Masters Football

1990 All-Ireland Masters Shield:

Captain: Mike Kenny (Cashel)

Starting XV: Martin Clyne (Ballymore), Joe Farrell (St. Munis), Jimmy Reillly (Ballymore), Pat Hughes (Mostrim), Billy Keenan (Ardagh St. Patricks), Eoin Harte (Rathcline), Seamus Smith (Mostrim), Kevin Eivers (Rathcline), Johnny Clyne (Cashel), Brendan Bracken (Killoe Young Emmets), John Murphy (Longford Slashers), Mike Kenny (Cashel), E.J. Kenny (Legan Sarsfields), Pat Manicle (Ardagh St. Patricks), Peter Sheridan (St. Marys Granard).

Subs Used: Henry Kenny (Cashel) for B Keenan; Seamus Lee (St. Marys Granard) for P Manicle; James Brady (St. Marys Granard) for E.J. Kenny; Seamus Flynn (Rathcline) for P Sheridan.

1996 All-Ireland Masters Shield:

Captain: No Record

Starting XV: Martin Skelly (Cashel), Brendan Bracken (Killoe Young Emmets), Seán Miley (Kenagh), Paddy Diffley (Ballymahon), Seán Melia (Cashel), Liam Tierney (Legan Sarsfields), Gerry Belton (Carrickedmond), Terry McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets, 0-1), Pat Masterson (Killoe Young Emmets, 0-5), Vincent Reynolds (Colmcille, 0-5), Brendan Smyth (Cashel, 0-1), Tommy McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets, 0-2), Gerry Kiernan (Rathcline, 0-2), Jim McGovern (Colmcille, 0-5), Pat ‘Zac’ Hackett (Longford Slashers, 1-1).

Subs Used: Seamus Noonan (Fr. Manning Gaels), Mike Kenny (Cashel), Larry Bannon (Legan Sarsfields), Tony Murphy.

2000 All-Ireland Masters Championship:

Captain: Liam Tierney (Legan Sarsfields)

Starting XV: Martin Skelly (Cashel), Denis Connerton (Rathcline), Philip Smyth (St. Marys Granard), Liam Tierney (Legan Sarsfields), Seamus Noonan (Fr. Manning Gaels), Gerry Sommers (Ballymore), Seamus McKeon (Colmcille), Joe McCabe (Ballymahon), Pat Masterson (Killoe Young Emmets, 0-1), Richard Culhane (Colmcille), Mark Mimnagh (Killoe Young Emmets), Martin McInerney (Colmcille, 0-1), Kevin O’Rourke (St. Marys Granard, 0-1), Mickey O’Hara (Mostrim, 0-7), Eugene Murtagh (Seán Connollys).

Subs Used: Seán Melia (Cashel), Donie Sweeney (Longford Slashers, 0-1), Dan McElligott (Mullinalaghta), Jimmy McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets, 0-1).

2005 All-Ireland Masters Championship:

Captain: James Breslin (Fr. Manning Gaels)

Starting XV: Vinny O’Rourke (Ardagh St. Patricks), Tom Darcy (Rosemount), Mark Mimnagh (Killoe Young Emmets), John O’Toole (Dromard), Jack ‘Dockie’ Healy (Rosemount), John O’Brien (Abbeylara), Brendan Considine (Longford Slashers), James Breslin (Fr. Manning Gaels), Matt Duggan (Killoe Young Emmets), Ambrose Fogarty (St. Marys Athlone, 1-2), Ollie Rogers (Carrickedmond), Martin McNerney (Colmcille, 0-1), Michael O’Brien (Longford Slashers, 0-5), Seamus Boyle (Ballymore), Eugene McCormack (Carrickedmond, 0-1).

Subs Used: John James Reilly (Rathcline) for Matt Duggan (41m); John Breslin (Fr. Manning Gaels) for John James Reilly (injured, 44m); Gerry Clarke (Longford Slashers) for Seamus Boyle (53m); Willie Finnerty (Ballymore, Westmeath) for John Breslin (58m); Matt Duggan (Killoe Young Emmets) for Martin McNerney.

