National Forum

Longford GAA thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To Notrainingpitch:  "What are the theories about Shane Mulligan?"
See the post above mine.

TurnipAyter (Longford) - Posts: 161 - 10/10/2022 15:49:57    2443427

Link

Replying To LongfordgaaAbú:  "Given how successful this crop of Mullinalaghta players has been over the years in winning 5 Championships and 5 Leader Cups in 7 years (including a 3-in-a-row), and of course the Leinster Club title, they must be the best club team the county has ever produced. I agree a poster above that we are at or near the end of their purple patch, but their ability to grind out so much success using the same group of players over the past decade, has been remarkable. I've seen some very good club sides including the Gaels in late 90's, Slashers in early 90's and I grew up hearing about the great Clonguish team of the 1960's, but the quality of football nowadays is completely different and more demanding. For my money, this Mullinalaghta team was the best club side the county ever produced. So if this is the end of the road, boy have they had some epic run!"
Mullinalaghta are a serious outfit for sure. Impossible to judge teams from different eras especially with how football has changed in the last 10/15 years or so. But they are definitely the best team in this era or style of play.
I think a sign of a great Longford club team are the ones who can compete well in Leinster. The Killoe team from a few years ago showed this as did Drumlish in the late 90s. Mullinalaghtas Leinster title won't be equalled for a long long time if ever. Unfortunately the great teams from the 1960s back couldn't compete in it so obviously they can't be judged on that.
Lots of brilliant teams down the years that nobody here ever saw play. Granard won 3 in a row twice, the 3 consecutive title being the holy grail for most teams. The older local men would say that Drumlish had serious teams in the 30s and the 40s. And what about the great Killoe teams from the early 1900s that beat all before them holding the title for longer than any other team.
And that's not even taking the Clonguish and Granard teams of the 60s into consideration

Rhyne_Stonecowboy (Longford) - Posts: 52 - 10/10/2022 17:22:49    2443459

Link

Replying To TurnipAyter:  "See the post above mine."
It's hardly that controversial a "theory" to say that a team may be lacking in squad depth if they take off a 37 year old player, and then bring him back on as their next and only substitution?

That's not a slight on Mullinalaghta, they've been superb the last 6-8 years, and as another poster above said they're probably the best ever Longford team.

iluvspuds (Longford) - Posts: 160 - 10/10/2022 18:26:03    2443471

Link

Replying To LongfordgaaAbú:  "Given how successful this crop of Mullinalaghta players has been over the years in winning 5 Championships and 5 Leader Cups in 7 years (including a 3-in-a-row), and of course the Leinster Club title, they must be the best club team the county has ever produced. I agree a poster above that we are at or near the end of their purple patch, but their ability to grind out so much success using the same group of players over the past decade, has been remarkable. I've seen some very good club sides including the Gaels in late 90's, Slashers in early 90's and I grew up hearing about the great Clonguish team of the 1960's, but the quality of football nowadays is completely different and more demanding. For my money, this Mullinalaghta team was the best club side the county ever produced. So if this is the end of the road, boy have they had some epic run!"
I think the Clonguish team of the 60s were the best football team produced in Longford. Winning 4 in a row and 6 in 8 years when straight knock out football was played is hard beat. No Leinster club back then either for that golden generation. Slashers of the early 90s and ourselves in the late 90s also when knock out football was played.

Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1346 - 10/10/2022 19:00:30    2443477

Link

Replying To TurnipAyter:  "Good to see, Spinx, that your hatred and resentment of Mullinalaghta is as undimmed as ever. I actually felt sorry for FMG yesterday watching them lose the way they did but having read that all I'll say is - well done Ballymahon and serve Spinx another pint of vinegar.

The theories about Shane Mulligan are wrong but I'll leave it at that. Colmcille were more efficient at converting their chances than we were and we probably needed to be further ahead at half-time despite the conditions. It's easy to say that you should kill off a team - and there have been games like Blessington last year or Mostrim this year where it was true - but it was always likely to be tight against a team as strong and as determined as Colmcille. The end was a sickener but some days you're lucky and some days you aren't and yesterday was one of the latter. Best of luck to Colmcille and enjoy the experience."
Hatred and resentment? Please elaborate! Just stating facts.

Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1346 - 10/10/2022 19:02:54    2443479

Link

Replying To LongfordgaaAbú:  "Given how successful this crop of Mullinalaghta players has been over the years in winning 5 Championships and 5 Leader Cups in 7 years (including a 3-in-a-row), and of course the Leinster Club title, they must be the best club team the county has ever produced. I agree a poster above that we are at or near the end of their purple patch, but their ability to grind out so much success using the same group of players over the past decade, has been remarkable. I've seen some very good club sides including the Gaels in late 90's, Slashers in early 90's and I grew up hearing about the great Clonguish team of the 1960's, but the quality of football nowadays is completely different and more demanding. For my money, this Mullinalaghta team was the best club side the county ever produced. So if this is the end of the road, boy have they had some epic run!"
Great team but not sure about best ever. Been at club games since late 79s and personally I think the late 90s Drumlish side were better and that slashers team with Dessie that won 3 in a row were physically very strong. From what I remember Longford champions really didn't take the Leinster club seriously until Drumlish reached the semi final, it was all about winning the Connolly cup. Hard to judge club football in Longford the last few years for instance Killoe won 2 titles with a side that would have been devoured by the Killoe side of late 80s early 90s.
Clonguish mid sixties musta been one hell of a team considering Longford was at the pinnacle of the intercounty game those days.

catchturnscore (Longford) - Posts: 151 - 10/10/2022 20:03:43    2443485

Link

Replying To Rhyne_Stonecowboy:  "Mullinalaghta are a serious outfit for sure. Impossible to judge teams from different eras especially with how football has changed in the last 10/15 years or so. But they are definitely the best team in this era or style of play.
I think a sign of a great Longford club team are the ones who can compete well in Leinster. The Killoe team from a few years ago showed this as did Drumlish in the late 90s. Mullinalaghtas Leinster title won't be equalled for a long long time if ever. Unfortunately the great teams from the 1960s back couldn't compete in it so obviously they can't be judged on that.
Lots of brilliant teams down the years that nobody here ever saw play. Granard won 3 in a row twice, the 3 consecutive title being the holy grail for most teams. The older local men would say that Drumlish had serious teams in the 30s and the 40s. And what about the great Killoe teams from the early 1900s that beat all before them holding the title for longer than any other team.
And that's not even taking the Clonguish and Granard teams of the 60s into consideration"
I agree with this. Comparing teams from different eras is futile. However Clonguish are the only team to do 4 in a row, so that must be respected. They of course never got the chance to compete in Leinster but they did play in many prestigious tournaments and won them against other county champions. This Mullinalaghta outfit have to be heralded as the greatest of the modern era though considering what they have won. I do not think they have the class individuals of the Slashers 90s team, Gaels 90s team or Clonguish 00s team but as a team they have been a phenomenon. They are not finished yet either

liosbreac6265 (Longford) - Posts: 255 - 10/10/2022 20:30:03    2443492

Link

Replying To iluvspuds:  "It's hardly that controversial a "theory" to say that a team may be lacking in squad depth if they take off a 37 year old player, and then bring him back on as their next and only substitution?

That's not a slight on Mullinalaghta, they've been superb the last 6-8 years, and as another poster above said they're probably the best ever Longford team."
It's true to say we don't have a big squad but squad depth or the lack of same was not the reason why Shane Mulligan came back on.

TurnipAyter (Longford) - Posts: 161 - 11/10/2022 17:56:52    2443616

Link

Replying To TurnipAyter:  "It's true to say we don't have a big squad but squad depth or the lack of same was not the reason why Shane Mulligan came back on."
Why else would you bring back on a player you took off if you don't have any trust in your bench?

Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1346 - 11/10/2022 20:55:51    2443647

Link

If you bring someone back on who's been blood-subbed does that indicate a lack of confidence in the rest of the squad?

TurnipAyter (Longford) - Posts: 161 - 12/10/2022 13:05:55    2443731

Link

Replying To TurnipAyter:  "If you bring someone back on who's been blood-subbed does that indicate a lack of confidence in the rest of the squad?"
So one sub was made then with a bench of about 15.
Yes, that does tell me they had no faith in their bench.

Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1346 - 12/10/2022 13:25:09    2443734

Link

Replying To Spinx:  "So one sub was made then with a bench of about 15.
Yes, that does tell me they had no faith in their bench."
Once the substitution had been made it was clear that he would be brought back on at the first break in play. Nothing to do with numbers or confidence in the rest of the squad.

Now toddle off, you bitter little pill. I have spent enough time on you.

TurnipAyter (Longford) - Posts: 161 - 12/10/2022 14:13:27    2443743

Link

Replying To catchturnscore:  "Great team but not sure about best ever. Been at club games since late 79s and personally I think the late 90s Drumlish side were better and that slashers team with Dessie that won 3 in a row were physically very strong. From what I remember Longford champions really didn't take the Leinster club seriously until Drumlish reached the semi final, it was all about winning the Connolly cup. Hard to judge club football in Longford the last few years for instance Killoe won 2 titles with a side that would have been devoured by the Killoe side of late 80s early 90s.
Clonguish mid sixties musta been one hell of a team considering Longford was at the pinnacle of the intercounty game those days."
From what I can see online, Clonguish played 3 games in Leinster club in 1973, reaching the semi-final before losing to Cooley Kickhams (first Longford club to reach the semi). Wouldn't be as good a run again until the Gaels in 1998 who were beaten by Eire Óg of Carlow (the point that was/wasn't) in the semi-final. Clonguish had the next great run in 2003, getting to the semi-final against St. Brigids of Dublin. Killoe were next in 2012, losing to Portlaoise in the semi-final. Killoe then had another good run in 2015, losing again to Portlaoise in the semi-final. And then Mullinalaghta with a great run in 2016, losing the semi-final to St. Vincents before pushing on to win the title in 2018. Those are our most successful runs in Leinster. From 1979 to 1996, Longford clubs won just two games in Leinster, which was pretty abysmal. The past decade has been a real treat by comparison. Colmcille has never won a game in Leinster, so a bit of history at stake for them.

