Longford need a vital victory against Waterford in Dungarvan

If Longford are to have a chance of gaining promotion in Division 4 of the National Football League then a victory is vital against Waterford in the opening round clash at Fraher Field in Dungarvan on Saturday, throw-in 2.30pm. 

With their next fixture at home to London the following weekend, another two points are there for the taking and a winning start to the season will put Longford in a fairly confident frame of mind for the tough task away against Antrim in Round 3 on Sunday February 15th. 

The manager Mike Solan is taking one game at a time and will be wary of Waterford, taking into account the hard earned win at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park last year with the home county producing a strong finish to come out on top by a mere two points.

It was another big sweat in the league game at the Ballygunner GAA grounds in 2024 with Longford fortunate to escape with a 0-16 to 0-13 win and we do not need to be reminded about what happened against the same opposition in the Tailteann Cup that same year under the Paddy Christie regime. 

The official attendance of just 75 spectators at a deserted O’Moore Park in Portlaoise watched a Waterford team officially ranked as the worst football team in the country, coming into the Tier 2 Senior Championship, play really well to score a deserved 4-12 to 1-16 win in what was a sad day for Longford GAA.

But the state of football in Waterford has apparently taken a turn for the worse, reflecting on the shattering 1-27 to 0-1 defeat against Kerry in the recent McGrath Cup pre-season tournament.

The basically second or third string Kingdom started that farce of a game with just one member of the first 15 against Donegal in the 2025 All-Ireland final triumph, notably defender Jason Foley, while one of the substitutes on the big day at Croke Park was attacker Tony Brosnan who clocked up the most impressive total of 1-15 in the demolition job against weak Waterford. 

Cork native Ephie Fitzgerald is back for a second stint in charge of the much maligned Deise footballers and what can he do to halt the slide in the face of adversity?

A major surprise  defeat for Longford would be a complete disaster but that is most unlikely to materialise, even in Dungarvan, as Solan’s side bid to recover quickly from the 11-point defeat against Wicklow in the recent O’Byrne Shield semi-final. 

Amid the current struggle, Longford managed to win just two games in the National League last season against Waterford and London and repeat results will be required in order to stay involved in the push for promotion.

After missing out on scores difference last year, Osin McConville’s Wicklow outfit are the favourites to finish top of the table while Antrim are generally considered to be the other leading contender as they chase an immediate return to Division 3 under the guidance of their new manager Mark Doran from Down. 

After failing to win a game in their feeble relegation in 2025, Leitrim are on the road to redemption with Steven Poacher (Down) back in charge and they will be quietly confident in the battle for the top two places.

The O'Byrne Shield winners Carlow could prove to be a good outside bet for promotion with former Eire Og and Naas boss Joe Murphy bidding to do the business for his native county while you can never write off Tipperary with one of their own, Niall Fitzgerald, the current manager. 

Some pundits are predicting that Longford will finish mid-table in the very competitive Division 4 going on recent form but that remains to be seen as we live in hope!

Allianz National Football League Division 4 fixtures 

Saturday 24 January 

Round 1 -  Fraher Field, Dungarvan: Waterford v Longford, 2.30pm 

Sunday 1 February

Round 2 - Glennon Brothers Pearse Park: Longford v London, 1pm 

Sunday 15 February

Round 3 - Erin's Own, Cargin: Antrim v Longford, 2pm 

Sunday 22 February 

Round 4 - Glennon Brothers Pearse Park: Longford v Tipperary, 2pm

Sunday 1 March 

Round 5 - Glennon Brothers Pearse Park: Longford v Carlow, 2pm 

Sunday 15 March

Round 6 - Pairc Sean, Carrick: Leitrim v Longford, 2pm 

Sunday 22 March

Round 7 - Glennon Brothers Pearse Park: Longford v Wicklow, 1pm