ballymacormack Grattans, Crosskeys Fitzgeralds, Ferefad Mandevilles, Columbkille St. Columbkilles, Edgeworthstown Volunteers, Moydow Harpers & Ardagh St. Patricks.

Although the first club was formed in Longford in 1888 and the first match under GAA rules in Longford took place in 1889, Longford had a retrospective link with the initial founding of the GAA in Hayes Hotel in Thurles in 1884, where one of the founders, Thomas St George McCarthy, was an RIC man who served as a District Inspector with the RIC in Ballymahon. It is also worth noting that there are references to Gaelic matches taking place prior to the 1880’s and back to the 18th century, including one between Longford and Westmeath. There are also parish records which cite locals playing Gaelic Football prior to the 1880’s and many recollections of games between neighbouring parishes where the battle would go on for hours with no one seemingly keeping score! There are also recorded tales of teams in Longford prior to the foundation of the GAA in 1884, though not affiliated or competing under GAA rules. The yardstick we use for GAA activity in Longford is the organisation of clubs, games and a county board under GAA rules, which can be traced back to 1888 in County Longford.

In terms of major GAA rules in those early years, prior to 1892 there were 21 players per team, and a goal outnumbered any number of points. From 1892 the players per team was reduced to 17 and 1 goal equaled 5 points. From 1896 this changed to 1 goal equaling 3 points. In 1901 the scoring area was reduced from 63 feet to 54 feet between each post. In 1910 the side posts were abolished and the goal area as we recognise it today was introduced. In 1913 the number of players per team was reduced to 15.

🗓️ 1890: First Club Championship

In March 1890 it was decided to run a Senior Football Championship involving all affiliated clubs. By the time of the draw for that inaugural Senior Football Championship, twenty one clubs had been formed and were ready for competitive action. Most of those clubs would be inactive/folded by the turn of the century. The clubs in the 1890 Senior Football Championship were:

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
Granard Healys
Killashee Mitchells
Killoe Erin’s Pride
Legan Sunbursts
Longford Davitts
Moydow Harpers
Newtowncashel Sons of St Kieran
Rathcline John Martins
Shrule Leos

1890 was a controversial year with a number of games called off and the County Secretary resigning, but all the time more and more clubs were being formed and an historic first Senior Football Championship took place. The Championship was split into North and South:

North Competition

• Columbkille St. Columbkilles (0-3) vs Edgeworthstown Volunteers (0-1)
• Ballywillan Michael Davitts vs Granard Healys (walk over)
• Drumlish Robert Emmets (0-2) vs Clonguish Gallowglasses (0-1)
• Killoe Erin’s Pride (0-0) vs Dromard O’Briens (0-1) – Killoe awarded after objection

South Competition

• Ferefad Mandevilles (1-0) vs Legan Sunbursts (0-1)
• Killashee Mitchells vs Crosskeys Fitzgeralds – No result declared, replay a draw, second replay won by Killashee
• Rathcline John Martins (2-3) vs Moydow Harpers (0-0)
• Ardagh St. Patricks (0-2) vs Newtowncashel Sons of St. Kieran (0-0)
• Longford Davitts (0-2) vs Clough Dillons (0-3) – Longford awarded the game after Dillons waked off
• Ballymacormack Grattans vs Carrickedmond O’Connells – Ballymacormack won
• Shrule Leos – a bye

Further Rounds

• Ballymacormack Grattans (2-6) vs Shrule Leos (0-3)
• Ferefad Mandevilles (0-2) vs Granard Healys (0-2) – Granard won the replay
• Columbkille St. Columbkilles (0-6) vs Killoe Erins Pride (0-1)
• Ardagh St. Patricks (0-5) vs Longford Davitts (0-3)
• Drumlish Robert Emmets a bye
• Rathcline John Martins (0-3) vs Ardagh St. Patricks (0-1)
• Ballymacormack Grattans (0-5) vs Drumlish Robert Emmets (0-3)
• Columbkille St. Columbkilles (0-5) vs Granard Healys (0-1)

Semi Finals

• Columbkille St. Columbkilles (1-5) vs Ballymacormack Grattans (0-1)
• Rathcline John Martins a bye

County Final

• Columbkille St. Columbkilles (1-0)
• Rathcline John Martins (0-4)

The first Senior Football Championship final took place at Abbeycarton Lane on June 8th 1890, in a field provided by Peter McLoughlin. Patrick Baxter from Ardagh St. Patricks was the referee. Rathcline scored four point in the first half with Columbkille struggling to play as well as they had in their semi final, but a fisted goal in the second half gave the lead to Columbkille which they held on to win, despite strong objections over the goal. In 1890 a goal was worth more than any number of points, hence Columbkille won on a scoreline of 1-0 to 0-4.

There was further controversy when Columbkille threatened to hand back their medals as Rathcline were receiving a set of medals inscribed with ‘Honest Johns champions for skill’. It was thought that the medals would have no inscription. The reason for the inscription is due to the fact that most spectators regarded Rathcline as being the superior skilled team only losing out to a disputed goal. A compromise was reached where the medals would state ‘Honest Johns for superior merit’. The teams on the day were as follows…

Columbkille St. Columbkilles: Phil Hourican, captain, Danny Hanlon, Hughie McGovern, Charlie Hourigan, 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, Phil 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.

[Image: Longford Leader archive]

🗓️ 1890: Club Representatives

The following club representatives are recorded in late 1890 with the attendees at the Annual Convention denoted with an asterisk. The first Annual Convention on 5th October 1890 saw Ballinamuck 98’s club affiliated for the first time, and saw the O’Briens and Owen Roes clubs in Dromard merging to form Drumard Hugh Roe O’Donnells. In Ballymahon the O’Briens and Shrule Leos clubs also agreed to merge at the Convention, later taking the name Ballymahon Leos. Hence by the end of 1890 the number of affiliated clubs sat at 24.

🗓️ 1891: Second Club Championship (Unfinished)

The years following the first club championship in 1890 saw political unrest impact upon the GAA activities and the county board struggled to keep formed. An effort was made to run the Senior Football Championship again in 1891 with 26 clubs taking part and a number of games played. However the competition suffered from a series of no-shows and would later be abandoned. The number of absentee teams in the 1891 Championship was caused by a notice printed in error in the Roscommon Herald the day before the game, cancelling the fixtures. A subsequent meeting of the County Board ruled that the teams who didn’t turn up would get a bye into the second round and to compete the first round, the remaining teams who did not field were re-drawn against each other. The re-draw included Mullinalaghta Leaguers who were a late entry and Ballywillan Faugh ‘a Ballaghs who had changed their name from Ballywillan Davitts. Neither Ballymahon, Killashee nor Carrickedmond who entered in the original first round, appeared in the re-draw.

The clubs earmarked for 1891 Senior Football Championship were:

Ardagh St. Patricks
Ballinamuck 98’s
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 Hugh Roe O’Donnells *
Drumlish Robert Emmets
Edgeworthstown Volunteers
Ferefad Mandevilles
Granard Healys
Granard Slashers
Killashee John Mitchells
Killoe Erins Pride
Killoe McMahons
Legan Sunbursts
Moydow Harpers
Mullinalaghta Leaguers
Newtowncashel Sons of St. Kieran
Rathcline John Martins
Rathaspic Leaguers (Westmeath)

Four teams (Rathcline John Martins, Moydow Harpers, Killoe McMahons and Crosskeys Fitzgeralds) were eventually clear to proceed to the third round of games, with objections in the other five games to be decided by the County Board. A decision on the objections, probably in the hope that the political heat would have worn off, was deferred until the first meeting of the County Board in November 1891. By then the County Board had effectively ceased to function. No meeting was held, the objections were never heard and the 1891 Senior Football Championship was never finished. The next Senior Football Championship would not be held until 1904 (completed in 1905).

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

🗓️ 1892-1899: Decline & Crisis

The GAA was faced with its first crisis in the aftermath of the Parnell affair in 1890, and activities and structures in Longford and other counties effectively ceased throughout the 1890’s. The clergy had come out strongly against Charles Stewart Parnell leading to him losing leadership of his Irish National League party in 1891 and causing widespread dissension within the GAA leading to widespread resignation of officials and disbanding of clubs and County Boards across the country. It should be noted that while Longford County Board had met and decided to remain neutral during the crisis, Justin McCarthy (M.P. for North Longford) was the leader of the campaign to have Parnell removed as leader of the party. The number of clubs in Ireland dropped from 879 to 200 between 1890 and 1892, with the Parnell scandal split having a significant impact on the GAA because of the organisations close associations with the home rule movement and the position taken by the clergy. The impact on Longford was the complete decimation of clubs and competition during the 1890’s.

The 1891 convention in Longford was attended by only 1 delegate and a subsequent attempt saw only 4 clubs represented when 5 was needed to form a County Committee, hence the County Board was not in existence in the years following 1891. In January 1895 the Longford Commercials team played the Mullingar Football Club in a Silver Cup Tournament in Mullingar, which ended in a draw (0-4 each). The Longford Shamrocks team (Commercials renamed) won the replay in February 1895 by 1-6 to 0-1. This was the first trophy won by a Longford team outside the county.

