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Longford GAA thread

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Replying To LongfordEye:  "You must have a crystal ball! If you were a betting man you'd have made a few pound. I think Colmcille and Mullinalaghta will rightly be the favorites for the two semi finals but I expect both games to be very competitive. Dromard beat Killoe by 5 points and have lots of improvement to do to challenge Mullinalaghta but they have the players to do damage and they've been stingy in defence all year.
Mullinalaghta I'd expect will continue to improve and know how to win semi finals. They'll look to blitz Dromard early and midfield will really tell a tale in this game as both keepers like to go long with the kickouts.
Slashers looked great at the wknd but Rathcline proved they're not at this level yet. Very naive defending. To concede 6 goals in the knockout stages is criminal defending. Colmcille should be tighter but they themselves looked open against Mostrim in the first half to concede goals. Although they defended far more resolutely in the second half. Barry McKeown is a massive loss if he is injured. Will need another outstanding performance from young Macken on the frees.
I predict Colmcille by 3 points.
Dromard and Mullinalaghta draw and Dromard to win on penos for the shock of the championship."
Just like Macken, Slashers need the same performance out of O'Brien at full forward. Not sure Enda Macken will allow him to do that much damage though.

honda15 (Longford) - Posts: 94 - 19/09/2022 14:55:38    2441215

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Replying To honda15:  "Just like Macken, Slashers need the same performance out of O'Brien at full forward. Not sure Enda Macken will allow him to do that much damage though."
Yeah for sure. I was surprised by Daire O' Briens performance though. He didn't show as that much of a threat in the group stages, albeit he's a powerful player and will need watching on the square. Macken has been consistently good for Colmcille throughout the year. It'll be an interesting game and should be a tight one.

LongfordEye (Longford) - Posts: 8 - 19/09/2022 15:57:11    2441230

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Replying To LongfordEye:  "Yeah for sure. I was surprised by Daire O' Briens performance though. He didn't show as that much of a threat in the group stages, albeit he's a powerful player and will need watching on the square. Macken has been consistently good for Colmcille throughout the year. It'll be an interesting game and should be a tight one."
Slashers have proven to be a championship team and i am not sure about colmcille, especially if Barry McKeon is gone.

honda15 (Longford) - Posts: 94 - 19/09/2022 16:10:33    2441233

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Replying To LongfordEye:  "Yeah for sure. I was surprised by Daire O' Briens performance though. He didn't show as that much of a threat in the group stages, albeit he's a powerful player and will need watching on the square. Macken has been consistently good for Colmcille throughout the year. It'll be an interesting game and should be a tight one."
Macken has been plagued with injury all year and is only now starting the last couple of games again?!?

slasher9 (Longford) - Posts: 252 - 19/09/2022 17:36:43    2441250

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I see where you are coming from but this current Slashers team have no championships, the same as Colmcille. Only a handful of players on both sides have a championship medal, Noel Farrell, Declan Reilly, Podgie Murtagh for Colmcille. Dermot Brady, Barry Gilleran and maybe Andy Dalton and Conor Clarke. I'm not fully sure. Both teams have to prove themselves yet, neither team will be fully respected until they win a championship. The same goes for Dromard, only Frankie McGee, Jamesie Martin and the Bull Masterson have medals. Mullinalaghta the only proven championship team left.

LongfordEye (Longford) - Posts: 8 - 19/09/2022 18:23:42    2441254

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Replying To slasher9:  "Macken has been plagued with injury all year and is only now starting the last couple of games again?!?"
Macken has had injury issues but he's still played in lots of games for Colmcille this year. I seen him in a few league games and he's been excellent in all the games I've attended.

LongfordEye (Longford) - Posts: 8 - 20/09/2022 12:26:12    2441286

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Replying To LongfordEye:  "Macken has had injury issues but he's still played in lots of games for Colmcille this year. I seen him in a few league games and he's been excellent in all the games I've attended."
The Hourican lad that played full back instead of him for a lot of the championship didn't play at all Sunday. Good footballer too. Don't know what the story with him is?

GAALONGFORD (Longford) - Posts: 34 - 20/09/2022 14:28:00    2441315

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Replying To GAALONGFORD:  "The Hourican lad that played full back instead of him for a lot of the championship didn't play at all Sunday. Good footballer too. Don't know what the story with him is?"
Must be injured. Was down to start but played no role.
Word that Barry McKeon is ok to play Sunday.

honda15 (Longford) - Posts: 94 - 20/09/2022 14:36:16    2441319

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Some great games at the weekend. Abbeylara couldn't quite do it but had their chances. Mullinalaghta showing that they still have it. The three unanswered points after the Abbeylara goal showed their metal. Extremely disappointing for Killoe. Never looked in it and the black card was a big blow. Dromard deserved their win.
Looks to me like these two great teams are on a downward trajectory after some great years. Who knows there might be another few years left in either team yet. Still very proud of what this crop of Killoe players achieved and they can hold their heads high as one of the best teams, if not the best ever, from our parish.
Colmcille will be glad to get a chance to improve. Hard one to predict in the semi v Slashers. Could go either way as Rathcline weren't really at the races.
Interesting semis coming up.