Other Subs: Pat Masterson, Tom Yorke, Kevin Hourican, Tony Garvey, Jimmy McCormack, PJ Duffy, Donie Sweeney, Dermot McCormack, Andy Smith, Gerry McKeon, Michael Doyle, Johnny Creegan.

2017 All-Ireland Masters Plate:

Captain: Gerry Carberry (Killoe Young Emmets)

Starting XV: Francis Noonan (St. Brides, Louth), Dermot McMorrow (Glencar Manorhamilton), Ollie Plunkett (Aughawillan), Seán Corr (St. Marys Granard), Bobby O’Rourke (Fenagh), John Coyle (Mostrim), Emmett Kenny (Kenagh), Ollie Maguire (Drumreilly), Noel Reynolds (Dromard), Gerry Carberry (Killoe Young Emmets), Mick Flynn (Ballymore), Andrew McManus (Carrigallen), Enda McCann (Kenagh), Fintan McBrien (Aughavas), John Conlon (Killoe Young Emmets).

Other Panellists: Martin McHugh, Jimmy Kiernan, Michael Lynch, John Casey, PC Corrigan, Steve Dolan, Peter Prior, Declan Smith, Michael Kane, Colm Maguire, Finbarr Twomey, Declan O’Neill, JP McManus, Derek McKeon, Mark Chandler, John Doyle, Darragh Barden, Pauric Burke, Val Tracey, Mick Lohan, Michael Mulleady, Anto McKeon, Kevin Keaney, Padraig Fahy, Kieran Fox.

2019 All-Ireland Masters Shield:

Captain: Ollie Maguire (Drumreilly)

Starting XV: Francis Noonan (St. Brides, Louth), James Hynes (St. Marys Granard), Derek McKeon (Fr. Manning Gaels), Enda McGahern (Colmcille), Gerry Carberry (Killoe Young Emmets), John Coyle (Mostrim), Mark Beirne (Annaduff), Ollie Maguire (Drumreilly), Noel Reynolds (Dromard), Niall Brady (Colmcille), Jamesie Martin (Dromard, 0-5), Benny O’Rourke (Carrigallen, 1-2), JP McManus (Carrigallen, 0-1), Martin Dolan (Carrigallen), Andrew McManus (Carrigallen, 0-1).

Subs Used: Seamus Shortt (Ardagh Moydow), PC Corrigan (Glencar Manorhamilton), Niall Connerton (St. Marys Kiltoghert), Emmet Kenny (Kenagh), Willie Skelly (St. Brigids Killashee, 0-4), Ray Cox (Annaduff, 0-2), Declan Smith (Colmcille), Peter Prior (Aughawillan, 0-1), John Rowan (Kenagh).

2021 All-Ireland Masters Challenge Trophy:

Captain: Jamesie Martin (Dromard)

Starting XV: Francis Noonan (St. Brides, Louth), Enda McGahern (Colmcille), Derek McKeon (Fr. Manning Gaels), Shane Conroy (Bornacoola), Mike Magan (St. Brigids Killashee), John Coyle (Mostrim), Dermot McMorrow (Glencar Manorhamilton), Niall Brady (Colmcille), James McEntire (Abbeylara), Derek Kelleher (Gortletteragh), Jamesie Martin (Dromard), Declan Smith (Colmcille), Seán Leonard (Cill Naile), Finbarr Twomey (Glencar Manorhamilton), John Doyle (Colmcille).

Other Panellists: Martin McHugh, Gerry Carberry, JP McManus, Gary Murtagh, Ray Cox, Noel Reynolds, J Kiernan, Niall Brennan, Justin Quinn, Andrew McKeon, Padraig McGarry, Michael Mulleady, Val Treacy, Seamus Shortt, Michael Flynn, Brian Conroy, PC Corrigan, Ollie Maguire, Mark Beirne, Steve Dolan.

ℹ️ Researched & compiled by Longford Gaelic Stats.

🗓️ 1990

Masters Association (Coiste na Seanóirí)  was formed by the GAA in 1990 with Dr. Mick Loftus as Chairman.

“We don’t stop playing
because we grow old,
we grow old
because we stop playing”

🗓️ 1992

Jimmy Hannify (ex Fr. Manning Gaels & Drumlish) won All-Ireland Masters Shield in 1992 with Dublin, scoring 0-4 in the final.