In 1896 an effort was made to re-organise the County Board, and a temporary committee was elected on 13th September 1896 with J.R. Dann as Secretary and delegates from Longford, Ardagh, Edgeworthstown and Ballymacormack clubs. The temporary committee had a mandate to contact various districts in an effort to establish clubs. However at the next meeting on 26th September, only four clubs sent delegates, but five were needed to elect a County Committee. Hence no County Committee was formed that year and no official competition took place in Longford in 1896. Longford Shamrocks gave a stinging criticism of the state of football in the county and that no team will meet them to decide who will play Louth for the Croke Challenge Cup and have taken it upon themselves to represent the county rather than give Louth a walk over. Shamrocks initially challenged Rathcline to a game and in the event that the invitation was not taken up, the club would ask the Central Council to play Louth as representing the County. Shamrocks received a letter from the Central Secretary relating to the match between Longford & Louth in the Croke Challenge Cup tournament. The letter was understood to be an invitation for Shamrocks to represent the county. By late November 1896 Longford Shamrocks are continuing to lay down challenges to teams to play them. Ballymahon were a possible prospect to play for ‘county honours’ and Granard Slashers offered to play any challenger in Ballinalee. The Granard challenge was taken up and the report to this game referred to it as the ‘County Longford Championship’. This was recorded in previous records as the SFC final, however there was no County Board at the time of the match, hence no official GAA activity in the county in 1896, and the match itself was a one-off game and not part of any larger competition with other clubs. Therefore we have concluded that the 1896 game was a one-off and not the Championship final.

1897 also saw some friendly and tournament club games take place in Longford, but no official competition. By this stage, there had been a sizable collapse in number of clubs across most counties in Leinster as the GAA continued to feel the impact of its pro-Parnelllite stance during the Nationalist split of 1890-91. Longford was represented in the Croke Cup in 1897 by Longford Shamrocks. A record of clubs in Leinster in 1897 identifies only 1 affiliated club in Longford (Longford Shamrocks). Only one other county had a lower number (Westmeath with zero). The breakdown of affiliated clubs per county in 1897 was as follows:

• Carlow: 6
• Dublin: 33
• Kildare: 13
• Kilkenny: 18
• Laois: 15
• Longford: 1
• Louth: 6
• Meath: 12
• Offaly: 18
• Westmeath: 0
• Wexford: 14
• Wicklow: 20

By the end of the decade most of the clubs that had formed in great numbers in the period from 1889 to 1891 had lapsed or folded completely, and the decade had been defined by the dramatic decline of GAA club and county activity, with soccer, cricket and rugby gaining more popular in the county.

🗓️ 1902: Awakening

1902 saw the first signs of the re-emergence of the GAA in Longford, with friendly and tournament club games played, but no official competition. We also see the formation of Longford’s first hurling club under GAA rules called Longford Leo Caseys in October 1902. The Leo Caseys club in Longford town was associated with the town’s branch of the Gaelic League and in these years hurling had a far greater impact in Longford town than Gaelic Football. A number of friendly club matches and tournaments took place across Longford in the early years of the new century, as well as games between Longford clubs and clubs in Roscommon, Westmeath, Leitrim and Cavan. Longford Park was leased from Lord Longford in 1902 and would become home to Longford Gaelic Games from 1902 until 1933. A hurling friendly played on 7th December 1902 between Longford (Leo Caseys) and Roscommon (Gaels) appears to be the first inter-county hurling game played by a Longford team. Roscommon Gaels won by 2-6 to 1-4 and the match report notes that the recently formed Longford Leo Caseys team “has been practicing only for about three weeks“. The Leo Caseys team that day was: McAvock (Captain), Kiernan, McLoughlin, O’Sullivan, Conway, Collins, Tully, M. Conlon, Coulahan, Quinn, MacManus, Donlon, McGuinness, Hughes, Faulkner and Denning.

🗓️ 1903: Summary

The year started with the return tie in hurling between Leo Caseys and Roscommon Gaels on 15th February 1903 with Roscommon Gaels winning 2-5 to 0-1. This was followed by a friendly between Longford Leo Caseys and Mullingar hurling club on 17th March 1903, with Leo Caseys losing that fixture and drawing the return tie in Mullingar. In early 1903 we also see Longfords first club hurling clash with Leo Caseys playing Abbeylara in Longford Park. Further hurling games followed including Leo Casey’s vs Strokestown in July.  Longford Leo Caseys represented Longford in both hurling and football competitive inter-county games in those early years, including Leinster Cup (Hurling) vs Meath in 1903, Leinster SFC vs Westmeath in November 1903, Goodwin Cup (Football) vs Cavan in March 1904 and Croke Cup (Football) vs Kilkenny in May 1905.

1903 saw friendly games in Gaelic Football including Ballymahon vs Edgeworthstown Volunteers in March as well as Ardagh St. Patricks vs Longford Shamrocks and Ballymacormack Grattans vs Moydow Harpers in May. The Leo Caseys club which had been formed as a hurling club in October 1902, formed a Gaelic Football club in September 1903. In November 1903 Longford made it’s debut in Leinster Senior Football Championship against Wexford in Jones’ Road, losing 2-12 to 0-2. The Longford team was referred to as Leo Casey’s and it is unclear if this was Leo Casey’s representing the county, or a wider selection from a range of clubs. In December 1903 we find exhibition games in Gaelic Football and Hurling in Longford Park between Leo Caseys and Killoe Young Emmets. Leo Caseys won the hurling 1-3 to Nil, while Killoe won the football 2-2 to 0-2. The year ended with a friendly in December 1903 between Longford Leo Caseys and Ardagh St. Patricks at Longford Park.

🗓️ 1904: Summary

1904 starts with Leo Caseys playing friendly matches in hurling (vs Mohill Faugh a’Ballaghs) and football (vs Ballymacormack Grattans). Throughout Spring and Summer of 1904 we find tournaments and friendly games involving Longford Leo Caseys, Ballymacormack Grattans, Ardagh St. Patricks, Killashee Mitchells, Clonguish Gallowglasses, Edgeworthstown Volunteers, Killoe Young Emmets and Rathcline (formerly John Martins). The Longford County Board was reformed on 24th July 1904 and this led to a revival of official competition for the first time since 1891, as well as the introduction of a new hurling championship. Committees were formed for Football and Hurling as follows…

Football:
Killoe Young Emmets, Ardagh St. Patricks, Longford Leo Caseys, Rathcline, Drumlish Wolfe Tones, Edgeworthstown Volunteers.

Hurling:
Killoe Young Emmets, Longford Leo Caseys, Clonbroney.

The newly re-organised County Committee sets about organising a Senior Football Championship in 1904, for the first time since 1891. Nine clubs contested the 1904 Senior Football Championship (a significant reduction from the 26 clubs in 1891) with Longford Leo Caseys winning the 1904 title with victory over Killoe Young Emmets in the decider played in 1905.

1904 Senior Football Championship

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

Fixtures for the 1904 Senior Football Championship were as follows:

• Longford Leo Caseys v Killashee John Mitchells
• Ardagh St Patrick’s v Rathcline
• Killoe Young Emmets v Clonguish Gallowglasses
• Drumlish Wolfe Tones v Clonbroney
• Edgewortstown Volunteers a bye

Semi Finals:

Killoe Young Emmets 1-4
Drumlish Wolfe Tones 0-3

Longford Leo Caseys 0-3
Ardagh St. Patricks 0-1 (replay)*

County Final (played in April 1905):

Longford Leo Caseys 2-7
Killoe Young Emmets 0-1

* Ardagh had objected to the result from the first game on the grounds that Leo Caseys had a soldier playing for them.

1904 Senior Hurling Championship

The first Longford Hurling Championship was organised in 1904 (at the same time SFC was organised) and similar to the SFC competition, it was was completed in 1905. Championships tended to take place during the Winter months when farming demands were less, and both the Senior Football and Senior Hurling Championships were organised in late 1904. Three clubs participated in the hurling championship… Longford Leo Caseys, Killoe Young Emmets & Clonbroney. Killoe and Clonbroney met in the semi-final on 15th January 1905. The county final took place on 19th February 1905 with Longford Leo Caseys beating Killoe Young Emmets by 2-4 to 0-1. However the final had to be replayed following an objection by Killoe and Leo Casey’s emerged victorious in the replayed game on 7th May 1905 by 2-3 to 1-2 to take the first Longford Senior Hurling Championship title and complete the first Football & Hurling double in Longford.

🗓️ 1905: Summary

The 1905 Longford Senior Football Championship overran with the county final played in July 1906. Longford Leo Caseys retained their title with victory over Edgeworthstown Volunteers by 1-7 to 0-3. It is worth noting that one source we reviewed cited Clonguish Gallowglasses as having beat Longford Leo Caseys in a replayed 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.

There was no Senior Championship competition organised for the 1906 season. The ‘GAA and County Directory’ for 1907-8 reported that Longford had seven clubs affiliated in 1906.

🗓️ 1907: Summary

In 1907 the Senior Football Championship involved six clubs and the draw was as follows…

Longford Leo Caseys vs Ballymahon
Ardagh St. Patricks vs Drumlish/Ballinamuck 98’s
Killoe Young Emmets vs Clonguish Gallowglasses

Drumlish Wolfe Tones and Ballinamuck 98’s combined in late 1906 to compete together for a period and competed once in official competition, in the 1907 Senor Football Championship. Drumlish/Ballinamuck 98’s reached the 1907 final, but were beaten by Killoe Young Emmets after a replay. The initial final between the two sides was 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.

In the Senior Hurling Championship of 1907, Killoe Young Emmets beat Longford Leo Caseys in the decider by 3-3 to 0-0 on 13th July 1907 to complete a Football-Hurling double that year. This would be the last official club competition held in Longford until 1911. The ‘GAA and County Directory’ for 1910-11 reported at the end of the 1910 season that the Longford County Committee had been disbanded with no Championship organised since 1907. The same publication also noted that a League was being organised, which is a reference to the Senior League-Championship competition which began in 1911.

