Longford and new manager Mike Solan determined to put their best foot forward in Allianz National Football League
'We have a fair few new players coming into the squad this year so it will be great to see those guys playing at National League level'
New Longford senior football manager Mike Solan has said he has been impressed by the talent in the county and he is 'absolutely delighted' with the effort and commitment of the players.
Mike Solan, from Ballaghaderreen, is a former All-Ireland Under-21 winning manager with his native Mayo in 2016.
He also led Mayo to Connacht U20 success in 2018.
More recently, Solan served as assistant manager to Andy Moran with the Leitrim senior footballers in 2022 and 2023.
His management team includes Enda McGahern from Colmcille, who guided Longford to a remarkable Leinster minor football championship success last year and fellow Mayo native Michael Moyles, the former county footballer who coached the Mayo ladies.
Solan stated there is some confidence as he prepares his charges for the opening match of the 2025 National League campaign and an opening match at home against Limerick this Sunday, January 26 at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
"There is always a sense of optimism at the start of any league season," he said. "We'd be absolutely delighted with the effort and the commitment given to us and certainly we couldn't ask for any more of the players. It will be nice to get out and get started and get into that competitive environment."
Solan is buoyed by the attitude of the players in recent months and he is encouraged by what he has seen.
"It's a great opportunity and they're great lads," he said. "The minor success last year would have been very good and there is some very talented players coming through who will be under-20s this year and during the next couple of years so on that side I think there is loads of talent in Longford and I'd be certainly be delighted coming in and working with the players."
Solan stated in terms of his management team, the physio, strength and conditioning coach and medical staff they are all 'good people' and he is thankful for their expertise.
"When you're working with good people it makes the job enjoyable and it also makes it easier to provide the best possible opportunity for the players to perform to the best of their ability," he added.
Speaking last Friday, Solan said there were no injury concerns ahead of the visit of Limerick and himself and his selectors had a full panel to pick from.
Targets
Asked about whether there are specific targets for the National League, Solan, who was the manager of Sligo club Tourlestrane last year, insisted they want to maximise player and team performances.
"The targets are for us to try to provide the best set-up that we can for the players and then we'll maximise the chances of the players performing," he said. "We have a fair few new players coming into the squad this year so it will be great to see those guys playing at National League level and our top targets would be to take each game one at a time and look for our best possible performance and see where that takes us."
Solan is learning on the job in his first role as an inter-county manager but he has significant experience personally and he has lots of knowledge around him.
"I've been lucky to work with some great people over the years in Mayo and obviously with Andy (Moran) and the lads in Leitrim, which was very enjoyable," he said. "Every group you work with or every set-up you're involved in you learn something and take something from it and you try to improve your skills all the time and then you bring any of the lessons you've learnt in then to try to help out with Longford."
Solan said he watched plenty of GAA club championship action in Longford consisting of the senior championship and a variety of levels and age-groups.
"There is some very good talent, both young players and then also some very good lads who have been in the squad for a few years so that mix youth and experience is nice to have," he added.
New rules
A large number of new rules are being introduced for the 2025 National League and the new Longford GAA manager believes it has tested everybody.
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Two of the most notable rule changes include the new 3v3 structure, which will see teams keeping at least three players in the opposition half at all times, while two-point scores will be awarded beyond the new 40m arc.
"It's been a challenge for everybody because with the amount of rule changes that are there, some fundamental rule changes, they would change the way people maybe kick and the way you coach the game," he said. "The other side of it is the opportunity for change and everybody is very much looking forward to getting the National League started and playing under the new rules."
Solan stated on paper he is in favour of most of the new rule changes but the true acid test will come in the heat of competitive action for players, management teams and referees.
"I like the new rule that you have to keep at least three attackers and three defenders in one half of the field," he said. "I think it provides ample opportunity for teams to get a lot of kicking into their game and that is a fundamental skill of the game so you'd be hopeful you'd see a return to a more kicking based game this year. But we'll just have to wait and see how teams adapt to it and how teams interpret it and apply the rules for the best of their own team."
Solan said there are no rule changes that he fundamentally disagrees with, but he believes that it may not have been the best time to scrap the O'Byrne Cup and pre-season competitions.
"I suppose there was reasoning there to give players an extra bit of a rest but I think it may not have been the most opportune time to pull the pre-season competitions this year with the new rules coming in," he said. "I think for referees, players, coaches, management teams I think it would have been good for everybody to have that opportunity to try out the new rules in a competitive environment prior to the league starting."
Solan said despite the wait for competitive action the players are eagerly looking forward to the National League campaign and putting their best foot forward.