Rhyne_Stonecowboy (Longford) - Posts: 52 - 21/09/2022 16:18:51    2441452

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I don't care who wins it now as long as Killoe didn't win it. Slashers no chance. Mullinalagtha to beat Dromard in a tight game. Mullinalagtha to win the county final.

Ward30 (Longford) - Posts: 49 - 22/09/2022 11:40:22    2441532

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Replying To Keeper7+:  "Cashel, Naomh Ciaran (Rathcline) & Bunlahy also fielded in senior hurling championship in the 1980/90s, I believe?

I'm looking at the hurling developments in other counties like Donegal, Sligo, Mayo & Fermanagh where club numbers have greatly increased and comparing to a non-existent plan in Longford. If there are existing successful amalgamations for football, why not use these to platform dual codes?"
When SHC restarted in 1982 for the first time since the 1930's, the revived championship involved Slashers Gaels, Wolfe Tones, Naomh Ciaran and a team called United Gaels (I don't know who that is). The following year United Gaels were gone and by 1984 the Bunlahy hurling club had formed. By the 1990's Bunlahy and Naomh Ciaran were gone and Ballymahon Gaels had formed. An amalgamation of players from Cashel and Ballymahon played as Cashel/Ballymahon in SHC during the 1990's before the Cashel element fell away later with Ballymahon Gaels competing towards the end of the decade. I don't believe Cashel ever played SHC on their own but I am happy to be corrected if anyone knows for sure. Clonguish Gaels was formed in 1998, and three years later Ballymahon Gaels folded. So the 1980's was mostly 4 clubs, the 1990's mostly 3 clubs and the time since 2002 has been exclusively 3 clubs. That covers a large 40 year time-frame. Doesn't say the future can't be different, but shows how big the challenge is when you consider all the different initiatives attempted over those 40 years. The CB doesn't have the talent or motivation to find a new way, and most clubs don't have the resources (trainers or players) nowadays to branch out - most are trying to keep their football clubs ticking over. Fair play to the clubs who make it work, they are the exception and have my praise and admiration.

LongfordgaaAbú (Longford) - Posts: 586 - 22/09/2022 20:13:40    2441588

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Replying To LongfordgaaAbú:  "When SHC restarted in 1982 for the first time since the 1930's, the revived championship involved Slashers Gaels, Wolfe Tones, Naomh Ciaran and a team called United Gaels (I don't know who that is). The following year United Gaels were gone and by 1984 the Bunlahy hurling club had formed. By the 1990's Bunlahy and Naomh Ciaran were gone and Ballymahon Gaels had formed. An amalgamation of players from Cashel and Ballymahon played as Cashel/Ballymahon in SHC during the 1990's before the Cashel element fell away later with Ballymahon Gaels competing towards the end of the decade. I don't believe Cashel ever played SHC on their own but I am happy to be corrected if anyone knows for sure. Clonguish Gaels was formed in 1998, and three years later Ballymahon Gaels folded. So the 1980's was mostly 4 clubs, the 1990's mostly 3 clubs and the time since 2002 has been exclusively 3 clubs. That covers a large 40 year time-frame. Doesn't say the future can't be different, but shows how big the challenge is when you consider all the different initiatives attempted over those 40 years. The CB doesn't have the talent or motivation to find a new way, and most clubs don't have the resources (trainers or players) nowadays to branch out - most are trying to keep their football clubs ticking over. Fair play to the clubs who make it work, they are the exception and have my praise and admiration."
Would eleven or twelve a-side teams solve the hurling problem ?

dbpcmi (Westmeath) - Posts: 66 - 22/09/2022 21:29:24    2441595

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Replying To LongfordgaaAbú:  "When SHC restarted in 1982 for the first time since the 1930's, the revived championship involved Slashers Gaels, Wolfe Tones, Naomh Ciaran and a team called United Gaels (I don't know who that is). The following year United Gaels were gone and by 1984 the Bunlahy hurling club had formed. By the 1990's Bunlahy and Naomh Ciaran were gone and Ballymahon Gaels had formed. An amalgamation of players from Cashel and Ballymahon played as Cashel/Ballymahon in SHC during the 1990's before the Cashel element fell away later with Ballymahon Gaels competing towards the end of the decade. I don't believe Cashel ever played SHC on their own but I am happy to be corrected if anyone knows for sure. Clonguish Gaels was formed in 1998, and three years later Ballymahon Gaels folded. So the 1980's was mostly 4 clubs, the 1990's mostly 3 clubs and the time since 2002 has been exclusively 3 clubs. That covers a large 40 year time-frame. Doesn't say the future can't be different, but shows how big the challenge is when you consider all the different initiatives attempted over those 40 years. The CB doesn't have the talent or motivation to find a new way, and most clubs don't have the resources (trainers or players) nowadays to branch out - most are trying to keep their football clubs ticking over. Fair play to the clubs who make it work, they are the exception and have my praise and admiration."
Clonguish Gaels were formed before 1998 i played against them underage 1992 upwards i came in from Roscommon Gaels to play challenges