🗓️ 1900’s: Senior Football Championship Winners

• 1900: No Championship
• 1901: No Championship
• 1902: No Championship
• 1903: No Championship
• 1904: Longford Leo Caseys
• 1905: Longford Leo Caseys
• 1906: No Championship
• 1907: Killoe Young Emmets
• 1908: No Championship
• 1909: No Championship

🗓️ 1900’s: Senior Hurling Championship Winners

• 1900: No Championship
• 1901: No Championship
• 1902: No Championship
• 1903: No Championship
• 1904: Longford Leo Caseys
• 1905: No Championship
• 1906: No Championship
• 1907: Killoe Young Emmets
• 1908: No Championship
• 1909: No Championship

(After 1907, no Senior Hurling Championship held in Longford until 1932)

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

🗓️ 1910’s: Club Summary

The beginning of the 1910’s was a struggle on and off the field in Longford, with little activity in inter-county and few club games played. There had been no Senior Football Championships for the 1906, 1908, 1909 & 1910 seasons and there would be none for the 1912, 1914, 1916, 1917 or 1918 seasons either. The GAA and County Directory for 1910-11 reported at the end of 1910 that the Longford County Committee was disbanded with no Championship held since 1907. In 1911 it was noted in the newspapers that a Senior League competition was being organised, which is a reference to the Senior League-Championship competition which began in 1911 and ended in 1935, succeeded by the Leader Cup.

Senior Football Championships competition restarted in 1911 for the first time since 1907, and was eventually completed for the 1911, 1912, 1915 and 1919 seasons, with most competition taking multiple years to complete. Newspaper reports in 1917 carried the following official notice… “Owing to the somewhat disturbed state of the country, all football fixtures are postponed until further notice”. This was a combination of the political crisis post the 1916 Rebellion as well as the impact of the Spanish Flu pandemic and the Conscription crisis of the Great War.

Killoe Young Emmets dominated the club scene in the 1910’s, winning Senior Football Championship titles in 1911, 1913 and 1915, with no other winners in the intervening years due to absence of competition. Prior to our research in 2014, it was previously assumed in all publications that Killoe won the 1912 SFC title too, thus completing the first three-in-a-row from 1911-1913. Indeed, match reports for the 1911 and 1912 finals can both be found. However when the evidence is examined in a wider context and with a timeline superimposed, it shows that the 1912 final was almost certainly the delayed 1911 decider which was resurrected and eventually concluded in early 1912, with no additional competition played for the 1912 season.

In 1919 the SFC competition resumed for the first time since the conclusion of the 1915 Championship. Newspapers of the day report on the progress of the 1919 championship, which concluded with victory for Clonbroney over Killoe Young Emmets in a replay by 1-3 to 0-3 on 3rd August 1919 (this title was previously incorrectly allocated to 1917). The 1919 Senior Football Championship title previously credited to Clonguish was in fact the 1919 League-Championship final win over Mullinalaghta, played in April 1920.

(Medal image supplied by relative of player on 1919 Clonbroney team)

With Senior Football Championship in the 1910’s now clarified, the Senior League or Senior League-Championship competition proved more complex with competition stretching across multiple years and conflation of terms in local media between League and Championship. All of this demanded more time and resource to understand the League vs Championship differences and winners during the 1910’s. Published accounts from October 1911 suggest that Clonguish Gallowglasses won the 1911 Senior League-Championship (no final report found, but later references cite Clonguish as League Champions). Clonguish were down to play Edgeworthstown in the final of the 1912 Senior League-Championship on 8th June 1913, but no record has been found of a result or winner. Granard Shamrocks won the three Senior League-Championships of 1914 (final played in Sept 1915), 1916 (final played in March 1917) and 1917 (final played in Feb 1919). The 1917 Senior League-Championship took two years to complete and the final between Granard Shamrocks and Killashee was held on 23rd February 1919 with Granard Shamrocks winning by 2-4 to 0-0 (Granard Shamrocks had won the North Longford section earlier with 0-3 to 0-0 win over Killoe Young Emmets). A letter appeared in the newspaper shortly thereafter complaining about the length of time taken to complete the Senior League-Championship competition.

The draw for the 1919 Senior League-Championship took place on 23rd of July 1919 with the first games on August 10th 1919, shortly after the 1919 Senior Championship had completed. Long delays ensued between November 1919 and February 1920 due to objections and lack of light at afternoon matches which ran into evenings. Action resumed in February 1920 with semi finals in March and final on April 11th 1920, with Clonguish beating Mullinalaghta to win the 1919 Senior League-Championship. No record has been found of Senior League-Championship titles for the 1913, 1915 or 1918 seasons.

A Junior Board was formed on 25th March 1917 and the Junior League-Championship began in 1917.

🗓️ 1910’s: Senior Championship Winners

• 1910: No Championship
• 1911: Killoe Young Emmets (Final in Mar 1912)
• 1912: No Championship
• 1913: Killoe Young Emmets (Final in Feb & Apr 1914)
• 1914: No Championship
• 1915: Killoe Young Emmets (Final in Jul 1916)
• 1916: No Championship
• 1917: No Championship
• 1918: No Championship
• 1919: Clonbroney (now Seán Connollys)

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

🗓️ 1910’s: Senior League-Championship Winners

Senior League-Championship competition began in 1911 as a League competition separate to the existing Senior Football Championship, and often had equal prestige to the Senior Championship in the early years. Winners of the Senior League-Championship during the 1910’s are as follows:

• 1911: Clonguish Gallowglasses (Cited in Oct 1911)
• 1912: No Record of Winner
• 1913: No Competition
• 1914: Granard Shamrocks (Final in Jul & Sep 1915)
• 1915: No Competition
• 1916: Granard Shamrocks (Final in Mar 1917)
• 1917: Granard Shamrocks (Final in Mar 1919)
• 1918: No Competition
• 1919: Clonguish (Final in Apr 1920)

🗓️ 1910’s: Junior League-Championship Winners

Junior League-Championship competition began in 1917 and was the sole competition for Junor teams in the county at the time. It was played on a League basis and mirrored in structure and name the Senior League-Championship of the day. Winners were referred to as Junior Competition winners or Junior Champions and medals were inscribed with ‘Champions’ or ‘Championship’. More details on this competition can be found here. Winners of the Junior League-Championship during 1910’s are as follows:

• 1917: Longford (Final in May 1918)
• 1918: Clonguish (Final in Jun 1919)
• 1919: Ballinamuck 98’s (Final in Jan & Mar 1920)

🗓️ 1920’s: SFC Summary

Ballinamuck 98’s won the 1920 Senior Football Championship title with victory over Longford Wanderers in the County Final to bring the Senior Championship title to the parish of Drumlish for the first time.

There is no evidence of any Senior Football Championship activity in 1921 or in the years 1921 to 1926, though there was Senior League-Championship competition in some of those years. The Senior Championships of 1922 and 1923 had been previously credited to Longford Wanderers, however researched evidence confirms they were Senior League-Championship titles and the evidence shows no Senior Championships played in either of those years. The 1926 Senior Championship had previously been assumed to have been abandoned (St. Marys Granard v Mullinalaghta), however this was the Senior League-Championship final which saw a dispute arise 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 five minutes to go. The drama made the national news.

Senior Football Championship eventually resumed in 1927 with Drumlish winning the clubs first title by beating neighbours and fellow parishioner Ballinamuck 98’s in the final. This is the only Senior Football Championship final to date involving two clubs from the same parish. Drumlish retained the senior championship in 1928 as a result of being awarded the title (the game was scheduled for 27 May 1928, but Longford Wanderers failed to field). St. Marys Granard emerged at the end of the decade to win the first three-in-a-row of Senior Football Championship titles from 1929 to 1931.

Note: 1927 was a complex year because after the Championship draw was made on January 29th 1927, the county board became entangled in a dispute which meant that there was no official County Board in the county for a brief period. By the end of March the dispute had been resolved and the County Board was in place once again, just in time for the Junior Football Championship final on 3rd April 1927 and Senior Football Championship final on 10th April 1927.

The Senior Football Championship winners throughout the 1920’s were:

• 1920: Ballinamuck 98’s
• 1921-1926: No Championship
• 1927: Drumlish
• 1928: Drumlish
• 1929: St. Marys Granard

🗓️ 1920’s: Senior League-Championship Summary

Senior League-Championship had been running since 1911 as a League competition separate to the Senior Championship, and often had equal prestige to the Senior Championship in the early years. The winners of the Senior League-Championship in the 1920’s are as follows:

• 1920 No Competition
• 1921 No Competition
• 1922 Longford Wanderers
• 1923 Longford Wanderers
• 1924 No Competition
• 1925 No Winner (Abandoned)
• 1926 No Competition
• 1927 Longford Wanderers
• 1928 Longford Wanderers
• 1929 No Competition

🗓️ 1927-1929: JFC Summary

A separate Junior Football Championship (knockout format) was announced in the mid 1920’s and was played in addition to the Junior League-Championship (aka League) competition which had been running since 1917. The first evidence of a winner of this new knockout Junior Football Championship competition is in 1927 when Ardagh St. Patricks beat over Colmcille by 0-4 to 0-1 to take the title, while St. Marys Granard beat Ballymahon by 0-5 to 0-1 in that seasons Junior League final (played in Jan 1928). Other JFC winners included Clonguish in 1928 and Edgeworthstown in 1929. The 1929 decider was played in February 1930, and later that same year the club changed its name to Edgeworthstown Young Irelands. Previous records refer to Mullinalaghta as winners of the 1924 JFC title, however we were unable to find any published evidence to support this.

Junior Football Championship winners throughout the 1920’s were:

• 1927: Ardagh St. Patricks
• 1928: Clonguish
• 1929: Edgeworthstown

🗓️ 1920-1927: Junior League-Championship Summary

• 1920: St. Mel’s College
• 1921-1923: No Competition
• 1924: Longford Rovers
• 1925: Drumlish
• 1926: No Competition

🗓️ Club Summary by 1925:

In March 1926 the Irish Independent reported an increase in affiliated GAA Football Clubs in Leinster from 404 in 1923 to 451 in 1924 to 547 in 1925. The 1925 breakdown of football clubs in Leinster was as follows:

• Dublin: 100
• Kilkenny: 81
• Meath: 54
• Laois: 48
• Offaly: 48
• Wexford: 46
• Westmeath: 40
• Louth: 34
• Kildare: 34
• Wicklow: 25
• Carlow: 23
• Longford: 14

Our research found the following Longford club teams in competition in 1925:

• Army 6th Battalion
• Ballinamuck 98’s
• Ballymahon
• Ballymore
• Carrickboy
• Carrickedmond
• Clondra
• Clonguish
• Columbkille
• Drumlish
• Edgeworthstown
• Granard
• Longford Rovers
• Longford Wanderers
• Mullinalaghta
• Rathcline

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

🗓️ 1930’s: SFC Summary

The 1930’s saw St. Mary’s Granard win an impressive 5 championship titles and the first ever 3-in-row of championships twice during the decade (Note: The first 3-in-row had previously been assigned to Killoe 1911-1913, however our research disproved the 1912 title thus invalidating that 3-in-a-row, hence since 2014 Granard is noted as the first to achieve 3-in-a-row)!

