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06 Sept 2025

The absence of powerful midfielder Darren Gallagher is a big blow for Longford

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Darren Gallagher pictured in action for Longford against Meath opponent Ronan Jones in the 2024 Leinster SFC Round 1 clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park Photo: Syl Healy

While introduction of a few of the promising young guns is a ray of hope for the immediate future, the new Longford senior football manager Mike Solan and his fellow mentors (including local Enda McGahern) are planning for the 2025 season in the absence of their most influential player Darren Gallagher. 

Gallagher, who was good enough to feature for Leinster in the inter-provincial series back in October, is taking a break and it remains to be seen whether he will return to the inter-county arena after serving the county so well for many years.  

The driving force of the powerful St Mary’s Granard midfielder will be sorely missed and with Michael Quinn announcing his county football retirement at the end of last season, Longford are lacking in experience for the tough National League campaign. 

Also gone from the current Longford squad are three more Killoe players Daniel Mimnagh, Mark Hughes and Liam Hughes and with Joseph Hagan (in the United States) also missing from the long list, the pressure is on to launch a strong promotion challenge in the very competitive Division 4 campaign which starts at home to Limerick on Sunday January 26.  

Lining-out with Longford Rugby Club at the moment are Andrew Farrell (recovered from a long term injury) and Daire O’Brien (the latter back home following a stint in New York) and thus it is very much a transition period for Longford football with a big number of newcomers including Clonguish ace Matthew Carey who is also eligible to play in the U-20 grade.  

Extended Longford senior football squad 

Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels), Micheal Hughes (Killoe Emmet Og), Oisin McManus (Killoe), Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s), Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara), Darragh Finlass (Forgney St Munis), Sean O'Sullivan (Sean Connolly’s), Shane Campbell (Mostrim), Ryan Moffett (Killoe), Sean Morgan (Longford Slashers), Iarla O'Sullivan (Rathcline), Gavin Farrelly (Killoe), Diarmuid Farrell (Ardagh Moydow), James Moran (Killoe), Ruairi Harkin (Colmcille),  Peter Lynn (Slashers), Cian Brady (Abbeylara), Andrew Flynn (U-20, Clonguish), Fionn Hourican (Dromard), Daniel Reynolds (Connolly’s), Keelin McGann (Kenagh), Jack Macken (Colmcille), Caolan Lynch (Abbeylara), Dessie Reynolds (Connolly’s), Cathal McCabe (Colmcille), Aaron Farrell (Dromard), Oran Kenny (Rathcline), Matthew Carey (U-20, Clonguish), Harry Kiernan (U-20, St Mary’s Granard), Darragh O’Connell (Slashers), Jamie Brady Hynes (Granard), Dylan Farrell (St Brigid’s (Killashee), Jayson Matthews (Mullinalaghta), Conor Leonard (Mullinalaghta), Oisin O'Toole (Dromard), Enda Macken (Colmcille), Daire Duggan (Sean Connolly’s), Paddy Kiernan (Killoe), Paddy Moran (U-20, Killoe).    

Longford’s NFL Fixtures Division 4

Home to Limerick

Away to Tipperary

Away to Wicklow

Home to Waterford

Away to London

Away to Carlow

Home to Wexford    

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