🗓️ 1994

Longford lost the All-Ireland Masters Championship semi-final to Mayo in Ballina by 1-6 to 0-3 and then lost the Shield final to Tyrone at Michael Fay Park on 10th September 1994.

🗓️ 1996

Longford regained the Masters Shield title by beating Dublin by 1-22 to 0-6 in Ballymahon in early September. Dublin started with only 13 players and played much of the first half with only 12 players on the field after losing a defender to injury. Team was managed by Brendan Gilmore, Kevin Durkin and Eddie Joe Kenny.

🗓️ 1997

Longford lost the All-Ireland Masters Championship semi-final to Monaghan in Scotstown by 3-14 to 2-8, and then lost the Shield final to Cavan in Carrick-on-Shannon by 3-11 to 3-6.

🗓️ 1998

Longford lost the All-Ireland Masters Championship semi-final to Monaghan in Pearse Park by 0-15 to 2-4 and then lost the Shield final to Fermanagh by 2-10 to 1-3.

Longford hosted both the All-Ireland Masters Championship and Shield finals in 1998. Bad weather meant both games had to be moved out of Pearse Park, with the Championship final played at Kenagh (Galway beat Monaghan) and the Shield final played at Shroid (Fermanagh beat Longford).

🗓️ 2000

Longford won the All-Ireland Masters Championship (Corn na Seanóirí) with victory over Monaghan by 0-12 to 0-7 at Breffni Park in October 2000. Team captain was Liam Tierney, and the team was managed by Kevin Durkin, Eddie Joe Jenny and Brendan Gilmore, with Vinny Fay and Pat McGann as Physio. Man of the Match was Pat Masterson. The cup was presented to Liam Tierney by GAA President Seán McCague.

🗓️ 2001

Longford failed to qualify from the group stage in 2001.

🗓️ 2002-2004

Longford did not participate in Masters competition.

🗓️ 2005

Longford re-entered the Masters competition in 2005 after a lapse of three years.

Longford regained the All-Ireland Masters Championship (Corn na Seanóirí) on 21st August 2005, defeating Derry by 1-10 to 1-7 in Ballyconnell. Longford played six games in the round-robin section of that years All-Ireland Masters Championship, winning five games and drawing one. In total they beat Kerry and Tipperary at home and away, beat Roscommon away and drew with Roscommon at home. The Quarter Final against Mayo was played at Carrickedmond with Longford winning by 0-11 to 0-10. Next up was the semi-final tie against Tyrone which Longford won by 3 points to set up an All-Ireland Masters Final date with Derry in Ballyconnell (Cavan) on a rain swept day, with Longford winning by 3 points. The Longford team was managed by by Terry McCormack, Gerry Belton and Kevin Durkan.

🗓️ 2006

The following members of the Longford Masters team were selected to represent Ireland at the International Rules Masters Series:

• Frank McNamee (Fr. Manning Gaels)
• Kevin Hourican (Dromard)
• Dessie Barry (Longford Slashers)
• Padraig O’Brien (Longford Slashers)
• Eugene McCormack (Carrickedmond)
• Padraig ‘Amby’ Fogarty (St. Mary’s Athlone)
• Seamus Boyle (Ballymore, Westmeath)
• Matt Duggan (Galway and ex Killoe)

Gerry Belton (Carrickedmond) was joint team manager for Ireland’s Over 40’s Masters International Rules squad in 2006.

🗓️ 2007

Longford reached the All-Ireland Masters Trophy final (Tier 2) against Derry in Lacken (Cavan) but lost out by two points.

🗓️ 2008

John Corcoran and John Hyland from the Longford Masters team were selected for the International Rules Masters panel.

🗓️ 2009

In October 2009 five members of the Longford Masters team were selected to represent Ireland against Australia in the International Rules Masters Series:

• Kevin Hourican (Dromard)
• John Hyland (TBC)
• Jimmy O’Neill (Longford Slashers)
• Brian McNiven (TBC)
• Padraig ‘Amby’ Fogarty (St. Mary’s Athlone)

In December 2009 the All-Ireland Masters Cup Final (Tier 1) between Tyrone and Mayo was held at Oliver Lynch Park in Abbeylara, with Mayo winning the title by 1-8 to 0-7.