1932 is the only Senior Football Championship final record for which we cannot find 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 final score. The 1936 final between Drumlish and Killashee was delayed until mid 1937 due to Longford’s success in the Leinster and All-Ireland Junior Championship in 1937.

The 1939 title was awarded to Drumlish. The county final was held on 3rd September 1939 and descended into a fiasco, being 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.

The Senior Football Championship winners throughout the 1930’s were:

• St. Marys Granard (5)
• Drumlish (3)
• Ardagh St. Patricks (1)
• Colmcille (1)

🗓️ 1936-1939: Leader Cup

The Leader Cup (Football League) competition was first introduced in October 1936, but activity was slow and in May 1937 it was decided to abandon the 1936 competition and begin anew in 1937. The first winner of the Leader Cup was Drumlish in 1937 (final played in late 1938), and they retained the title in 1939.

• 1936: Not Completed
• 1937: Drumlish
• 1938: No Competition
• 1939: Drumlish

Prior to the introduction of the new Leader Cup competition in 1936, a Senior League-Championship competition had taken place in Longford since 1911. The winners of that League-Championship in the 1930’s up to the end of that competition at the end of 1935 were as follows:

• 1930: St. Marys Granard
• 1931: Drumlish
• 1932: No Competition
• 1933; Drumlish
• 1934: St. Marys Granard
• 1935: Drumlish

🗓️ 1932-1934: SHC Summary

The Longford Senior Hurling Championship was revived in Longford in the 1930’s for the first time since 1907, with Granard Hurling Club winning the first three-in-row of Longford SHC titles in 1932, 1933 and 1934 before hurling competition lapsed once again.

The SHC competitions of 1932 and 1933 were played on a League basis, with Granard topping the league at the end of the season, thus winning the title. The clubs involved in 1932 were Granard, Longford and Edgeworthstown while the clubs involved in 1933 were Granard, Longford and Lisryan. For 1934, three hurling clubs competed in the Championship. Granard beat Lisryan (4-1 to 4-0), and Longford beat Lisryan. In the final game Granard made it three in a row titles with victory over Longford by 3-2 to 1-3 on 22nd April 1934.

It is also worth noting that Granard went on to win the Cavan Senior Hurling Championship title in 1950. There would not be another Senior Hurling Championship held in Longford until 1982.

The Senior Hurling Championship winners throughout the 1930’s were:

• Granard Hurling Club (3)

🗓️ 1931-1932: IFC Summary

In January 1931 it was proposed at the County Board meeting to establish a third grade of football alongside the two existing grades of Senior and Junior. This led to the implementation of the Intermediate Championship to encourage more football for clubs. The competition was run in 1931 and 1932, but was discontinued thereafter. Intermediate competition would not re-appear until 1966 when the current Intermediate Championship started.

The Intermediate Football Championship winners throughout the 1930’s were:

• Mullinalaghta (1)
• Edgeworthstown Young Irelands (1)

🗓️ 1930’s: JFC Summary

The 1930’s saw Junior Football Championship title wins for a wide variety of clubs as competition increased and clubs formed or reformed. Title winners included Ardagh St. Patricks, Killoe Young Emmets, Longford Wanderers, Killashee St. Brigids, Seán Connollys, Whiterock Slashers, Colmcille, Ballinamuck (98’s) and Moydow Harpers.

Ardagh St. Patricks were awarded the replay of the 1930 Junior Championship final against Colmcille as the referee adjudged the latter not to have fielded in the allotted time. In the 1935 final, Whiterock Slashers defeated Seán Connollys in the decider in late 1935. Seán Connollys objected and the available evidence suggests that this objection was upheld in early 1936 with the title going to Seán Connollys. In the 1936 final, Whiterock Slashers beat Dromard, but Dromard objected and were awarded the title. Whiterock Slashers counter-objected and were re-awarded the title. Hence the record shows Whiterock Slashers as champions.

The Junior Football Championship winners throughout the 1930’s were:

• Ardagh St. Patricks (2)
• Killoe Young Emmets (1)
• Longford Wanderers (1)
• Killashee St. Brigids (1)
• Seán Connollys (1)
• Whiterock Slashers (1)
• Colmcille (1)
• Ballinamuck (1)
• Moydow Harpers (1)

🗓️ 1930’s: Minor Football Championship

In 1934, Minor teams were entered into competition from Clonbroney, Whiterock Slashers, Drumlish, St. Brigids Killashee, St. Marys Granard and United Gaels (Longford + Clonguish + Ardagh). Fixtures were arranged in May 1934 but nothing more was recorded. It is not possible to ascertain for certain whether this competition was Minor League or Minor Championship. Minor competition was organised again in 1935 but the Minor Board Notes from early 1936 indicated that the 1935 competition was not completed. No record of any Minor final exists, but a notice regarding a medal presentation in Apr 1937 noted Longford as 1935 Minor League winners. No record of any Championship played. Minor Football Championship is first recorded with Killoe winning the 1936 Minor Championship (in June 1937).

The 1936 Minor Championship was not completed until June 1937 which may explain the absence of any Minor Championship for 1937. A Minor League was played in 1937 and was at an advanced stage up to end of October 1937. Four teams played in that Minor League with some teams having played two games by end of October 1937. The County Board AGM in January 1938 noted a lack of progress in local competition at every level including lack of support for underage competitions. It seems the Minor league competition was not finished and additionally no Championship was played in 1937 either.

Minor League competition began in April 1938 and continued into November 1938. The preview to Mullinalaghta v Ballymahon game on 1st November 1938 mentions that Mullinalaghta are leading the Minor League at that stage. No published record of the League final has been found, but we can infer from later references that Mullinalaghta went on to win that League competition. There is no published record of any 1938 Minor Championship win (or indeed of a knockout Championship competition being played), however winner medals exist with the year, club and competition to suggest that Mullinalaghta won the 1938 Minor Championship title. It should be noted that some players from Seán Connollys club played on the Mullinalaghta Minor team in 1938, but we could not find any evidence of it being a combined team (only ‘Mullinalaghta’ inscribed on the medals).

Though Minor League was played in some of the years following, there would be no further Minor Football Championship until 1950.

The Minor Football Championship winners throughout the 1930’s were:

• Killoe (1)
• Mullinalaghta (1)

🗓️ Longford Park – End of an Era

Longford GAA was headquartered at Longford Park from 1902 to 1933. At the end of May 1933 Longford moved to the new Gaelic Grounds at the Kelliher Barracks location in Longford town. The new Gaelic Grounds had been a training & exercise grounds for the British Army in preparing for trench warfare during WW1. The last club game at Longford Park was on 28th May 1933 between Granard & Drumlish (holders) in the first round of the Senior Football Championship, which Granard won 3-7 to 2-6. Two weeks earlier the last club final had been played at Longford Park between Mullinalaghta and Killoe Young Emmets in the Junior League decider which Killoe won by 0-4 to 0-3. That low-scoring game had an astonishing 31 free kicks (17 Killoe, 14 Mullinalaghta) and 32 wides (15 Killoe, 17 Mullinalaghta). From the start of June 1933 action moved to the new Gaelic Grounds at Kelliher Artillary Barracks (now Pearse Park). The first game at the new grounds was on 4th June 1933 in Junior Championship between Ballinamuck 98’s and Dromard. The first person to score in the new grounds was Brennan of Ballinamuck 98’s. Final score was Dromard 0-5, Ballinamuck 98’s 1-1. This was followed that same day by the Fr. Lynch Cup final between the Senior and Junior Champions of the previous year, Drumlish v Killoe, which Drumlish won comfortably.

A substantial re-development of the grounds took place in the years following 1933, and Pairc an Phiarsaigh (Pearse Park) was officially opened on 25th April 1937. The opening day saw two games taking place, one between Longford and Roscommon and the second between All-Ireland champions Mayo and Munster champions Kerry. Pearse Park remains the Longford GAA headquarters to this day.

🗓️ Schools Board Formed

A new Schools board came into being in 1932 with Canon Kearney appointed as the first Chairman and L. Balfe appointed as Secretary. A new League competition for Longford Primary Schools was organised for the first time in 1933 with Stonepark N.S. winning the new Canon Kearney Cup with 1-1 to 0-1 victory over Cullyfad N.S. in the Schools League final on 8th October 1933.

🗓️ Affiliated Clubs by 1937

• Ardagh St. Patricks
• Ballinamuck (98’s)
• Ballymahon Leo Caseys
• Carrickedmond O’Connells
• Clonbroney Seán Connollys
• Clonguish
• Columcille
• Dromard
• Drumlish
• Killoe Young Emmets
• Legan St. Josephs
• Mostrim Eoin Ruadhs
• Mullinalaghta
• Newtowncashel St. Ciarans
• Rathcline St. Michaels
• St. Bernards (Abbeylara)
• St. Brigids Killashee
• St. Marys Granard

🗓️ 1940’s: SFC Summary

The 1940’s saw titles spread between seven clubs, including Drumlish, Longford Wanderers, St. Marys Granard, Ardagh St. Patricks, Mullinalaghta, Dromard and Colmcille. By 1942 only thirteen clubs were affiliated in the county. The County Final of 1946 between Dromard and Ballymahon is noteworthy because the final dragged into the following year due to a mixture of issues including the harvest crisis and a semi-final objection not involving Ballymahon. The final 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 finished scoreless (still the only County Final to end scoreless). The replay on 14th April 1947 eventually saw Dromard victorious by 1-4 to 0-4.

