Promotion no guarantee for Longford in competitive NFL Division 4

Making an immediate return to Division 3 of the National Football League is clearly the aim for Longford manager Paddy Christie in the aftermath of the bitter disappointment of relegation last season. 

Turning that target into reality could well prove to be a difficult task for the back-to-back O'Byrne Cup champions with promotion no guarantee in the competitive Division 4 and already a significant setback has been suffered with the long term injury (cruciate) to commanding full-back Andrew Farrell.

Hopefully, Christie and his fellow mentors Dessie Sloyan and Longford’s own Cosmas Gilmore will be in a position to field their strongest possible side for the opening league fixture at O’Moore Park this Saturday evening, throw-in 6pm.  

Longford are also away to Waterford and Wexford with four home games against Tipperary, London, Leitrim and Carlow and a total of ten points will probably be enough to get back into Division 3. 

A winning start will be a major step in the right direction but with former Armagh All-Ireland winner (2002) Justin McNulty back for a second stint in charge of Laois, a defeat for Longford is a distinct possibility in this tough away fixture.   

While Laois produced a couple of commendable results in the away wins over Fermanagh and Limerick to reach the Tailteann Cup semi-final last year, they then crashed to a humiliating 8-16 to 2-12 hammering against a rampant Down side. 

Laois have developed a habit of unpredictability in recent years but there are plenty of talented players in their squad, most notably in attack where Evan O’Carroll, Paul Kingston, Eoin Lowry and Mark Barry are all capable of making a big impact.

Defender Mark Timmons and midfielder Kiernan Lillis provide vast experience but a significant setback is the absence of other regulars in Trevor Collins, Robbie Piggott, Paddy O’Sullivan and Colm Murphy who are all gone on their travels abroad.   

There is a bit of a boost for the Laois management team with the return of Eoin Buggie and Danny O’Reilly after two and one year respectively away from the inter-county game.

In the previous league meeting between the counties at O’Moore Park in March 2022, Longford under Billy O’Loughlin produced a fine winning performance to avoid the drop down into Division 4 with Laois losing the relegation battle.

The following was the Longford line-out in the 1-20 to 1-12 defeat against Down in the 2023 Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final at Pairc Esler in Newry and there has been a few changes since the last serious competitive game in June last year with Darragh Doherty one of those gone from the panel: 

Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels); Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta), Andrew Farrell (Cashel), Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara); Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers), Michael Quinn (Killoe), Iarla O’Sullivan (Rathcline); Ryan Moffett (Killoe), Darren Gallagher (Granard); Dylan Farrell (Killashee), Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s), Joseph Hagan (Dromard); Aaron Farrell (Dromard), Keelin McGann (Kenagh), Darragh Doherty (Mostrim). 

Subs:- Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond) for D Farrell (60 mins); Matt Duffy (Dromard) for D Doherty (62 mins); Daire O’Brien (Longford Slashers) for D Reynolds (70 mins); Ruairi Harkin (Colmcille) for P Lynn (70 mins).

Whatever team is selected to face Laois in the crucial 2024 NFL clash on Saturday evening will be hard pressed to get a result and another team to look out for are Wexford who are making steady progress under the guidance of former star forward John Hegarty. 

Hegarty is into his second season as the manager of his native county and after going close to gaining promotion last season, Wexford achieved a couple of eye catching displays in the Tailteann Cup.

After drawing with Fermanagh in the group stage and who then defeated Offaly in the preliminary quarter-final, Wexford suffered a heavy defeat against the eventual second tier champions Meath. 

Relegated along with Longford from Division 3 last season, Tipperary will be hoping to bounce back with Dubliner Paul Kelly from the Thomas Davis club in Tallaght their new manager. 

Kelly guided Thomas Davis to the Dublin SFC final for the first time in 28 years back in 2019 and he was in charge of the Naas team who won the Kildare SFC title in 2021 as they were crowned county champions for the first time in 31 years.

 Tipperary are clearly contenders for promotion in Division 4 with neighbouring rivals Leitrim also expected to be in the shake up for the top two positions with the added bonus of a place in the league final at Croke Park.

 Former Mayo star Andy Moran is embarking on a third season at the helm and the new Leitrim assistant manager is none other than former Mullinalaghta supremo Mickey Graham who trained Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins in 2023.

Shrewd operator Mickey coached his native Cavan to Ulster Championship glory in 2020 and he is a vital asset to Leitrim in their quest for Division 3 football next year. 

Carlow, Waterford and London are generally considered to be the outsiders in the promotion race but all are capable of springing a surprise.

Former Sligo and Waterford manager Niall Carew from Kildare is in his fifth season as the Carlow coach and let us not forget that they beat Longford in the group stage of the Tailteann Cup last year. 

Former Meath defender Paul Shankey is the new Waterford manager and he will be hoping to improve the situation there with Longford facing a tricky trip to Fraher Field in Dungarvan in the third round of the league. 

Last but not least are London, currently guided by their English born coach Michael Maher, and their physically strong side received a big boost with a shock win over an experimental Mayo side in the recent Connacht League clash. 

Longford might well end up blowing their chance of promotion in the Division 4 minefield if they happen to lose against Laois at O’Moore Park and the pressure is on Paddy Christie and his players in the bid to make amends for a poor campaign in 2023!

NFL Division 4 Managers

Carlow - Niall Carew

Longford - Paddy Christie

Leitrim - Andy Moran

Laois - Justin McNulty

London - Michael Maher

Tipperary - Paul Kelly

Waterford - Paul Shankey

Wexford - John Hegarty 

2024 National Football League Division 4 Fixtures

Round 1 - Saturday January 27

Laois v Longford - MW Hire O’Moore Park, 6pm  

Round 2 - Sunday February 4

Longford v Tipperary - Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm

Round 3 - Saturday February 16

Waterford v Longford - Fraher Field, Dungarvan, 6pm 

Round 4 - Sunday February 25

Longford v London - Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 1pm 

Round 5 - Sunday March 3

Longford v Leitrim - Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm 

Round 6 - Sunday March 17

Longford v Carlow - Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm

Round 7 - Sunday March 24 

Wexford v Longford - Chadwicks Wexford Park, 1pm