Longford Football (& Hurling) Thread

[Shamrock Shore]

Congrats to Clonguish.

On a separate, but serious, matter what's this I hear about part of the 'new' stand in Pearse Park has been deemed unsafe and has to be knocked. Allegedly

Serious flaws in its original construction (8-10 years ago??) have been discovered with inadequate foundations having been laid. Cracks seems to be appearing as the stand begins, Venice-like, to sink into the mud.

On top of the 'Centre of Excellence' debacle out in Killashee is there no end to the messing?
How much will it cost to fix this??

[Spinx]

Yeah the corner seated area was taped off during the championship. Also heard that cracks appeared in the seating area, behind the stand and in the ceiling of the toilets underneath. Haven't heard that it has to be knocked but there's probably no other option.

[The Insider]

If you  look back , all the work that was done to host the Dublin game in 2006 is bit by bit having to be redone . Money that could be spent improving development squads and been invested in a training center is being spent on firefighting problems that are occurring with the work done to host that damn game . Would have been better for all despite how close we came to defeating Dublin if that game never took place in Pearse Park . Pitch has been done twice , half main terrace has been replaced to date .The other half will be done to match when funds become available . Mc Donald's end closed to spectators for 2 years due to "Safety concerns" although as far as I know not due to shoddy work as similar gravel/earth banks are no longer allowed . Same reason as Pairc Tailteann capacity was cut .  The terrace behind the Town End goals also is being monitored and may also have to be replaced in the future . 
All "County Grounds " should be taken in charge by Croke Park to ensure proper building and design standards are adhered to and alleviate funding issues which influence decisions taken by County Boards when trying to make decisions on how to fund ground improvements , which leave them in serious debt . Look at the stand in Cusack park Mullingar  would 300 be under cover ? they plan to replace the whole lot after 20 odd years , The works in Tullamore leaving Offaly in serious debt , Drogheda , Navan . The list is endless

[LaurelEye]

Championship draws next Tuesday.

For the first time in at least 30 years, Longford no longer have 24 adult clubs with the demise of first Forgney and now Shroid Slashers in the space of a couple of months due to lack of player numbers. (I don't think I can remember the last time a club in Longford disbanded or suspended itself - we briefly went out of existence in the mid 50s - although I can remember Grattans reforming in the late 70s/early 80s.)

[The Insider]

In the long term ,another club is also going to struggle . I expect Moydow will also struggle because of lack of an underage structure . All the young players in the parish are now tending to play with St Patrick's Og and them move onto St Patrick's at adult level .

[LaurelEye]

In the long term ,another club is also going to struggle . I expect Moydow will also struggle because of lack of an underage structure . All the young players in the parish are now tending to play with St Patrick's Og and them move onto St Patrick's at adult level .

As a club with almost exactly the same population size as Moydow, this is not very comforting.

[The Insider]

Apparently there maybe still life in Shroid . It's  thought that there might have been a full meeting of all club members held before a the decision  to withdraw from all competitions  was taken . Some members  of the club are willing to give it another go . This matter will be on the agenda for Tuesday  nights meeting . There will/should be  an update on the current  situation regarding  the ongoing saga with stands in Pearse Park and the Carriglass project . The Carriglass project will have to be reviewed in light of Forgney and Shroid possibly  folding. This would leave 2 pitches idle , with some small investment  along with Cullyfad could be utilised for training centers as you would be talking in the regiom of €3 million for Carriglass . Carriglass  could be achievable  if it wasn't  for the possible repair bill for Pearse Park which will be beyond the resources  of Longford GAA .

[LaurelEye]

Well, I suppose it's that time of year again...

Wash, rinse, repeat...

Senior Championship first round:

Killoe 1-15 Mostrim 0-6
Dromard 0-16 Fr Manning Gaels 1-6
Carrickedmond 0-7 Colmcille 0-9
Granard 4-9 Clonguish 1-14
Abbeylara 3-12 Ballymahon 1-11
Longford Slashers 1-4 Mullinalaghta 0-14

Current odds:

	Ladbrokes	Paddy Power	BoyleSports
Killoe	10/11	4/5	13/8
Longford Slashers	9/2	6/1	10/3
Clonguish	11/2	15/2	5/1
Dromard	6/1	6/1	6/1
Mullinalaghta	8/1	8/1	8/1
Colmcille	11/1	11/1	12/1
Abbeylara	14/1	12/1	14/1
Fr Manning Gaels	40/1	28/1	33/1
Mostrim	33/1	33/1	50/1
Granard	33/1	25/1	66/1
Carrickedmond	66/1	50/1	33/1
Ballymahon	66/1	50/1	66/1

Those are very generous odds on Abbey. They may not be pretty to look at but they're effective at stopping the other team from playing.

Next week:

Longford Slashers v Killoe
Mullinalaghta v Carrickedmond
Dromard v Ballymahon
Colmcille v Fr Manning Gaels
Mostrim v Clonguish
Granard v Abbeylara

[The Insider]

 What are the odds on the next manager of the senior county team. An element of the executive pushing hard for Dennis Connerton ,openly canvassing for him at last weekend s games . Don't think there is any support to reappoint Jack ,the trainer or the medic . I'm told it will  be up for discussion tonight at executive meeting

[LaurelEye]

I suppose Denis's time with Slashers might be limited at this stage  .

I'm just amazed that the penny might finally have dropped with regard to Sheedy. I was resigned to him being there for another year.

Update: ....aaaand Jack falls on his butter-knife.

[LaurelEye]

Senior Championship second round:

Granard 2-6 Abbeylara 0-12
Mostrim 0-6 Clonguish 2-15
Fr Manning Gaels 0-7 Colmcille 1-14
Longford Slashers 2-8 Killoe 0-11
Dromard 3-15 Ballymahon 1-8
Mullinalaghta 0-10 Carrickedmond 0-8

Current odds:

	Ladbrokes	Paddy Power	BoyleSports
Killoe	8/11	8/11	8/11
Dromard	5/1	11/2	11/2
Mullinalaghta	7/1	6/1	11/2
Longford Slashers	15/2	7/1	7/1
Clonguish	9/1	8/1	9/1
Abbeylara	9/1	11/1	12/1
Colmcille	11/1	12/1	11/1
Granard	18/1	22/1	20/1
Fr Manning Gaels	40/1	28/1	40/1
Carrickedmond	50/1	66/1	40/1
Mostrim	50/1	50/1	66/1
Ballymahon	80/1	66/1	66/1

Still think those odds on Abbey are long.

[LaurelEye]

Abbeylara, Granard, Colmcille, Mullinalaghta and Dromard reach the quarter-finals.

Next round:

Dromard v Killoe
Longford Slashers v Mostrim
Ballymahon v Fr Manning Gaels
Carrickedmond v Clonguish
Abbeylara v Mullinalaghta
Granard v Colmcille

(all assuming that the county board don't need to redo the draw a third time)

[Shamrock Shore]

Hasn't been a good year for the draw for us.

But perhaps we'll get a win over the Slashers who seem to be struggling.

Perhaps they need a new batch of imports 

[LaurelEye]

They weren't obviously struggling yesterday in the rain in Ballinalee.

[mad tan]

Local Championship is shaping up well. However clubs should have a lot more games played at this time of the year. Maybe Clubs should play more league games without County players? As regards County manager Eugene McCormack was badly treated last time round. He took us to Leinster finals in both U/21 and Junior ok we lost both. I thought Sheehy would have him in his back room team but no. He deserves a chance now if not as No1 then part of the back room team as most of those in the frame have had the job already.