The Senior Football Championship winners throughout the 1940’s were:

• Drumlish (3)
• Longford Wanderers (2)
• St. Marys Granard (1)
• Ardagh St. Patricks (1)
• Mullinalaghta (1)
• Dromard (1)
• Colmcille (1)

🗓️ 1940’s: JFC Summary

The 1940’s saw Junior Football Championship title wins for Mostrim, Clonguish, Longford Wanderers, Cashel, Dromard, Ballymahon, Abbeylara and Ardagh St. Patricks. In the 1940 final, Killoe defeated Mostrim 1-5 to 1-4. However Mostrim lodged an objection which was upheld in November 1940 and Mostrim were awarded the title and medals. Cashel had previously been recorded as winners of the 1942 Junior Championship, however available evidence now shows that Longford Wanderers defeated Seán Connollys in that Junior Championship final. Newtowncashel St. Ciaráns defeated Killoe Young Emmets in the Junior League final of 1942 and this may have been mistaken for Championship in previous records.

In the 1949 final, Killoe Young Emmets beat Ardagh St. Patricks but Ardagh objected because Killoe were 11 minutes late in fielding. The objection was upheld as reported in the Longford Leader on 1st October 1949. While no explicit report exists stating that the upholding of the objection led to the awarding of the title to Ardagh, subsequent references found in reports from 1950 supports the view that the title was indeed awarded to Ardagh. This includes an article in local media on 27th May 1950 in which Ardagh are referred to as Junior Champions, and another article on 29th July 1950 in a game between Ardagh and Mullinalaghta where it states “ex champions Mullinalaghta take on 1949 Junior Champions Ardagh“, and finally an article on 16th September 1950 which notes that Mullinalaghta “disposed of the challenge of the 1949 Junior Champions Ardagh”. So there is sufficient circumstantial evidence to support the 1949 Junor Championship title being attributed to Ardagh St. Patricks following an upheld objection.

The Junior Football Championship winners throughout the 1940’s were:

• Cashel (2)
• Clonguish (2)
• Mostrim
• Ardagh St. Patricks
• Abbeylara
• Ballymahon
• Dromard
• Longford Wanderers

🗓️ 1950’s: SFC Summary

The 1950’s saw the emergence of the Longford Slashers club which was formed in 1954 when the clubs of Longford Wanderers and Whiterock Slashers merged. Longford Slashers dominated the decade along with with a strong Young Irelands (Drumlish) team managed by Fr. Seán Manning (Note: Drumlish club was re-organised in 1951 and adopted the name Young Irelands from that point, later changing to Éire Óg). Colmcille managed two titles while Mullinalaghta won one.

The Senior Football Championship winners throughout the 1950’s were:

• Longford Slashers (4)
• Drumlish Young Irelands (3)
• Colmcille (2)
• Mullinalaghta (1)

🗓️ 1950’s: JFC Summary

The 1950’s once again saw Junior Football Championship title wins for a wide variety of clubs. Winners include Seán Connollys, Killoe Young Emmets, Abbeylara, Whiterock Slashers, Ardagh St. Patricks, Carrickedmond, Rathcline, St. Mary’s Granard and Clonguish. The Junior Championship was put on hold for over two months in November & December 1956, and the final was eventually played in 1957. The delay was due to Rathcline lodging an appeal to the Leinster Council regarding a decision by the Longford County Board to uphold an objection by Clonguish, who had been beaten by Rathcline in the previous round. The Leinster Council found that Clonguish was a suspended team, and could not consequently participate in the actives of the Association. The Rathcline win was upheld, and they progressed to the semi-final of the Southern Section against Killashee St. Brigids, and then to the Southern Section final against Kenagh St. Dominics, before defeating Mullinalaghta in the Junior Championship final. Mullinalaghta, who lost the final, had previously defeated Killoe Slashers (combination of Killoe Young Emmets and Whiterock Slashers) in the Northern Section final which led to an objection from Killoe Slashers as to the constitution of their team. So 1956 was a season of objections and delays in the Junior Championship.

The Junior Football Championship winners throughout the 1950’s were:

• Killoe Young Emmets (2)
• Seán Connollys
• Abbeylara
• Whiterock Slashers
• Ardagh St. Patricks
• Carrickedmond
• Rathcline
• St. Marys Granard
• Clonguish

🗓️ 1954: Affiliated Clubs

• Abbeylara (Senior)
• Ardagh St. Patricks (Junior)
• Ballymacormack Young Grattans (Junior)
• Ballymahon (Senior & Junior)
• Carrickedmoned (Junior)
• Cashel (Junior)
• Clonguish (Junior)
• Colmcille (Senior & Junior)
• Dromard (Junior)
• Drumlish Young Irelands (Senior & Junior)
• Killoe Young Emmets (Junior)
• Longford Slashers (Senior & Junior)
• Mostrim (Senior & Junior)
• Seán Connollys (Senior & Junior)
• St. Brigids Killashee (Junior)
• St. Marys Granard (Junior)
• Whiterock Slashers (Junior)

Longford Slashers club was created in January 1954 when Longford Wanderers and Whiterock Slashers united. Immediately afterwards, some Whiterock officials decided to retain a club in their area and decided to affiliate a Whiterock Slashers club (V2.0) as well. It is also noted that Mullinalaghta and Rathcline did not affiliate in 1954. In 1953 Mullinalaghta combined with Abbeylara and players from St. Marys Granard as United Gaels.

🗓️ 1950’s: Minor Football Championship

Minor Football Championship began in 1950 for the first time since the 1930’s. Published records by Coiste Chontae Longfoirt prior to our research in 2014 showed Mostrim as winners of the 1949 Minor Football Championship. However an examination of available records shows that while Minor League competition was played in 1949 (with Clonguish defeating Rathcline by 3-3 to 2-2 to lift the new Harte Cup in the Minor League final played in February 1950), no published evidence has been found of any separate Minor Championship played in 1949 (though references to the Minor League final as ‘Minor Championship’ are found in the preview to the 1949 Minor decider). The decision to play a separate Minor Championship competition in addition to the Minor League happened in 1950.

The Minor Championship of 1950 saw Clonguish emerge as champions, becoming the first club to win the Harte Cup for Minor Championship (the club also won Minor League titles in 1949 & 1951). Minor Championship competition for 1951 was abandoned but resumed in 1952 and has taken place in every year since. The 1950’s saw Minor Championship titles for Clonguish, Ballymahon, Colmcille, Carrickedmond, Granard and St. Michaels.

The Harte Cup was purchased in 1948 and intended to be presented to Minor League winners of 1948. However when the Minor League final was voided in 1948, it was not presented that year and was instead presented for the first time to the Minor League winners of 1949 (Clonguish). In 1950, the County Board decided to re-purpose the cup and present it instead to the winners of the Minor Championship competition which they had restarted that year for the first time in many years. Clonguish therefore have the unique distinction of winning the Harte Cup in 1949 for winning the Minor League, and then winning the Harte Cup in 1950 for winning the Minor Championship. This led to confusion in the records over the years, including the assumption that Clonguish had won Minor Championships in both years. In fact the records show that Clonguish won the Minor League in 1949, the Minor Championship in 1950 and the Minor League in 1951.

The Minor Football Championship winners throughout the 1950’s were:

• Granard (3)
• Ballymahon (2)
• Clonguish
• Colmcille
• Carrickedmond
• St. Michaels (Longford Slashers)

🗓️ 1954-1959: Juvenile Football Championship

New Juvenile (U-16) Football Championship began in 1954, with winners for rest of the decade as follows:

• St. Michaels (Longford Slashers) (2)
• Padraig Pearses (Clonguish) (1)
• Granard (1)
• Kenagh St. Dominics (1)
• Colmcille (1)

🗓️ 1959: Affiliated Clubs

• Abbeylara
• Ardagh St. Patricks
• Ballymahon
• Carrickedmond
• Clanna Gael (Kenagh + Cashel)
• Clonguish
• Colmcille
• Dromard
• Drumlish Young Irelands
• St. Munis Forgney
• Killoe Young Emmets
• Longford Slashers
• Mostrim
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas
• Rathcline
• Seán Connollys
• Shroid Slashers
• St. Brigids Killashee
• St. Marys Granard

🗓️ 1960’s: SFC Summary

The 1960’s in Senior Championship belonged to Clonguish who won an incredible 6 senior Senior Football Championships over the decade including the second ever 3-in-a-row of SFC titles and the first (and thus far only) 4-in-a-row of SFC titles in Longford GAA history. The Clonguish full forward (and later Club Chairman) P.J. Murphy scored an impressive 8 goals during the 1963 campaign alone, which is something of a record.

The Senior Football Championship winners throughout the 1960’s were:

• Clonguish (6)
• St. Marys Granard (2)
• Killoe Young Emmets (1)
• Longford Slashers (1)

🗓️ 1960’s: IFC Summary

The 1960’s also saw the reformation of the Intermediate Football Championship in 1966 with Kenagh being the first winners of the grade since the 1930’s. Mostrim, Cashel and Ballymahon were the other Intermediate Championship winners during the 1960’s.

The Intermediate Football Championship winners throughout the 1960’s were:

• Kenagh St. Dominics (1)
• Mostrim (1)
• Cashel (1)
• Ballymahon (1)

🗓️ 1960’s: JFC Summary

Junior Football Championship winners throughout the 1960’s encompassed a broad spectrum of clubs including Ballymahon (who did a unique double with the Leader Cup), Cashel, Carrickedmond, Rathcline, St. Brigids Killashee, Mostrim and Seán Connollys, Legan Sarsfields and Shroid Slashers.