LongfordgaaAbú (Longford) - Posts: 582 - 12/10/2022 14:22:45    2443749

Link

Replying To TurnipAyter:  "If you bring someone back on who's been blood-subbed does that indicate a lack of confidence in the rest of the squad?"
Not wanting to get into the middle of a friendly spat but I am very surprised Shane Mulligan went off as a blood sub. Having actually seen him limping around for about 5 minutes including moving into the full forward line to apparently run it off before finally being substituted, there was no time where he was treated for a blood injury on the field at all. When he left the field, it was announced as a substitution, the referee didn't make the blood sub signal and when he returned he replaced a different player meaning the temporary sub stayed on the field. It was all very unbloodsublike!

GAALONGFORD (Longford) - Posts: 34 - 12/10/2022 14:40:54    2443752

Link

Replying To GAALONGFORD:  "Not wanting to get into the middle of a friendly spat but I am very surprised Shane Mulligan went off as a blood sub. Having actually seen him limping around for about 5 minutes including moving into the full forward line to apparently run it off before finally being substituted, there was no time where he was treated for a blood injury on the field at all. When he left the field, it was announced as a substitution, the referee didn't make the blood sub signal and when he returned he replaced a different player meaning the temporary sub stayed on the field. It was all very unbloodsublike!"
That's just Turnip head making up stories! The fact of the matter is and as blind as he may be, Mullinalaghta just had no faith in their bench. This was also shown in previous games with the lack of subs made.

Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1346 - 12/10/2022 16:01:32    2443763

Link

Replying To TurnipAyter:  "Once the substitution had been made it was clear that he would be brought back on at the first break in play. Nothing to do with numbers or confidence in the rest of the squad.

Now toddle off, you bitter little pill. I have spent enough time on you."
I'm sorry for upsetting you with bare faced facts.

Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1346 - 12/10/2022 16:03:00    2443764

Link

Replying To LongfordgaaAbú:  "From what I can see online, Clonguish played 3 games in Leinster club in 1973, reaching the semi-final before losing to Cooley Kickhams (first Longford club to reach the semi). Wouldn't be as good a run again until the Gaels in 1998 who were beaten by Eire Óg of Carlow (the point that was/wasn't) in the semi-final. Clonguish had the next great run in 2003, getting to the semi-final against St. Brigids of Dublin. Killoe were next in 2012, losing to Portlaoise in the semi-final. Killoe then had another good run in 2015, losing again to Portlaoise in the semi-final. And then Mullinalaghta with a great run in 2016, losing the semi-final to St. Vincents before pushing on to win the title in 2018. Those are our most successful runs in Leinster. From 1979 to 1996, Longford clubs won just two games in Leinster, which was pretty abysmal. The past decade has been a real treat by comparison. Colmcille has never won a game in Leinster, so a bit of history at stake for them."
Good summary! That stat of 2 games won in 18 years is pretty abysmal alright.

I was at the semi final in 98 as a kid and knew it was close but can't remember any controversy. Did FMG have a point waved wide? Or Éire Óg awarded a phantom point?

iluvspuds (Longford) - Posts: 160 - 12/10/2022 16:06:02    2443765

Link

Replying To iluvspuds:  "Good summary! That stat of 2 games won in 18 years is pretty abysmal alright.

I was at the semi final in 98 as a kid and knew it was close but can't remember any controversy. Did FMG have a point waved wide? Or Éire Óg awarded a phantom point?"
Both if I remember correctly. Éire Óg won by a point where the correct margin should have been the opposite way.

TurnipAyter (Longford) - Posts: 161 - 12/10/2022 16:40:39    2443769

Link

Replying To TurnipAyter:  "Both if I remember correctly. Éire Óg won by a point where the correct margin should have been the opposite way."
Indeed. A score from the Gaels was disallowed which most reckoned was over the bar, and an Eire Óg point was given near the end that seemed to be wide (I think a clip on RTE News that evening seemed to show it being wide).

LongfordgaaAbú (Longford) - Posts: 582 - 12/10/2022 20:06:59    2443790

Link

Replying To LongfordgaaAbú:  "Indeed. A score from the Gaels was disallowed which most reckoned was over the bar, and an Eire Óg point was given near the end that seemed to be wide (I think a clip on RTE News that evening seemed to show it being wide)."
Still a very sore point out that way. Understandable too. Small clubs like all clubs in Longford likely only get once chance at something like that. Drumlish so close, ourselves in 03 - lots of ifs buts and maybes there too and Killoe as well. Mullinalaghta got their chance and took it. The more I think about it the better the achievement gets

liosbreac6265 (Longford) - Posts: 255 - 13/10/2022 09:34:41    2443799

Link