A dark cloud looms over Longford GAA following the death of one of the county’s greatest ever footballers and shrewdest administrators.  Longford Slashers legend and highly respected retired St Mel’s College teacher Seán Donnelly, aged 83, who was part of the county’s historic 1966 National League and 1968 Leinster Championship winning sides, passed to his eternal reward yesterday. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO While still playing, he had the distinction of being elected as Longford GAA County Board secretary and during his term (1968 - 1977) in this role, he captained Longford to a National Football League Division 2 title (1972) and he also managed Longford in 1975.  In addition, Seán was player and trainer / coach of his club Longford Slashers in 1975 as they became county champions and this was a particularly sweet triumph since the club also celebrated its 21st anniversary that year.  The winner of three Sigerson Cup medals with UCG in the early sixties, Seán was selected at number fifteen on the Longford Team of the Millennium as selected by readers of the Longford Leader in 2000.  Predeceased by his parents James and Anne, sister Angela and by his infant son Seán. Seán will be sadly missed and remembered with love by his family, his beloved wife Ann, darling daughters Orfhlaith, Aideen, Dervilla and Patricia, cherished grandchildren Anna Lily, Conor and Ella, sons-in-law Ciarán O’Neill and Declan Fox, sister Phyllis Meally, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law , nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Born in 1940, Seán received his primary school education at Drumlish NS and Melview, before he attended St Mel’s College and went on to third level at University College Galway (now NUIG).  It was during his time at UCG that Seán got to know ‘two of his childhood idols’, Seán Purcell and Frank Stockwell, both of Tuam Stars and Galway, who were revered as ‘The Terrible Twins’.  Seán was an integral cog of the UCG side that reached four successive Sigerson Cup finals between 1960 &placeholder image
A dark cloud looms over Longford GAA following the death of one of the county’s greatest ever footballers and shrewdest administrators.  Longford Slashers legend and highly respected retired St Mel’s College teacher Seán Donnelly, aged 83, who was part of the county’s historic 1966 National League and 1968 Leinster Championship winning sides, passed to his eternal reward yesterday. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO While still playing, he had the distinction of being elected as Longford GAA County Board secretary and during his term (1968 - 1977) in this role, he captained Longford to a National Football League Division 2 title (1972) and he also managed Longford in 1975.  In addition, Seán was player and trainer / coach of his club Longford Slashers in 1975 as they became county champions and this was a particularly sweet triumph since the club also celebrated its 21st anniversary that year.  The winner of three Sigerson Cup medals with UCG in the early sixties, Seán was selected at number fifteen on the Longford Team of the Millennium as selected by readers of the Longford Leader in 2000.  Predeceased by his parents James and Anne, sister Angela and by his infant son Seán. Seán will be sadly missed and remembered with love by his family, his beloved wife Ann, darling daughters Orfhlaith, Aideen, Dervilla and Patricia, cherished grandchildren Anna Lily, Conor and Ella, sons-in-law Ciarán O’Neill and Declan Fox, sister Phyllis Meally, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law , nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Born in 1940, Seán received his primary school education at Drumlish NS and Melview, before he attended St Mel’s College and went on to third level at University College Galway (now NUIG).  It was during his time at UCG that Seán got to know ‘two of his childhood idols’, Seán Purcell and Frank Stockwell, both of Tuam Stars and Galway, who were revered as ‘The Terrible Twins’.  Seán was an integral cog of the UCG side that reached four successive Sigerson Cup finals between 1960 &

Longford GAA mourns death of one of the county’s greatest ever footballers

Alan Walsh
By Alan Walsh

Managing Editor

Published 3rd Jan 2024, 17:28 BST
Updated 4th Jan 2024, 14:52 BST

Longford Slashers legend and highly respected retired St Mel’s College teacher Seán Donnelly, has passed away, aged 83

Caption: 1968 Leinster Senior Football Championship Final: Sean Donnelly, scorer of 2-1, in Longford's 3-9 to 1-4 victory over Laois the Leinster SFC, is carried shoulder high off the Croke Park pitch by delighted supporters. On the right of photograph is Brendan Gilmore. Longford, incidentally, wore colours similar to Meath, green with gold trim, on that occasion to avoid a clash of jerseys with Laois. 

1.

Caption: 1968 Leinster Senior Football Championship Final: Sean Donnelly, scorer of 2-1, in Longford's 3-9 to 1-4 victory over Laois the Leinster SFC, is carried shoulder high off the Croke Park pitch by delighted supporters. On the right of photograph is Brendan Gilmore. Longford, incidentally, wore colours similar to Meath, green with gold trim, on that occasion to avoid a clash of jerseys with Laois. 

Caption: The Longford GAA Football Team of the Millennium, as selected by the readers of the Longford Leader, were honoured at a celebratory banquet in April 2000 and pictured are front row l to r; John Heneghan, Jackie Devine, Billy Morgan, Jimmy Hannify Snr, Harry McGann, Vincent Tierney, TJ Ward (representing Dessie Barry) and Brendan Barden. Back; Longford Leader Managing Editor Eugene McGee, Sean Donnelly, Seamus Flynn, Jimmy Hannify Jnr, Mick Casey, Jimmy Flynn, Larry Gillen, Ned and John Regan (representing their father Joe Regan) and GAA President-elect Sean McCague

2.

Caption: The Longford GAA Football Team of the Millennium, as selected by the readers of the Longford Leader, were honoured at a celebratory banquet in April 2000 and pictured are front row l to r; John Heneghan, Jackie Devine, Billy Morgan, Jimmy Hannify Snr, Harry McGann, Vincent Tierney, TJ Ward (representing Dessie Barry) and Brendan Barden. Back; Longford Leader Managing Editor Eugene McGee, Sean Donnelly, Seamus Flynn, Jimmy Hannify Jnr, Mick Casey, Jimmy Flynn, Larry Gillen, Ned and John Regan (representing their father Joe Regan) and GAA President-elect Sean McCague

Caption: Longford's Mick Hopkins stoops low to pick up the ball during his side's 1-12 to 0-12 win over Dublin in the Leinster SFC quarter-final on June 2, 1968 in O’Connor Park, Tullamore. Team mate Sean Donnelly is pictured holding off Dublin defender Bill Casey (left). 

3.

Caption: Longford's Mick Hopkins stoops low to pick up the ball during his side's 1-12 to 0-12 win over Dublin in the Leinster SFC quarter-final on June 2, 1968 in O’Connor Park, Tullamore. Team mate Sean Donnelly is pictured holding off Dublin defender Bill Casey (left). 

Caption: 1966 National Football League Final ‘Proper’ Homecoming: Longford captain Brendan Barden addresses the huge crowd that gathered in Longford town on Monday, October 10, 1966 as the victorious team returned home with the NFL Trophy after their 1-18 to 0-17 aggregate win over New York. Also in the photo are Jimmy Flynn (left), Sean Murray and Sean Donnelly.

4.

Caption: 1966 National Football League Final ‘Proper’ Homecoming: Longford captain Brendan Barden addresses the huge crowd that gathered in Longford town on Monday, October 10, 1966 as the victorious team returned home with the NFL Trophy after their 1-18 to 0-17 aggregate win over New York. Also in the photo are Jimmy Flynn (left), Sean Murray and Sean Donnelly.

Previous
1 / 3
Next Page
Related topics:LongfordLongford GAALongford Slashers
Powered by
Register
Follow us
© 2026 Formpress Publishing LTD. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice