Longford Gaelic Stats
O'Byrne Cup & Shield (1954-2024)

O'Byrne Competition

The O’Byrne Cup is an annual Gaelic Football competition organised by the Leinster Council. It is one of three competitions in Leinster (O’Byrne Cup, Walsh Cup & Kehoe Cup) which are all ‘Accident Tournaments’, where the proceeds go towards assisting injured GAA members. The O’Byrne Cup began in 1954 as the Matt Byrne Memorial Cup (Accident fund tournament). The name was shortened to Byrne Cup and eventually became the O’Byrne Cup (even though Matt Byrne never spelled his surname as O’Byrne). The O’Byrne Shield competition was added in 2006 for teams who lost the first round of the O’Byrne Cup, and was discontinued in 2013 when the O’Byrne Cup changed to a round-robin format. In 2024 the O’Byrne Cup reverted to a straight knock-out format with the O’Byrne Shield revived for teams knocked out in 1st Round and Quarter Finals (excluding Dublin). Today’s O’Byrne Cup is one of four provincial pre-season Gaelic Football competitions played annually in January, along with McKenna Cup (Ulster), FBD League (Connacht), McGrath Cup (Munster). The competition was sponsored by Bord na Móna from 2012 to 2023, and by Dioralyte from 2024.

Longford has played 142 games in O’Byrne Cup & Shield, Won 71 (50%), Drew 5 (3%) and Lost 66 (47%).

Won 50% of O'Byrne Games
Lost 47% of O'Byrne Games
Drew 3% of O'Byrne Games

Longford won the O’Byrne Cup five times (1965, 2000, 2020, 2023 & 2024) and were runner-up six times (1961, 1963, 1983, 2003, 2008, 2016). By 2024 the competition included eleven Leinster county teams (excluding Kilkenny). Some third-level institutions competed in certain years, but since 2018 only county teams compete. There was no competition in 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1979, 1984, 1985 or 2021 and Longford did not compete in 1974 & 1976. Longford’s top three most frequent opponents are Meath (P23/W7/D2/L14), Westmeath (P20/W6/L14) and Offaly (P17/W9/L8). Longford has played every other Leinster county and six third-level teams in O’Byrne competition, with most wins over Offaly (9) and most losses to Meath and Westmeath (14 each).

O'Byrne Cup & Shield (1954-2024)

O'Byrne Cup

O'Byrne Cup OpponentsPlayedLD WonLD DrewLD Lost
Meath237214
Westmeath206014
Offaly16907
Louth16628
Kildare12606
Laois10514
Dublin8503
Carlow7502
Wicklow6402
Wexford4301
Athlone IT3300
DCU3102
UCD2200
DIT1100
IT Carlow1100
Kilkenny1100
Maynooth Uni1100
Totals13465564

1965 O’Byrne Cup Champions: Michael Fay, Seámus Flynn, Larry Gillen, Brendan Gilmore, Brendan Barden (Captain), John Donlon, Terry McGovern, Jimmy Hannify (1-0), Jimmy Flynn, Jackie Devine (0-3), Mick Hopkins, Mick Burns, Seán Murray (0-1), Bobby Burns (0-5), Seán Donnelly.

2000 O’Byrne Cup Champions: Gavin Tonra, Padraic Jones, Donal Ledwith, Brendan Burke, Martin Mulleady, David Blessington, Cathal Conefrey (Vice Captain), Liam Keenan, Enda Barden (Captain, 0-3), Padraic Brady, Paul Barden (0-2), Paul Ross, Trevor Smullen (1-0), Niall Sheridan (1-0), Padraic Davis (0-1). Subs: Aidan Keogh for Ross, Sean Hagan for Brady, Enda Ledwith for Sheridan.

2020 O’Byrne Cup Champions: Paddy Collum, Patrick Fox, Andrew Farrell, Barry O’Farrell, Iarla O’Sullivan, Gary Rogers, Colm P Smyth; Darren Gallagher (0-5), Kevin Diffley (1-0), Dessie Reynolds, Daniel Mimnagh, Michael Quinn (Captain), Rian Brady (0-5), Oran Kenny (0-2), Joseph Hagan. Subs: Peter Lynn for O’Sullivan, Darragh Doherty (0-1) for Diffley, Liam Connerton for Reynolds, Aidan McGuire for Brady.

2023 O’Byrne Cup Champions: Paddy Collum, Barry O’Farrell (Captain), Andrew Farrell, Ryan Moffett, Peter Lynn, Gary Rogers, Iarla O’Sullivan, Fergal Sheridan (0-1), Darren Gallagher (0-3), Dylan Farrell, Joe Hagan, Michael Quinn (0-1), Dessie Reynolds (3-3), Daniel Mimnagh (0-1), David McGivney (0-4). Subs: Aaron Farrell for D Farrell, Robbie Smyth for Quinn, James McGivney for Mimnagh, Jack Macken for Reynolds, Peter Foy for O’Sullivan, Bryan Masterson for Lynn, Rúairí Harkin for Rogers, Tadhg McNevin for Gallagher, Conor Keenan for Hagan, Jayson Matthews for McGivney.

2024 O’Byrne Cup Champions: Paddy Collum, Barry O’Farrell, Oisín O’Toole, Bryan Masterson, Patrick Fox (Captain), Ryan Moffett, Iarla O’Sullivan, Darren Gallagher (0-4), Daire Duggan (0-1), Keelan McGann (1-0), Daniel Mimnagh, Daniel Reynolds (0-1), Joseph Hagan (0-2), Jayson Matthews, Cathal McCabe (0-3). Subs: Mark Hughes (0-1) for Mimnagh, Michael Quinn for Reynolds, Ruairí Harkin for McGann, Darragh Finlass for Matthews.

O'Byrne Cup & Shield (1954-2024)

O'Byrne Shield

The O’Byrne Shield began in 2006 as a runner-up competition for losers of the first round of the O’Byrne Cup. It was played from 2006 to 2012 and discontinued when the O’Byrne Cup moved to a round robin structure from 2013, but was revived once again in 2024 when O’Byrne Cup reverted to a straight knockout format. Longford competed in O’Byrne Shield in 2006, 2007, 2010 & 2011, winning it twice in 2006 & 2007 with victory over Wicklow by 0-14 to 1-09 in the 2006 final and victory over Athlone IT by 2-10 to 1-07 in the 2007 decider. In total, Longford played 8 games in O’Byrne Shield, winning 6, losing 2.

O'Byrne Shield OpponentsPlayedLD WonLD DrewLD Lost
Athlone IT2200
DIT1100
Wicklow1100
UCD1100
Kildare1100
Wexford1001
Offaly1001
Totals8602

2006 O’Byrne Shield Winners: Damien Sheridan (Captain), Dermot Brady, Barry Gilleran, Cathal Conefrey, Shane Mulligan, Michael Kelly, Donnacha Corcoran, Arthur O’Connor, Bernard McElvaney (0-2), Kevin Smyth (0-1), Paul Barden (0-3), Paddy Dowd (0-1), Jamsie Martin, Kevin Mulligan (0-3), Brian Kavanagh (0-3). Subs: Padraig Berry for A O’Connor, Francis McGee (0-1) for J Martin, Seán McCormack for P Dowd, Trevor Glendenning for K Smyth.

2007 O’Byrne Shield Winners: Damien Sheridan (Captain), Dermot Brady, Diarmuid Masterson, Cathal Conefrey, Noel Farrell, Enda Ledwith, Shane Mulligan, Bernard McElvaney (0-3), Liam Keenan, Trevor Smullen (0-2), Paul Barden (1-1), Kevin Mulligan (1-0), David Barden (0-1), Brian Kavanagh (0-2), Padraic Davis (0-1). Subs: Padraig Berry for Davis, Kevin Smith for Mulligan, Gary Murphy for Kavanagh (injured), Declan C Reilly for Farrell, David Hannify for Ledwith.

