Longford GAA: Albert Cooney hits out at disgraceful abuse of referees

“2023 has been a very busy year for Longford GAA. Beginning with our opening game of the season in the O’Byrne Cup senior football tournament during the first week of January, we have presided over the managing and staging of somewhere in the region of 1000 games, from Go Games for all the kids of County Longford to all adult and inter-county competitions. 

“This is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the commitment of Longford GAA providing games for every single young person in our county, male and female.”

 Referees 

“Under the excellent management of Referee Co-ordinator Derek Nolan, we are very lucky to have a dedicated panel of referees, all of whom work very hard in conjunction with their umpires and linesmen, and Longford GAA thank each one of you very much. Without you there would be no games.

“Derek has worked very hard this year recruiting new entrants for training. He has had limited success, and this is disappointing. Some of the current panel are nearing retirement and we need people to replace them. We place this record every year, but it seems to fall on deaf ears. 

“We have a number of clubs who are not represented on the referees panel and have not been for some time. We need those clubs and all clubs to consider this issue seriously and assist with resolving the problem. It will reach a crisis point in the future.

“Last year in my address to the Convention, I spoke about referee abuse. I regret to have to say things have not improved in 2023. Some supporters and team mentors were disgraceful in their actions and comments. 

“It is difficult to manage a supporter in this situation, but there is no excuse for team mentors. They should lead by example and demonstrate good behaviour in front of their players.

“If they cannot act in a proper manner on the sideline, it is the duty of the respective club to confront this problem and deal with it efficiently. After all, we take great pride in our motto, “Give respect, Get respect”.  

“Not all clubs present this problem, but I have witnessed some serious incidents from certain clubs more than once this year. Once again, I plead with all clubs to assist with eliminating this problem.

County Scene  

“We had mixed fortunes on the Inter-county trail, commencing the season winning the O’Byrne Cup in January. This was a great start for the new manager of the senior football team, Paddy Christie and his management team, but we suffered a setback in the National League, securing 3 points only and relegation to division 4. 

“This was very disappointing for Longford supporters and an immediate return to Division 3 is the target for 2024. 

“We lost to Offaly in the first round of the Leinster championship by one point and exited the Tailteann Cup at the quarter-final stage, losing to Down. Hopefully we will have a much better campaign in 2024 and we wish Paddy and his management team the best of luck.

“The County Senior Hurling team had limited success in 2023. They exited the National Hurling League at the semi-final stage and won only two out of five games in the Lory Meagher Cup Championship. 

“Players available to play senior county hurling this year was restricted because of retirements etc. and made it difficult for manager Adrian Moran to put a strong panel together. 

“The coming season has started on a positive from this perspective as much greater numbers have made themselves available, and the same management team remains in place. 

“It was a similar story for the U20 and U17 Minor teams. Both teams trained very hard and gave huge commitment under managers Kieran Carey at U20 level and Tony Devlin at U17 level.  

“Both teams won a number of games and competed very well, but it was a disappointing season for all concerned. Kieran has been reappointed U-20 manager for the coming season. 

Enda McGahern,  manager of the successful U-16 Fr. Manning Cup winning team has been appointed manager of the U-17 Minor team for the coming season. 

“The U-16 team were deserving winners of the Fr. Manning Cup Competition, beating Leitrim in a dramatic one point win at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park. 

County Development Squad Programme

“Our County Development Squad programme continues to operate successfully under the supervision of Damien, Paddy, and Ciaran. It has operated very successfully for many years, with most of the current Senior County Football panel having come through the system. 

“However, as time passes and the game evolves, we must review what we do and look to improve our standards in parallel.

“At the beginning of the year, I formed a new working group, comprising of the following members: Damien Moran, Carrickedmond, Seamus Boyle, Ballymore, county footballer Daniel Mimnagh, Ger Carberry, development coach, staff members Paddy O’Connor and Damien Sheridan. This committee was chaired by myself. 

“The members have worked very hard since, hosting a think tank in Aras Ui Bhriain among the relevant people involved with the squads and visiting or contacting 20 other counties to research their underage development programmes. 

“Some observations made by this group during their research were very positive towards our current programme and facilitators, but there are opportunities for new ideas and more modern techniques that can be applied. 

“Following the recommendations of the committee, the following decisions have been made to progress the quality and standards of development squads into the future.

- Appointment of a lead athletic and personal development coach.

- Appointment of a lead county player and development officer for both football and hurling..

“I am delighted to formally announce the appointment of Setanta College, Thurles as a partner in a three year athletic and personal development programme for our academy members and Mostrim clubman, Michael Kenny as lead player development officer for the same period.

“Setanta college will provide one lead athletic coach with three supporting coaches providing access to top class all year coaching in the areas of S&C, sports education, nutrition and sports psychology. In year two, they will commence a programme of coaching and sports education with individual coaches from each club in the county.”

