Longford Managers

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

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

Mick Higgins trained the Longford team from April 1965 until September 1969. He was ably assisted by Fr. Phil McGee who had become an essential go-between in organising training with senior players and ensuring players were looked after by the County Board. The selectors from 1965 to 1968 were as follows: Gerry Hennessy (1965), Paddy Mulligan (1965-’67), JJ Reilly (1965-’66), John McGrath (1967-’67), Jimmy Flynn (1965-’68), Mickey Reynolds (1967), Billy Morgan (1966-’67), Mel McCormack (1968), Mickey Kelly (1968), Patsy Reilly (1968) and Bertie Allen (1968). Born in New York, Mick Higgins moved to his fathers home of Mayo when he was three years old, went to school in Dundalk and worked in Celbridge before moving to Kilnaleck in Cavan in 1940 (home of his mother) where he soon impressed selectors and was invited to join the Cavan Junior team. He enjoyed a very successful career with Cavan, winning 3 All Ireland SFC titles, 1 National League title, 8 Ulster SFC titles, 2 Railway Cups and 2 McKenna Cups and was captain of the last Cavan team to lift the Sam Maguire Cup in 1952. His first game in charge of Longford was against Down in a challenge on 18th April 1965 and he and his team oversaw Longford’s most successful period – reaching 2 Leinster SFC finals and winning the Leinster SFC title (1968), and National League (1966). 

Seán Murray took on the management role after Mick Higgins stepped down in September 1969. Seán then briefly resigned from the role at the start of 1970, before performing a u-turn and continuing to train Longford until the end of the 1973 season. His position as outright team manager was re-iterated in print by County Chairman Liam Mulvihill in May 1973.

John Donlon replaced Seán Murray as manager in November 1973 and retained the role until late 1975, with Seán Mulvihill in charge of training in Dublin. It is worth noting that from 1973-1977 we find Seán Logue named in local media as ‘team manager‘, however that title was defined as organising training and reporting on attendance of players at each session to the selectors. The modern-day ‘Manager’ role is equivalent to the ‘Trainer’ role in past years. 

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

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

Mickey Kelly was appointed manager in September 1978 with Mel McCormack, Martin Clyne and Seamus Flynn as selectors.

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

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

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

Dessie Dolan was appointed in August 1990. His backroom team was Christy Mannion and Seán Donnelly. In September 1991 he added Pat Manacle and Seamus Flynn as Selectors. Dessie stepped down in August 1992.

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

Tom Donoghue was appointed in September 1994. His backroom team included Brendan Gilmore & Philip Kiernan as selectors and Jimmy Fox as ex officio selector. Tom was trainer of the Offaly football team from 1979 to 1983 and won an All-Ireland Hurling medal with Offaly in 1981. Tom resigned in April 1995 citing a lack of commitment from players, when only 12 players showed up for a challenge game vs Offaly as part of Leinster Championship preparation.

(Following Tom Tonoghue’s sudden departure in April 1995, a temporary team of T.J. Ward, Brendan Gilmore & Jimmy Fox took over for the Leinster Championship game against Meath, while John Greene took over for the All-Ireland B Championship campaign before Eamon Coleman was then appointed to the role in August of that year).

Eamon Coleman was appointed in August 1995. His backroom team was Dessie Dolan (Snr), Noel Greene and John ‘Speedy’ McCormack. He stepped down in May 2007.

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

Denis Connerton was appointed in October 2001. His backroom team was Gerry Lynn and Pat O’Brien. He stepped down in July 2004.

Like Dempsey was appointed in September 2004 with Declan Rowley as his assistant. He stepped down in July 2008.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mike Solan from Mayo was proposed in August 2024 by the selection committee for ratification as the new Longford Senior Football team manager on a three year contract. 

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

Oliver Colohan was assisted by John Collins as Selector.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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