O'Byrne Cup & Shield (1954-2024)

All Longford Results

DateO'Byrne Competition Details
22/08/1954O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-2, Meath 5-7 | Loss ❌
27/03/1955O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-10, Meath 1-6 | Win ✔️
29/05/1955O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 1-5, Westmeath 2-5 | Loss ❌
25/03/1956O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-6, Westmeath 2-5 | Loss ❌
31/03/1957O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-10, Offaly 1-2 | Win ✔️
14/07/1957O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 2-8, Meath 0-7 | Win ✔️
25/08/1957O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 0-5, Kildare 1-5 | Loss ❌
20/04/1958O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-5, Offaly 6-7 | Loss ❌
17/05/1959O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-5, Westmeath 1-8 | Loss ❌
20/03/1960O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 3-5, Westmeath 2-2 | Win ✔️
12/06/1960O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 0-5, Louth 0-8 | Loss ❌
26/02/1961O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 2-7, Meath 0-7 | Win ✔️
14/05/1961O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 2-9, Louth 1-8 | Win ✔️
30/07/1961O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 2-14, Dublin 1-4 | Win ✔️
15/10/1961O'Byrne Cup - Final | Longford 0-6, Offaly 1-9 | Loss ❌
25/02/1962O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-6, Meath 2-9 | Loss ❌
24/03/1963O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-9, Offaly 1-2 | Win ✔️
13/10/1963O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 2-9, Wicklow 0-7 | Win ✔️
01/12/1963O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 0-6, Kildare 0-4 | Win ✔️
08/12/1963O'Byrne Cup - Final | Longford 0-10, Louth 1-10 | Loss ❌
22/03/1964O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-7, Offaly 0-9 | Win ✔️
28/06/1964O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 2-13, Wicklow 0-5 | Win ✔️
02/08/1964O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 1-10, Carlow 3-6 | Loss ❌
15/08/1965O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 5-14, Offaly 0-5 | Win ✔️
12/09/1965O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 0-18, Louth 1-7 | Win ✔️
10/10/1965O'Byrne Cup - Final | Longford 1-9, Kildare 1-6 | Win ✔️ 🏆
21/08/1966O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-8, Offaly 3-11 | Loss ❌
19/03/1967O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-6, Meath 2-12 | Loss ❌
24/03/1968O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-9, Laois 1-9 | Draw ➖
21/04/1968O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 (R) | Longford 1-13, Laois 1-8 | Win ✔️
12/05/1968O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 0-8, Offaly 0-10 | Loss ❌
28/02/1971O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 0-8, Louth 2-4 | Loss ❌
01/04/1973O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 2-7, Westmeath 1-16 | Loss ❌
06/02/1977O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-9, Louth 0-12 | Draw ➖
20/02/1977O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 1-8, Westmeath 2-7 | Loss ❌
06/03/1977O'Byrne Cup - Round 3 | Longford 2-3, Meath 1-6 | Draw ➖
21/05/1978O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-6, Wexford 4-8 | Loss ❌
09/03/1980O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-9, Meath 6-9 | Loss ❌
23/03/1980O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 0-6, Louth 1-4 | Loss ❌
06/04/1980O'Byrne Cup - Round 3 | Longford 1-11, Westmeath 2-5 | Win ✔️
29/03/1981O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-7, Laois 1-9 | Loss ❌
28/03/1982O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 3-9, Laois 0-8 | Win ✔️
04/04/1982O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 0-11, Carlow 2-4 | Win ✔️
18/04/1982O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 0-9, Wicklow 0-15 | Loss ❌
27/03/1983O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 2-7, Wexford 1-8 | Win ✔️
10/04/1983O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford W/O, Kilkenny SCR | Win ✔️
30/04/1983O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 2-18, Westmeath 2-11 | Win ✔️
08/05/1983O'Byrne Cup - Final | Longford 1-9, Meath 1-11 | Loss ❌