The Junior Football Championship winners throughout the 1960’s were:

• Cashel (2)
• Ballymahon (1)
• Carrickedmond (1)
• Rathcline (1)
• St. Brigids Killashee (1)
• Mostrim (1)
• Seán Connollys (1)
• Legan Sarsfields (1)
• Shroid Slashers (1)

🗓️ 1969: Affiliated Clubs

• Abbeylara
• Ardagh St. Patricks
• Ballinamuck *
• Ballymahon
• Ballymore
• Carrickedmond
• Cashel
• Clonguish
• Colmcille
• Dromard
• Éire Óg Drumlish *
• Kenagh St. Dominics
• Killoe Young Emmets
• Legan Sarsfields
• Longford Slashers
• Mostrim
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas
• Rathcline
• Seán Connollys
• Shroid Slashers
• St. Brigids Killashee
• St. Marys Granard
  
• St. Munis Forgney

* Part way through the 1969 season the clubs of Éire Óg (Drumlish) and Ballinamuck united to create the Fr. Manning Gaels club. The involvement of each club in the ongoing 1969 Senior competition (Éire Óg) and Junior competition (Éire Óg and Ballinamuck) ended with the union in March 1969 . The newly formed Fr. Manning Gaels club was affiliated at Intermediate grade thereafter.

🗓️ 1970’s: SFC Summary

The Senior Football Championship scene was more evenly balanced in the 1970’s with Longford Slashers, Clonguish and St. Marys Granard winning more titles, and historic first title wins for Mostrim, Rathcline, Cashel and Ardagh St. Patricks.

The Senior Football Championship winners throughout the 1970’s were:

• Longford Slashers (3)
• Clonguish (2)
• St. Mary’s Granard (1)
• Mostrim (1)
• Rathcline (1)
• Cashel (1)
• Ardagh St. Patricks (1)

Note: For a period in the 1970’s, Intermediate clubs were permitted to combine to compete via a Qualifier route in the Senior Championship. The most successful example was Northern Gaels (combination of Fr. Manning Gaels & Dromard) who reached the 1975 Senior Football Championship semi-final. 

🗓️ 1970’s: IFC Summary

Intermediate Football Championship titles were won by different teams throughout each year of the 1970’s with title wins for Rathcline, Ardagh St. Patricks, and first time title wins for Legan Sarsfields, Mullinalaghta/Fr. Manning Gaels, St. Brigids Killashee, Fr. Manning Gaels, Abbeylara, Killoe Young Emmets, Carrickedmond and Dromard.

The Intermediate Football Championship winners throughout the 1970’s were:

• Rathcline (1)
• Ardagh St. Patricks (1)
• Legan Sarsfields (1)
• Mullinalaghta/Fr. Manning Gaels (1) *
• St. Brigids Killashee (1)
• Fr. Manning Gaels (1)
• Abbeylara (1)
• Killoe Young Emmets (1)
• Carrickedmond (1)
• Dromard (1)

* Note: For a period in the 1970’s Junior clubs were permitted to combine to compete (via Qualifier route) in the Intermediate Championship. Mullinalaghta and Fr. Manning Gaels (both Junior clubs at the time) competed together in the 1973 Intermediate Championship and ended up winning the title which is the only time this has happened in the history of the Intermediate Championship. There was no promotion to Senior grade that year as a result. Fr. Manning Gaels went on to win the Intermediate Championship in 1975 and were promoted to Senior grade, while Mullinalaghta won the Intermediate Championship in 1990 and were promoted to Senior grade then. 

🗓️ 1970’s: JFC Summary

Junior Football Championship titles were won by different teams throughout each year of the 1970’s with title wins for Dromard, St. Munis Forgney (first title), Rathcline, Abbeylara, Fr. Manning Gaels, Seán Connollys, Kenagh, Mullinalaghta St. Columbas, Longford Slashers and Colmcille.

The Junior Football Championship winners throughout the 1970’s were:

• Dromard (1)
• St. Munis Forgney (1)
• Rathcline (1)
• Abbeylara (1)
• Fr. Manning Gaels (1)
• Seán Connollys (1)
• Kenagh (1)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (1)
• Longford Slashers (1)
• Colmcille (1)

🗓️ 1980’s: SFC Summary

The start of the 1980’s saw Longford Slashers completing back-to-back Senior Football Championship titles for 1979/1980 followed by Clonguish in 1981 and St. Marys Granard in 1982, before Cashel dominated with three titles in four years in 1983, 1984 & 1986. The 1985 county final became a marathon of games between Mostrim and Ardagh St. Patricks, needing three attempts before Mostrim eventually came out on top. Ardagh St. Patricks and Killoe Young Emmets (bridging a 28 year gap) won the next two titles in 1987 & 1988 respectively before Longford Slashers won the final title of the decade.

The Senior Football Championship winners throughout the 1980’s were:

• Cashel (3)
• Longford Slashers (2)
• Clonguish (1)
• St. Marys Granard (1)
• Mostrim (1)
• Ardagh St. Patricks (1)
• Killoe Young Emmets (1)

🗓️ 1980’s: IFC Summary

Intermediate Football Championship titles went to a wide spread of clubs including St. Munis Forgney, Legan Sarsfields, Kenagh, Ballymahon, Abbeylara, Colmcille and Seán Connollys who won back-to-back titles at the end of the decade.

The Intermediate Football Championship winners throughout the 1980’s were:

• Seán Connollys (3)
• Abbeylara (2)
• St. Munis (1)
• Legan Sarsfields (1)
• Kenagh (1)
• Ballymahon (1)
• Colmcille (1)

🗓️ 1980’s: JFC Summary

Junior Football Championship titles went to Ballymore, Shroid Slashers, Longford Slashers, Young Grattans (Grattan Óg), Rathcline, St. Brigids Killashee, Moydow Harpers and Killoe Young Emmets (who won SFC and JFC double in 1988).

The Junior Football Championship winners throughout the 1980’s were:

• Rathcline (2)
• St. Brigids Killashee (2)
• Ballymore (1)
• Shroid Slashers (1)
• Longford Slashers (1)
• Young Grattans (1)
• Moydow Harpers (1)
• Killoe Young Emmets (1)

🗓️ 1980’s: Hurling Revival

Adult hurling was revived at the start of the 1980’s starting with a Junior Hurling competition which was organised in Longford in 1981 with Rathcline Gaels defeating Slashers Gaels in the final by 6-10 to 1-2 on 4th October 1981. The following year in 1982 the Senior Hurling Championship returned for the first time since 1934 and the Junior competition was therefore discontinued. Slashers Gaels (now Longford Slashers) beat Naomh Ciaráns (Rathcline – previously called Rathcline Gaels) by 2-10 to 1-6 to take the 1982 SHC title and lift the new J.J. Duignan Cup for the first time. Senior teams from Slashers Gaels, Wolfe Tones (Mostrim), Naomh Ciaráns (Rathcline) and Bunlahy competed in Senior Hurling Championship in the 1980’s with title wins for Slashers Gaels (6) and Naomh Ciaráns (2) between 1982 and 1989.

The Guinness (Silver Tankard) Senior Hurling Tournament was organised and hosted by Slashers Gaels in 1983, 1984 & 1985. This tournament involved hurling teams from Longford, Cavan, Westmeath, Roscommon and Mayo, with Slashers Gaels, Wolfe Tones/Ballymahon, Naomh Ciaráns (Rathcline), and Bunlahy teams taking part at various stages along with Woodford Gaels of Cavan, Castlebar of Mayo, Athleague of Roscommon and Southern Gaels of Athlone. The 1984 title was won by Southern Gaels (Athlone) who beat Castlebar in the final, while the 1985 title was won by the amalgamation of Wolfe Tones/Ballymahon who beat holders Southern Gaels (Athlone) by 1-5 to 1-4 in the final.

While hurling competition at adult level was starting afresh after a long break, underage hurling was already underway for some years, and enjoying renewed popularity in schools across Longford, with a total of 11 hurling clubs in action across various underage grades in the early 1980’s:

• Slashers Gaels (aka Longford Slashers)
• Naomh Ciarans (Rathcline)
• Wolfe Tones (Mostrim)
• Bunlahy
• Abbeylara
• Ardagh
• Ballymahon
• Cashel
• Lough Forbes Gaels (Clonguish)
• St. Brendans (Stonepark)
• St. Mels (Shroid Slashers)

By 1988 there were four Senior Clubs (Slashers Gaels, Naomh Ciarans, Wolfe Tones, Bunlahy) and nine Underage Clubs active in hurling in Longford across a range of age groups including U-11, U-12, U-14, U-16, U-18, U-21 and Senior. The full list of clubs is as follows:

• Slashers Gaels (aka Longford Slashers)
• Naomh Ciaráns (Rathcline)
• Wolfe Tones (Mostrim)
• Bunlahy
• Abbeylara
• Ballymahon
• Cashel
• Kenagh
• Lough Forbes Gaels (Clonguish)

This would prove to be something of a high point in club hurling in Longford as numbers contracted over the following decades. With the exception of a brief period at the end of the 1990’s when a revival of U11/U12 and schools hurling was attempted, the number of clubs in the county went into decline during the 1990’s and 2000’s, reaching just three adult clubs by 2003 and has remained at that level since.

