Longford senior football championship begins club season

The 2025 Longford senior football championship gets underway this Friday July 18^th.

Abbeylara are defending champions after victory over Colmcille in last year’s final replay. Indeed, extra-time was required for Frankie Dolan’s side to score a 2-10 to 1-7 victory.

The format for this year remains the same with two groups of six teams playing off in a round robin basis between July 18 and August 31.

Defending champions Abbeylara are joined in group B with Fr. Manning Gaels, Longford Slashers, Clonguish, Mullinalaghta and Rathcline. Whereas, group A features Colmcille, Carrickedmond, Killoe Emmet Og, Granard, Dromard and Mostrim.

The top four in each group will progress to the quarter-final stage with the Group A winner facing the group B fourth place team. While the second in group A will face third in group B.

The other two quarter-finals see, the Group B winner facing the group A fourth place team. While the second in group B will face third in group A.

From there it’s a straight run to the semi-finals between the four quarter-final winners and into the final.

Carrickedmond stay senior

The big talking point of the 2024 Longford championship was the famous ghost point which had originally awarded Carrickedmond victory over Mullinalaghta.

However, the subsequent appeal saw Mullinalaghta promoted to group winners and Carrickedmond entering the relegation play-offs. Further drama would follow as Carrickedmond were relegated to intermediate status.

Although, the end game see’s Carrickedmond remain with senior status for the 2025 seasons as the Longford board looks to move the senior championship to a 10 team championship in place for 2027.

The motivation will no doubt be there for Carrickedmond this time around as they look to advance to the knockout stages of the championship.

In group A, Carrickedmond face an opening day test against last year’s beaten finalists Colmcille. A team who will have eyes on raising the Sean Connolly Cup on October fifth.

Raising the Sean Connolly Cup is something Carrickedmond have yet to do. In fact they are the only team in the Longford senior football championship who have failed to achieve the county pennant.

Three final appearances, the last in 1973 as St. Martin’s (Carrickedmond/Kenagh) the closest they have come to gaining county honours.

A long running championship

While the Longford championship sees a high amount of games with six matches each week for five weeks. The competitiveness of the championship is the strongest in this competition.

Killoe were the strongest of the club’s in the 2024 group stage. However, saw their campaign end in the semi-finals with a one-point defeat to eventual champions Abbeylara.

Killoe having won all five of their group games with +55 in the point’s difference. Whereas, eventual champions Colmcille took second place in the group and ended up as runner-up.

Colmcille’s journey to the final, ruled out the accusation of an imbalance in the championship group phase. Particularly as two teams from the so-called “weaker” group made the semi-finals.

The 2025 Longford Senior football championship

It all begins on July 18, when defending champions Abbeylara face Fr. Manning Gaels. Frankie Dolan's Abbey will be looking to make it back-to-back championship wins.

Last year’s intermediate champions Fr. Manning Gaels are the opposition in a baptism of fire for the newly promoted side. Dessie Reynolds will be key for the Drumlish side as their first aim will be to retain senior championship status. The opening game in group A gets underway at eight o’clock in Pairc Na nGael, Dromard.

At the same time, the action in group B gets underway as last year’s beaten finalists Colmcille face Carrickedmond in Devine Park.

No doubt Carrickedmond will looking to avenge the outcome of last year’s championship result. What a way to start then against one of this year’s favourites.

Jack Macken and Barry McKeon aim to star for Colmcille. Macken’s ability to dominate in centre-field is a key driver in the Colmcille side. Can they recapture last year’s form and go one better this time to emulate the class of 2022?

The final game on opening night is the second group B meeting of Longford Slashers and Clonguish in Emmet Park. Clonguish where close in 2023, while, 2024 was a disappointment to many, bowing out at the quarter-final stage after defeat to Colmcille.

Whereas, Slashers failed to make the knock-out stages having finished bottom of group B. Moreover, the town side will look for a big improvement in 2025 as they enter the championship with the threat of relegation around their odds.

Are Mullinalaghta to old?

Saturday night, sees the second part of opening night with all three games underway at 7pm. Group B wraps up round one when Mullinalaghta face Rathcline.

Mullinalaghta are an aging team, but a fast start is required as they look to make it back to the business end of the Longford championship.

There are two games in group A, Dromard open their campaign against Mostrim. This should be a win for Dromard. The Edgeworthstown side are a good gain bunch. However, Dromard have more in the forward line.

Whereas, Killoe meet Granard. Granard are a tough team, who know how to dig in and fight. Killoe on the other had will see themselves as one of the favourites for the championship.

With county players and experience, throughout another semi-final should be Killoe’s aim at least for 2025.

An ageing championship?

Frankie Dolan caused a stir last year, when stating Longford football is in its worst place for 20-years.

The Abbeylara boss explaining; “Looking at a lot of clubs they seem to be struggling a lot with numbers. I’ve seen a lot of older lads playing in their first teams”.

Dolan has some credence judging by the performance of the county senior team. The side have recorded just seven Allianz league wins in the last three years.

Whereas, just two wins were recorded in 2025, meaning only six wins in the last two years in division four.

Even allowing for the Leinster minor football championship win in 2024, these players are still a couple of years away from a senior team breakthrough. The younger under-17 grade delaying their delivery to the Longford senior grade further.

Dolan himself has had a busy first six months of the year as part of Oisin McConville’s Wicklow backroom team. Especially, with Wicklow running all the way to a Tailteann Cup semi-final. With Dolan experienced in coaching the new rules, the impact to the Abbeylara side early on should be interesting.

However, one side with youth on their side is Clonguish with Jack Duggan and Michael Flynn who will be looking to build on their 2023 final defeat to Killoe.

The one point quarter-final defeat to Colmcille last year will no doubt leave a sour taste in the mouth of the experienced management pair of Liam Belton and John Twaddle.

Can they use the hurt of 2023 and 24 to lift the Connolly Cup in 2025? Many pundits have tipped Clonguish for the win.

An interesting history

First held in 1890 when St Columbkille's (Colmcille) had a one goal to four point win over Rathcline John Martins. Indeed, it would take another 14 years for a second Longford champions to be crowned.

Surprisingly, it would not be until 1927 that a consistent run on the championships took place. While the 1891 championship was not completed, there was no championship until 1904.

That year Longford Leo Caseys would beat Killoe Young Emmets. The first back-to-back winner followed in 1905 as Longford Leo Caseys this time saw off Edgeworthstown Volunteers.

Edition five had to wait a year, Killoe landing their first title in 1907. Following this was a three year gap. KIlloe again claiming the title in 1911.

In fact Killoe claimed the title in 1913 & 15, alas there was no championship in 1912 or 14. Another three year absence would see no championship in 1916, 17 and 18.

The championship returned in 1919 with Killoe runner’s up this time to Clonbroney, while two different teams contested the 1920 final as Ballinamuck’98s beat Longford Wanderers.

Then followed the final six-year stoppage. The next championship taking place in 1927! Of the first 38-years Longford championships, just 10 have a winner beside that year!

An interrupted start

Since 1927, the championship has been held each year, surviving World War II, Covid-19 and foot and mouth. In those 97-years 13 clubs have raised the championship.

Longford Slashers the most successful with 16-wins followed by Fr. Manning Gaels with 15.

Killoe Young Emmets stand with 14 titles in third place. The only club from the orginal 38-years to still survive. Yet it would be 1960 when killoe followed-up that 1915 win, some 45-years later.

Killoe would wait another 28-years for their next win in 1988. Wins in 1993 and 95 were followed by a victory in 2012. In the 12-years since, Killoe have landed five more wins.

2025 Longford Senior Football Championship

Follow @shannonsidefm