Ward30 (Longford) - Posts: 49 - 23/09/2022 10:03:36    2441615

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Clonguish hurling started underage in 1990. Like the football club it was known then as Lough Forbes Gaels. When another poster claims most clubs don't have the resources or players to branch out I can safely say Clonguish are not blessed with massive numbers in comparison to neighbouring clubs and already pointed out that Edgeworthstown underage football is amalgamated with Clonbroney and they only field one adult football team yet still manage to hurl. Call it as it is, the will is not there.

liosbreac6265 (Longford) - Posts: 255 - 23/09/2022 10:44:43    2441623

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How do we feel the games today will go? Drumlish should have too much for Kenagh. Good achievement to reach the semi for Kenagh and have some dangerous forwards. Keelan McGann could do damage but not enough support acts. Shane Doyle will need a big game if they are to get a result.

I think Dromard could spring a shock, they've been the dark horses this year and they could have the legs on Mullinalaghta if they can keep the width. Should be a good game. Be interesting to see if Mullinalaghta can lift their game from the last day. That's what great teams do and Mullinalaghta are all that.

LongfordEye (Longford) - Posts: 8 - 24/09/2022 12:48:14    2441700

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Replying To liosbreac6265:  "Clonguish hurling started underage in 1990. Like the football club it was known then as Lough Forbes Gaels. When another poster claims most clubs don't have the resources or players to branch out I can safely say Clonguish are not blessed with massive numbers in comparison to neighbouring clubs and already pointed out that Edgeworthstown underage football is amalgamated with Clonbroney and they only field one adult football team yet still manage to hurl. Call it as it is, the will is not there."
I am referring solely to senior clubs and SHC in my assessment. Underage hurling has been going on in Longford since the 1970's if not before. The Clonguish Gaels senior hurling club (as opposed to the Lough Forbes Gaels underage hurling club) was formed in 1998, on 20th July 1998 to be precise. Clearly three clubs are able to do it, but my point is that over 40 years (there was little or no senior hurling in Longford prior to that) the count has never gone above 3-4 clubs. If the issue was mere will, the numbers would have grown in the 4 decades since due to various national efforts to grow the game in smaller counties. It hasn't. We have had the same 3 clubs now for 20 years for example. So it is more than will.

LongfordgaaAbú (Longford) - Posts: 586 - 24/09/2022 17:14:27    2441727

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Have to hand it to Mullinalaghta. 6th county final in 8 years. A masterclass in how to control and see out a game. Poor enough football at times, but when you are in a county final you don't care about that.

LongfordgaaAbú (Longford) - Posts: 586 - 24/09/2022 19:28:25    2441743

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Replying To LongfordgaaAbú:  "Have to hand it to Mullinalaghta. 6th county final in 8 years. A masterclass in how to control and see out a game. Poor enough football at times, but when you are in a county final you don't care about that."
Dromard are so poor and the line hasn't a clue when they couldn't win their own KO in the first half. Like do they not work on these things in training. Frankie was excellent to be fair

williesboy (Leitrim) - Posts: 450 - 24/09/2022 19:35:28    2441747

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Replying To williesboy:  "Dromard are so poor and the line hasn't a clue when they couldn't win their own KO in the first half. Like do they not work on these things in training. Frankie was excellent to be fair"
Dromard were very poor around the middle to be fair. Should have tried more short kickouts. The fact they were still in that game in the second half is a miracle considering how dominant Mullinalaghta were at midfield. And they could've been closer only for a penalty to be changed to a free and a goal shot cleared off the line. Thought Dromard should've pushed Bull Masterson further out the field too when they needed more power in the middle. Himself and McGee were very good. Mullinalaghta are a team that knows how to control a game though and James McGivneys shooting was sublime this evening. It's hard to see them losing in the final with the experience and smarts that they have.

LongfordEye (Longford) - Posts: 8 - 24/09/2022 21:03:21    2441753

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Replying To LongfordgaaAbú:  "Have to hand it to Mullinalaghta. 6th county final in 8 years. A masterclass in how to control and see out a game. Poor enough football at times, but when you are in a county final you don't care about that."
Your always getting digs in at mullinlaghtas standard of football. They are the standard in longford!! shooting yesterday was off but there ball winning and control of the game was sublime! That was a dromard team that wiped killoe off the pitch and mullinlaghta were in cruise control yesterday

slasher9 (Longford) - Posts: 252 - 25/09/2022 12:22:13    2441778

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