23/03/1986O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-11, Wexford 0-8 | Win ✔️
06/04/1986O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 0-7, Westmeath 1-11 | Loss ❌
12/04/1987O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-4, Offaly 3-8 | Loss ❌
26/04/1988O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-7, Meath 2-6 | Loss ❌
27/03/1989O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-5, Westmeath 0-8 | Loss ❌
16/04/1990O'Byrne Cup - Quarter Final | Longford 2-8, Westmeath 1-9 | Win ✔️
25/04/1990O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 1-13, Louth 2-11 | Loss ❌
01/04/1991O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-14, Carlow 1-6 | Win ✔️
20/04/1991O'Byrne Cup - Quarter Final | Longford 1-11, Meath 2-11 | Loss ❌
05/04/1992O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 2-7, Westmeath 1-12 | Loss ❌
23/01/1993O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 2-4, Laois 1-8 | Loss ❌
09/01/1994O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 3-8, Offaly 2-10 | Win ✔️
16/01/1994O'Byrne Cup - Quarter Final | Longford 1-8, Louth 1-6 | Win ✔️
30/01/1994O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 1-6, Laois 1-14 | Loss ❌
15/01/1995O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-5, Westmeath 1-8 | Loss ❌
07/01/1996O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-11, Westmeath 3-10 | Loss ❌
12/01/1997O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-5, Offaly 4-21 | Loss ❌
04/01/1998O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-6, Dublin 0-11 | Loss ❌
24/01/1999O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-7, Louth 1-10 | Loss ❌
09/01/2000O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 3-12, Kildare 0-13 | Win ✔️
16/01/2000O'Byrne Cup - Quarter Final | Longford 0-20, Dublin 1-16 | Win ✔️
23/01/2000O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 0-14, Offaly 0-12 | Win ✔️
06/02/2000O'Byrne Cup - Final | Longford 2-6, Westmeath 0-7 | Win ✔️ 🏆
14/01/2001O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-14, Laois 1-19 | Loss ❌
02/11/2001O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-7, Meath 1-15 | Loss ❌
18/11/2001O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 2-8, Offaly 1-7 | Win ✔️
25/11/2001O'Byrne Cup - Round 3 | Longford 4-10, Carlow 1-20 | Loss ❌
05/01/2003O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-13, Laois 0-10 | Win ✔️
14/01/2003O'Byrne Cup - Quarter Final | Longford 1-11, Meath 0-11 | Win ✔️
19/01/2003O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 4-4, Wexford 0-12 | Win ✔️
26/01/2003O'Byrne Cup - Final | Longford 1-6, Kildare 0-12 | Loss ❌
04/01/2004O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 6-8, Laois 0-6 | Win ✔️
11/01/2004O'Byrne Cup - Quarter Final | Longford 0-6, Meath 0-13 | Loss ❌
02/01/2005O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-10, UCD 0-9 | Win ✔️
09/01/2005O'Byrne Cup - Quarter Final | Longford 0-10, Westmeath 2-19 | Loss ❌
08/01/2006O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-5, Kildare 0-14 | Loss ❌
15/01/2006O'Byrne Shield - Quarter Final | Longford 2-9, Athlone IT 0-12 | Win ✔️
22/01/2006O'Byrne Shield - Semi-Final | Longford 3-10, DIT 1-11 | Win ✔️
29/01/2006O'Byrne Shield - Final | Longford 0-14, Wicklow 1-9 | Win ✔️ 🏆
07/01/2007O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-14, DIT 2-9 | Loss ❌
14/01/2007O'Byrne Shield - Quarter Final | Longford 2-16, UCD 0-10 | Win ✔️
21/01/2007O'Byrne Shield - Semi-Final | Longford 0-9, Kildare 1-5 | Win ✔️
30/01/2007O'Byrne Shield - Final | Longford 2-10, Athlone IT 1-7 | Win ✔️ 🏆
06/01/2008O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-9, Kildare 0-7 | Win ✔️
13/01/2008O'Byrne Cup - Quarter Final | Longford 0-14, Meath 1-6 | Win ✔️
20/01/2008O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 1-16, DCU 0-10 | Win ✔️
08/02/2008O'Byrne Cup - Final | Longford 1-14, Dublin 2-12 | Loss ❌
04/01/2009O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 2-12, Athlone IT 1-7 | Win ✔️
11/01/2009O'Byrne Cup - Quarter Final | Longford 0-5, Louth 4-12 | Loss ❌
17/01/2010O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-13, Meath 2-13 | Loss ❌
24/01/2010O'Byrne Shield - Quarter Final | Longford 0-12, Wexford 1-10 | Loss ❌