GAA disbanded Masters competition in 2009 citing rising insurance costs, having organised competitions since 1990.

🗓️ 2010

There was no Masters competition in 2010.

🗓️ 2011

Gaelic Masters Association (GMA) was formed in 2011, focused on promoting Gaelic Games among people over 40 years of age. The association is independent of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and was founded by Mayo man John Pat Sheridan in response to the GAA disbanding their own Masters competitions in 2009.

🗓️ 2012

Longford reached All-Ireland Masters Shield final (Tier 2) against Mayo at Sligo IT in December 2012, losing by 2-16 to 1-8.

🗓️ 2016

Three Longford Masters footballers were chosen to represent Ireland at the 2016 Mens International Rules Masters Series vs Australia:

• John Coyle (Mostrim)
• Declan O’Neill (Legan Sarsfields)
• Michael Keane (Fr. Manning Gaels)

Ireland won both ties to take the series and win the Paddy Gaffney Cup.

🗓️ 2017

Longford amalgamated with Leitrim to compete as Leitrim/Longford in the Masters series.

The combination enjoyed immediate success, winning the All-Ireland Masters Plate final (Tier 3) in 2017 with victory over Kildare by 1-12 to 1-11 in the final at The Downs GAA grounds. The team was managed by James Breslin, Seamus Sorohan and Pat Flanagan.

🗓️ 2018

GMA and GAA reached agreement to permit Masters games at GAA grounds.

Leitrim/Longford reached the All-Ireland Masters Plate final (Tier 3), losing out to Kildare.

🗓️ 2019

Leitrim/Longford won the All-Ireland Masters Shield final (Tier 2) with victory over Laois by 1-16 to 2-9 at Ballyleague. The team was managed by James Breslin (Fr. Manning Gaels) and Seamus Sorohon (Gortletteragh).

Noel Reynolds (Dromard) represented Ireland on the 2019 Men’s International Rules Masters panel.

🗓️ 2020

No Masters competition due to Covid-19 pandemic.

🗓️ 2021

Leitrim/Longford won the All-Ireland Masters Challenge Cup (Tier 4) title in 2021 beating Antrim by 1-17 to 0-7 in the decider at Templeport. The team was managed by James Breslin (Fr. Manning Gaels) and Seamus Sorohon (Gortletteragh).

In November 2021 the All-Ireland Masters Cup and Shield finals were held at the Fr. Manning Gaels grounds at Monaduff.

🗓️ 2022

In September 2022 London beat Leitrim/Longford by 0-13 to 0-08 in the All-Ireland Masters Challenge Cup final (Tier 4) at the Owenmore GAA grounds in Sligo.

🗓️ 2023

Michelle Hannify Mulvey (Carrickedmond) won MVP at Kilkenny Ladies Masters Tournament.

🗓️ 2024

John Coyle (Mostrim) was selected as a panellist for the 2024 Men’s International Rules Masters Over-50’s Series, while Jamesie Martin (Dromard) was selected as a panellist for the 2024 Men’s International Rules Masters Over-40’s Series. Ireland’s management team for the Over-40’s Series includes Kevin Hourican from Dromard.

Michelle Hannify Mulvey (Carrickedmond) & Michelle Ross Bohan (ex Carrickedmond) were selected for the 2024 Ladies International Rules Masters Series panel.

🗓️ 2025

GMA Ladies Interprovincial Series began in 2025 with Michelle Hannify Mulvey (Carrickedmond), Sarah Reynolds (Dromard) and Michelle Bohan (ex Carrickedmond) selected for the Leinster panel.

Frank Kane (Clonbroney) and Ciaran McGann (Kenagh) were part of the London panel who defeated Limerick in the 2025 Masters Challenge Cup (tier 4) final.

2025 Leitrim/Longford Men’s Masters Squad 🡇

🏆 Masters Trophies

• Dr. Mick Loftus Cup (Tier 1)
• Masters Shield (Tier 2)
• Masters Plate (Tier 3)
• Masters Challenge Trophy (Tier 4)
• Masters Spirit Trophy (Tier 5)

ℹ️ Researched & compiled by Longford Gaelic Stats.