🗓️ 1980’s: All County Football League

The ‘All County Football League’ (ACFL) began on 10th February 1980. Spanning three divisions, with Leader Cup for Division 1, Michael Moran Cup for Division 2 and Patsy Reilly Cup for Division 3, it was the first common league competition for Senior, Intermediate and Junior football clubs in Longford. The list of clubs by Division for that inaugural ACFL was as follows…

ACFL Division 1:

• Fr. Manning Gaels
• Cashel
• Killoe Young Emmets
• Clonguish
• Ardagh St. Patricks
• Longford Slashers
• Mostrim
• Rathcline

ACFL Division 2:

• St. Munis Forgney
• Legan Sarsfields
• Abbeylara
• Colmcille
• Carrickedmond
• St. Marys Granard
• Ballymahon
• Dromard

ACFL Division 3:

• St. Brigids Killashee
• Ballymore
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas
• Shroid Slashers
• Kenagh
• Young Grattans
• Moydow Harpers
• Longford Slashers B

🗓️ 1990’s: SFC Summary

The Senior Football Championships of the 1990’s saw a few teams dominate at different stages. Longford Slashers completed three in a row of titles in 1991 (1989-1990-1991), becoming only the 3rd club to complete this feat. Slashers won another title in 1994. Mostrim were popular champions in 1992 after losing a string of county finals in the years prior. Killoe Young Emmets won two titles in three years in 1993 and 1995. In 1996 Fr. Manning Gaels bridged a 41-year gap since the SFC title rested in the parish of Drumlish, and went on to become only the 4th club to complete three-in-row of Senior Football Championships in 1996, 1997 & 1998, including an impressive run to the Leinster club semi-final in 1998 with one of the strongest club teams seen in Longford for many years. Dromard ended the decade with a famous and popular Senior Championship win, their first since 1946.

The Senior Football Championship winners throughout the 1990’s were:

• Fr. Manning Gaels (3)
• Longford Slashers (3)
• Killoe Young Emmets (2)
• Mostrim (1)
• Dromard (1)

🗓️ 1990’s: IFC Summary

The Intermediate Football Championship was very competitive in the 1990’s. Titles went to Mullinalaghta St Columbas, Abbeylara, Cashel, Dromard, Clonguish and Ballymahon. It is notable that Dromard, Abbeylara, Clonguish and Ballymahon all quickly went on to win Senior Football Championship titles in the years immediately following their promotion to senior grade.

The Intermediate Football Championship winners throughout the 1990’s were:

• Cashel (3)
• Abbeylara (2)
• Dromard (2)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (1)
• Clonguish (1)
• Ballymahon (1)

🗓️ 1990’s: JFC Summary

Junior Football Championship titles went to a good spread of different clubs include Legan Sarsfields, Shroid Slashers, Clonguish, St. Brigids Killashee, Ballymore, Mullinalaghta St. Columbas, Colmcille and Rathcline.

The Junior Football Championship winners throughout the 1990’s were:

• Legan Sarsfields (2)
• Shroid Slashers (2)
• Clonguish (1)
• St. Brigids Killashee (1)
• Ballymore (1)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (1)
• Colmcille (1)
• Rathcline (1)

Note: A bit of history was made on the club scene in 1995 when Tommy and Jimmy McCormack became the first brothers to have trained Senior Football Champions (Tommy with Killoe) and Junior Football Champions (Jimmy with Ballymore) in the same year.

🗓️ 1990’s: SHC Summary

Senior Hurling Championship in the 1990’s was dominated by Wolfe Tones (Mostrim) who achieved the first 5-in-row of SHC titles en route to an impressive total of 7 titles during the decade, while Slashers Gaels won 3 titles. Some of the hurling clubs that had emerged in the 1980’s such as Bunlahy and Naomh Ciarán (Rathcline), faded away by/during the 1990’s while Ballymahon and Cashel combined to play in hurling Championship during some of the early part of the 1990’s before Ballymahon Gaels emerged to compete later in the decade.

The Senior Hurling Championship winners throughout the 1990’s were:

• Wolfe Tones (7)
• Slashers Gaels (3)

A Senior Hurling League began in 1986 was re-organised in 1990 as the Tangled Web League involving six Senior Hurling teams… Slashers Gaels and Longford Slashers (2 from same club), Clonguish, Ballymahon/Cashel, Wolfe Tones and Naomh Ciaráns (Rathcline). The Senior Hurling League was played in 1990, 1991 and 1992 and discontinued thereafter until it returned briefly in 2000. It is also worth noting that an international hurling match took place in Longford in April 1992 between Eirinn go Bragh of Birmingham and St. Michaels U-13 team. This is believed to be the first ever underage international hurling match held in Longford. Finally, it is worth noting that Slashers Gaels won the All-Ireland 7’s Hurling Shield (Kilmacud 7’s) beating Naomh Monnine of Dundalk in the final by 1-5 to 1-4. That team was captained by Seán Stakelum.

🗓️ 2000’s: SFC Summary

A number of clubs won their first Senior Football Championship titles and others bridged a long gap in the 2000’s. Abbeylara got the ball rolling by defeating Fr. Manning Gaels in 2000, to win their first SFC title after so many near misses. The Gaels were back on top in 2001, before Ballymahon recorded their first SFC victory in 2002. Clonguish then bridged a 22 year gap to win in 2003 and made it back-to-back titles in 2004. Dromard won titles in 2005 and 2007 in between another Abbeylara success in 2006 before Colmcille ended a 50 year in 2008. The decade ended with Clonguish back on top after winning their third title of the decade win a replayed win over Dromard.

The Senior Football Championship winners throughout the 2000’s were:

• Clonguish (3)
• Abbeylara (2)
• Dromard (2)
• Fr. Manning Gaels (1)
• Ballymahon (1)
• Colmcille (1)

🗓️ 2000’s: IFC Summary

The Intermediate Football Championship also provided some great matches. Mullinalaghta St Columbas won their way back to senior in 2000, followed by Carrickedmond ending a 23 year wait. St. Marys Granard’s second string won in 2003 followed by big wins for St. Brigids Killashee, Ballymore, Rathcline and Ardagh St. Patricks. Meanwhile Mullinalaghta St Columbas and Kenagh needed two epic games to be separated in the 2007 final with the North Longford men winning in dramatic fashion before Cashel ended the decade with back-to-back title wins in 2008 and 2009.

The Senior Football Championship winners throughout the 2000’s were:

• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (2)
• Cashel (2)
• Carrickedmond (1)
• St. Marys Granard (1)
• St. Brigids Killashee (1)
• Ballymore (1)
• Rathcline (1)
• Ardagh St. Patricks (1)

Note: Rathcline reached the final of the Leinster Intermediate Club Championship in 2005 but lost out by 2 points to Crettyard (Laois). 

🗓️ 2000’s: JFC Summary

The Junior Football Championship saw a good spread of titles across clubs with wins for St. Munis Forgney, Longford Slashers, Shroid Slashers, Clonguish, Young Grattans (Grattan Óg), Fr. Manning Gaels and Mostrim.

The Junior Football Championship winners throughout the 2000’s were:

• St. Munis Forgney (2)
• Shroid Slashers (2)
• Rathcline (1)
• Longford Slashers (1)
• Clonguish (1)
• Young Grattans (1)
• Fr. Manning Gaels (1)
• Mostrim (1)

The 2002 final was played between two teams from the same parish (Shroid Slashers vs Young Grattans). This was the first time this occurred in the history of the Junior Football Championship.

🗓️ 2000’s: SHC Summary

The Hurling Championship was dominated by Wolfe Tones and saw the emergence of Clonguish Gaels as new winners on three occasions, after Slashers Gaels had got the new century off to a flying start with title wins in 2000 and 2001.

The Senior Hurling Championship winners throughout the 2000’s were:

• Wolfe Tones (5)
• Clonguish Gaels (3)
• Slashers Gaels (2)

The inaugural Senior Hurling ‘B’ Championship was first played in 2005 with Clonguish Gaels defeating Wolfe Tones by 2-7 to 0-5.

🗓️ Team of the Millennium

As the new century dawned, the Longford Leader launched a ‘Team of the Millennium’ campaign to assemble the most exceptional fifteen footballers of the past. A coupon was published in the Longford Leader for members of the public to fill out and send in. A total of 1466 completed coupons were returned and were counted. The most common combination of players selected from all of the entries was Jimmy Hannify Snr and Jimmy Flynn at centre-field. The final team selected covered a playing-span of 60 years. Joe Regan at full-forward played for Longford in the 1930’s while Dessie Barry at right corner-forward played until 1999. The father-son combination of Jimmy Hannify(s) made history by being selected, while first cousins Eamon Meagher and Seán Donnelly were also in the final selection.

The final selection of Longford’s football ‘Team of the Millennium’ was as follows:

• 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: Jimmy Hannify Snr. (Drumlish)
• Midfield: Jimmy Flynn (Clonguish)
• Right Half Forward: Jackie Devine (Mostrim)
• Center Half Forward: Vincent Tierney (St. Marys Granard)
• Left Half Forward: Jimmy Hannify Jnr. (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)

An article in the Longford Leader on the presentation of the awards to the Team of the Millennium in April 2000 noted that the following key footballers were nominated but didn’t make the final selection… Michael Casey, Liam Tierney, Brendan Smith, Mickey O’Hara and John McCormack, and noted that the only present-day player to make the nominations was Niall Sheridan. The awards were presented by GAA President Seán McCague.

🗓️ 2006: Longford GAA Awards

The inaugural Longford GAA awards including ‘Team of the Championship’ and various club ‘Player of the Year’ awards took place in December 2006, with nominees published in the Longford Leader newspaper some weeks earlier, and the public voting for their preferred candidates for Team of the Year and voting for a shortlist of three candidates for each of the Player of the Year awards, with winner announced on the night. The event was the brainchild of the Minor Board Chairman Michael Carrigy and evolved into a successful annual event with awards for those selected in the Team of the Year and individual awards for Senior Footballer of the Year, Senior Hurler of the Year, Intermediate Footballer of the Year, Junior Footballer of the Year and Ladies Footballer of the Year.

🗓️ 2010-2019: SFC Summary

Senior Football Championship was dominated by Killoe Young Emmets. Mullinalaghta St. Columbas & Longford Slashers.