09/01/2011O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-8, Kildare 0-16 | Loss ❌
16/01/2011O'Byrne Shield - Quarter Final | Longford 1-8, Offaly 1-9 | Loss ❌
08/01/2012O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-13, Athlone IT 1-9 | Win ✔️
15/01/2012O'Byrne Cup - Quarter Final | Longford 0-12, DCU 2-11 | Loss ❌
06/01/2013O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-7, Meath 1-9 | Loss ❌
09/01/2013O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 1-14, UCD 0-14 | Win ✔️
13/01/2013O'Byrne Cup - Round 3 | Longford 0-9, Louth 1-17 | Loss ❌
05/01/2014O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-19, Carlow 2-7 | Win ✔️
08/01/2014O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 0-6, Kildare 3-20 | Loss ❌
12/01/2014O'Byrne Cup - Round 3 | Longford 1-8, Athlone IT 0-10 | Win ✔️
03/01/2015O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-11, DCU 3-13 | Loss ❌
07/01/2015O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 1-9, Meath 1-17 | Loss ❌
11/01/2015O'Byrne Cup - Round 3 | Longford 0-10, Westmeath 2-11 | Loss ❌
03/01/2016O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-18, Maynooth Uni 1-9 | Win ✔️
06/01/2016O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 1-10, Westmeath 0-14 | Loss ❌
10/01/2016O'Byrne Cup - Round 3 | Longford 1-9, Wicklow 1-5 | Win ✔️
17/01/2016O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 1-12, Dublin 0-9 | Win ✔️
24/01/2016O'Byrne Cup - Final | Longford 1-11, Meath 1-17 | Loss ❌
07/01/2017O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 0-12, Kildare 1-15 | Loss ❌
11/01/2017O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 2-11, Offaly 0-9 | Win ✔️
15/01/2017O'Byrne Cup - Round 3 | Longford 5-11, IT Carlow 4-6 | Win ✔️
30/12/2017O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 2-13, Louth 1-10 | Win ✔️
07/01/2018O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 1-14, Kildare 0-13 | Win ✔️
14/01/2018O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 2-16, Meath 1-19 | Loss ❌
08/12/2018O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 1-7, Wicklow 1-6 | Win ✔️
15/12/2018O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 0-9, Meath 1-5 | Win ✔️
05/01/2019O'Byrne Cup - Round 3 | Longford 1-16, Louth 1-16 | Draw ➖
12/01/2019O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 0-4, Westmeath 2-10 | Loss ❌
07/12/2019O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 2-14, Kildare 0-14 | Win ✔️
15/12/2019O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 1-13, Carlow 0-10 | Win ✔️
04/01/2020O'Byrne Cup - Round 3 | Longford 0-14, Wicklow 2-9 | Loss ❌
11/01/2020O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 1-13, Dublin 3-6 | Win ✔️
18/01/2020O'Byrne Cup - Final | Longford 1-12, Offaly 0-11 | Win ✔️ 🏆
08/01/2022O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 2-13, Louth 0-14 | Win ✔️
12/01/2022O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 2-12, Offaly 1-16 | Loss ❌
15/01/2022O'Byrne Cup - Round 3 | Longford 0-5, Dublin 0-16 | Loss ❌
04/01/2023O'Byrne Cup - Round 1 | Longford 3-18, Laois 0-13 | Win ✔️
07/01/2023O'Byrne Cup - Round 2 | Longford 0-15, Carlow 0-4 | Win ✔️
11/01/2023O'Byrne Cup - Round 3 | Longford 0-10, Meath 1-7 | Draw ➖
21/01/2023O'Byrne Cup - Final | Longford 3-13, Louth 0-12 | Win ✔️ 🏆
06/01/2024O'Byrne Cup - Quarter Final | Longford 0-9, Westmeath 0-7 | Win ✔️
12/01/2024O'Byrne Cup - Semi-Final | Longford 2-14, Meath 1-14 | Win ✔️
20/01/2024O'Byrne Cup - Final | Longford 1-12, Dublin 0-9 | Win ✔️ 🏆

* In 2018 Meath won 2-1 in free-taking competition (1st inter-county game decided in this way).

– No O’Byrne Cup held in 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1979, 1984, 1985 or 2021.
– Longford did not compete in O’Byrne Cup in 1974 or 1976.
– 1998 Longford v Dublin had two referees as part of experimental rules.
– Prior to 1990 and with exception of 1980 and 1977, all ‘Quarter Finals’ were ‘Round 2’.
– 2000 cup was presented to vice-captain Cathal Conefrey due to captain receiving a red card.
– 2003 vs Meath was 1st floodlit inter-county game held under jurisdiction of a provincial council.

This content was researched & compiled independently from 2014 to 2024.
Thank you to Padraig Ferguson (Sligo) for assistance with this data.