“Michael Kenny will introduce a player development pathway for academy members, lead the recruitment of future coaches for academy squads, the appointments of all team managers from U-20 downwards, lead the evolution and transition of young players from U-17 to senior ranks.

“This is a very exciting development and lays the foundation for strong competitive inter-county teams in the future, giving our young players an opportunity to be as good if not better than their rivals. 

“I am confident stating that our underage structures are very strong and managed very well, a total of two thousand kids and teenagers participating in all competitions from U8 go games to U17 inclusive with a total investment of roughly €350,000 in the past year. 

“With the addition of the new initiatives just announced for development squads, Longford GAA investment in underage for 2024 will increase by an additional €100,000, supported by additional Croke Park funding designated for special projects. Our predicted investment in underage for 2024 is in the region of €450,000.”

“I wish to thank all the members of the working committee for their work on this project and having completed this one with a successful outcome I intend to have a new challenge for them in 2024. We must have constant change and new challenges as we strive to improve our achievements.

“Great work and very positive support was displayed by Paddy, Damien and Ciaran as we progressed the project during the year and I compliment and thank them for all the work they carry out on behalf of Longford GAA.”

Hurling Controversy 

“We had the recent controversy surrounding Division 4 hurling and the issue of value for money and it was correct to raise the issue. It made people sit up and start thinking and a lot of good will come from it.” 

 Gate Receipts

“The drop in gate receipts of €80k is very disappointing. This has been a national trend in 2023 and is just cause for concern. Attendances are dropping consistently for the last number of years and there are a number of reasons for this. “Competition from other sports and increased cost of living are some, but one of the main reasons and one which can be addressed, is the entertainment value of our games. “Supporters want to be entertained by exciting and high quality games. This is not the case at the moment and the rules of the game require a review and change in order that they provide entertainment value. A typical example is the forward mark.

“It did not achieve its original aim, long kicking and high fielding. How many times this year have we witnessed a mark won by a player sliding under the ball on the ground. “Sometimes it just takes the momentum out of potential scoring opportunities from play and supporters do not like this.”

Centre of Excellence

“Tuesday July 18 was a great and historic day for Longford GAA, a day when huge progress was made on the future development of a training centre for the entire Longford GAA community. 

“30 acres of land adjoining Glennon Brothers Pearse Park was for sale at public auction in the Longford Arms Hotel and we had to buy it.  

“At approximately 5pm, following a marathon auction session, local solicitor and Club Longford Chairman Mark Connellan, acting on behalf of Longford Gaa, raised his hand to place a bid of €1 million.”

 “Following some very tense minutes for myself and Peter O’Reilly  who were also in attendance, auctioneer Padraig Murtagh dropped his hammer on the table and the land became the property of Longford GAA for generations to come. 

“This event brings to an end the long debate on the location of a training centre. The site has been fully secured in the name of Longford GAA, and fully paid for. 

“For me as Chairperson and my colleagues on management this is a dream come true, something I had hoped and wished for, but did not expect it to happen during my reign as Chairperson.

“We would not have secured this property without the extraordinary encouragement and assistance we received from Croke Park, Leinster Council and Club Longford.

“Funding was provided by Croke Park in the form of a grant of €700k, a loan of €200k and €100 from Club Longford funds.

“Once again Club Longford committee members have delivered on their promises, raising gross funds of €220,000 this year and I hope that the successful purchase of the lands gives each committee member satisfaction and reward for all the voluntary hard work you have displayed in 2023.

“John Finn steps away from his role as treasurer this year, but will continue as a member of the committee. Thanks very much to John for all his work getting Club Longford up and running, and putting the necessary protocols in place. 

“He is a person of excellent reputation and credibility in finance circles and we have been so lucky to have access to his talents over the last number of years.”

“Many thanks to chairperson Mark Connellan and secretary Thomas Conefrey for steering the Club Longford ship all year and together with all the committee members, you have done an excellent job.”

Main Sponsors Glennon Brothers 

“I must mention our main sponsors, Billy, Pat and Michael Glennon of Glennon Brothers Longford.

“We have just completed the first year of a three-year deal and look forward to working with them in 2024. They are fantastic supporters of our games and rarely miss an intercounty game. Longford GAA are deeply indebted to them for their support and financial commitment over a long number of years."

Raceday

“2024 will be the 20th anniversary of our annual fundraiser at Punchestown and to date it has raised €1.75 million net profit, a phenomenal amount of money and is of huge benefit assisting all our intercounty teams prepare and compete in the various competitions.”

“Longford GAA deeply appreciates the commitment by the race day committee for the last 19 years. Under the leadership of Chairperson Martin Skelly from the Cashel Club, Secretary John Bannon from Legan Sarsfields and Padraig Brady, Treasurer representing the Dublin race day committee.

 “You all should be very proud of what you have achieved during those 19 years. Well done and we look forward to the 20th anniversary. Many thanks to all other members of the committee, both the Dublin and Longford committees."