Longford Slashers started the 2010’s with back-to-back Senior Football Championship titles in 2010 and 2011. Killoe Young Emmets emerged in 2012 after a 17 year gap to win the Senior Championship and Leader Cup double in 2012, and reached the Leinster Club semi-final that year too. Longford Slashers returned to win the title in 2013, beating Dromard in the final. Killoe returned to the top spot in 2014, beating Mullinalaghta in the final and winning the Leader Cup to complete the double again. Killoe then retained the Senior Championship in 2015 with victory over Abbeylara and added the League (Leader Cup) double, becoming the first club in Longford to complete a back-to-back League and Championship double.

The second half of the decade belonged to Mullinalaghta St. Columbas. History was made in 2016 when Mullinalaghta played Abbeylara in the county final, with Mullinalaghta emerging victorious to bridge a 66 year gap and progressed to the Leinster Club Semi-Final too. The Mullinalaghta men sealed the year with Leader Cup success to claim the much coveted League-Championship double. Mullinalaghta were only getting started though, winning back-to-back Championship titles in 2017 (again at the expense of Abbeylara) and completing the League & Championship back-to-back double. In 2018 they became only the fifth club to achieve a three-in-row of Senior Football Championship titles with victory again over Abbeylara.

The Mullinalaghta men would become trailblazers by becoming the first Longford club to reach the Leinster Club Championship final in 2018 and created history by becoming Leinster Club Champions with victory over Kilmacud Crokes on Sunday 9th December 2018, a day which will live long in the memory and go down as one of the finest achievements in the history of Longford club football. The winning team on that historic day was: Patrick Rogers, Simon Cadam, Patrick Fox, Conan Brady; Donal McElligott (0-1), Shane Mulligan, Francis Mulligan, Aidan McElligott (0-1), John Keegan, Gary Rogers (1-0), James McGivney, Brendan Fox, David McGivney (0-2), Rian Brady (0-4), Jayson Matthews. Sub: Michael Cunningham for Francis Mulligan (48m).

The Leinster champions would however lose their county crown in 2019 when Killoe Young Emmets returned to take the title with victory over Longford Slashers in the County Final, while Mullinalaghta won the Leader Cup title in 2019 for the third time in 4 years.

During this same period, the Leader Cup titles were also shared across three clubs: Killoe Young Emmets (4), Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (4) and Clonguish (1). The 2018 Leader Cup decider between Mullinalaghta and Killoe was never played due to Mullinalaghta’s involvement in Leinster & All-Ireland club championship.

The Senior Football Championship winners from 2010 to 2019 were:

• Killoe Young Emmets (4)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (3)
• Longford Slashers (3)

🗓️ 2010-2024: IFC Summary

The Intermediate Football Championship winners from 2010 to 2019 were:

• Rathcline (3)
• St. Brigids Killashee (2)
• Carrickedmond (2)
• Ardagh St. Patricks (1)
• St. Marys Granard (1)
• Fr. Manning Gaels (1)

In the Leinster Club Championship, Rathcline created a bit of history in 2005 by becoming the first Longford club to reach the Leinster Club IFC final, but lost out to Crettyard (Laois) by 0-13 to 1-8 in the decider.

🗓️ 2010-2019: JFC Summary

The Junior Football Championship winners from 2010 to 2019 were:

• Legan Sarsfields (1)
• Young Grattans (1)
• Ballymahon (1)
• Moydow Harpers (1)
• Longford Slashers (1)
• Mostrim (1)
• Kenagh (1)
• Killoe Young Emmets (1)

The Junior Championship was not played in 2016 & 2017 (replaced by other competitions in those years) and restarted again from 2018.

In 2015 Leinster Club Championship, St. Brigids Killashee becoming the first Longford club to reach the Leinster Club JFC final, but lost out to Curraha (Meath) by 3-10 to 1-11 in the final. The 2013 final was played between two teams from the same parish (Longford Slashers vs Young Grattans). This was the second time this occurred in the history of the Junior Football Championship (1st time was 2002 – Shroid Slashers vs Young Grattans).

🗓️ 2010-2019: SHC Summary

The Senior Hurling Championship winners from 2010 to 2019 were:

• Wolfe Tones (7)
• Clonguish Gaels (2)

The 2011 hurling championship final was not played due to inability to settle on an agreed date for the final. Longford Slashers did not participate in Senior Hurling competition in 2012 and 2013.

In 2014 Wolfe Tones reached the Leinster Club Special Junior Hurling Championship final, losing to Clara (Offaly) in the final.

🗓️ Rounders Roundup

Clonbroney Minor Club won the following All-Ireland Rounders titles:

• 2019: All-Ireland Minor (Mens) Championship

🗓️ Dream Team 2000-2020

In early 2020 the Longford Leader newspaper ran a competition asking the public to vote on the Gaelic Football ‘Dream Team’ for the years 2000 to 2020. The final selection was published in May 2020 and included the following:

1. Damien Sheridan (Dromard)
2. Dermot Brady (Longford Slashers)
3. Padraig McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets)
4. Declan Reilly (Colmcille)
5. Colin Hannify (Fr. Manning Gaels)
6. Diarmuid Masterson (Dromard)
7. Shane Mulligan (Mullinalaghta St. Columbas)
8. David Hannify (Fr. Manning Gaels)
9. Darren Gallagher (St. Marys Granard)
10. Paddy Dowd (Clonguish)
11. Paul Barden (Clonguish)
12. Michael Quinn (Killoe Young Emmets)
13. Brian Kavanagh (St. Patricks Ardagh / Kilmacud Crokes)
14. Niall Sheridan (Abbeylara)
15. Padraic Davis (Fr. Manning Gaels)

Ten clubs were represented in the final selection, with Fr. Manning Gaels leading the way with three players, followed by two each from Dromard, Killoe and Clonguish, and one each from Longford Slashers, Colmcille, Mullinalaghta St. Columbas, St. Marys Granard, Ardagh St. Patricks and Abbeylara.

🗓️ 2020-2024: SFC Summary

In 2020 Killoe made it back-to-back title wins with victory over Longford Slashers in the final. Mullinalaghta returned once again for their fourth title in six years with victory over Mostrim in the 2021 final. 2022 brought victory for the inaugural champions Colmcille, who beat Mullinalaghta in a close game to take their 7th title and first since 2008. The 2023 decider was an all green-and-white affair with Killoe Young Emmets winning their 14th SFC title with a 1-point victory over a young Clonguish side in the decider.

During this same period, the Leader Cup titles were won by Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (2) and Clonguish (1). The Leader Cup was not played in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2022 final between Mullinalaghta and Colmcille was not played after Colmcille indicated that they were unable to fulfill the fixture. The game was technically awarded to Mullinalaghta however the club refused the award, preferring instead to play the final at a later point. Hence the 2022 title remains somewhat void.

The Senior Football Championship winners from 2020 to 2023 were:

• Killoe Young Emmets (2)
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas (1)
• Colmcille (1)

🗓️ 2020-2024: IFC Summary

The Intermediate Football Championship winners from 2020 to 2023 were:

• St. Brigids Killashee (2)
• Ballymahon (1)
• Kenagh (1)

🗓️ 2020-2024: JFC Summary

The Junior Football Championship winners from 2020 to 2023 were:

• Legan Sarsfields (1)
• Young Grattans (1)
• Colmcille (1)
• Ballymore (1)

From 2024 a new rule meant that the winner of the JFC is promoted to IFC the following year, regardless of whether it is a first or second team.

🗓️ 2020-2024: SHC Summary

The Senior Hurling Championship winners from 2020 to 2023 were:

• Clonguish Gaels (2)
• Wolfe Tones (1)
• Longford Slashers (1)

🗓️ Rounders Roundup

Clonbroney Minor Club won the following All-Ireland Rounders titles:

• 2021: All-Ireland U-13 Féile (Boys) Championship
• 2021 All-Ireland U-12 (Girls) Championship
• 2023 All-Ireland U-12 (Girls) Championship

🗓️ Competition Grade Changes

Club Football: Competition grades changed from U-14, U-16 (Juvenile) & U-18 (Minor) grades to U-13, U-15 (Juvenile) & U-17 (Minor) in 2021 & 2022 before reverting back in 2023, while U-21 grade changed to U-20 from 2018 to 2021 before reverting back in 2022.

Club Hurling: Competition grades changed from U-14, U-16 (Juvenile), U-18 (Minor) & U-21 grades to U-13, U-15 (Juvenile), U-17 (Minor) & U-21 in 2021.

Club Féile: Both Féile na nÓg and Féile na nGael competitions changed from U-14 to U-15 grade in 2021.

🗓️ Club Structure

As of 2024 there are 22 Gaelic Football clubs and 3 Hurling clubs in Longford. Since 2022 Ballymahon and St. Munis Forgney clubs compete as a Group Team under the name ‘Ballymahon‘ (See * below). The breakdown by 2024 Championship is as follows:

2024 Senior Football Championship:

• Abbeylara
• Carrickedmond
• Clonguish
• Colmcille
• Dromard
• Kenagh
• Killoe Young Emmets
• Longford Slashers
• Mostrim
• Mullinalaghta St. Columbas
• Rathcline
• St. Marys Granard

2024 Intermediate Football Championship:

• Ardagh Moydow
• Ballymahon *
• Ballymore
• Cashel
• Fr. Manning Gaels
• Seán Connollys
• St. Brigids Killashee

2024 Junior Football Championship:

• Legan Sarsfields
• Young Grattans
• (+ Four 2nd teams)

2024 Senior Hurling Championship:

• Clonguish Gaels
• Longford Slashers
• Wolfe Tones (Mostrim)

At the end of the 2024 season SFC will reduce from 12 to 11 teams, while IFC will increase from 7 to 8 teams. By the end of the 2025 season, SFC will reduce further to 10 teams. Hence by the start of the 2026 season SFC will have 10 teams, IFC will have 8 teams, and JFC will contain 3 Junior clubs alongside 2nd teams.