Pat Smith Tournament

50th Birthday Celebrations - Longford Slashers G.A.A. Club 1954 - 2004

Longford Slashers officially opens their fabulous new facilities

50th birthday celebrations get underway

Longford Slashers G.A.A. Club officially opened their new-look state of the art grounds on Sunday last before the Longford and Westmeath inter-county challenge exhibition. At the opening many top G.A.A. officials, politicians, local business people and many members of the Longford Slashers Senior, Minor and Hurling Boards and the members of the Longford Slashers Company attended the official opening as the ‘sky blue’ sky shone down on this occasion.

At the opening of the new all-weather floodlit pitch and covered stand, Pat Chapman, one of the longstanding Longford Slashers officials opened the proceedings by welcoming the many invited guests, Longford Slashers players and officials past and present and the 500 plus crowd that had gathered at Michael ‘Smiler Fay Park for the opening ceremony.

Pat Chapman firstly thanked everybody for attending the opening of the stand and said it was a great day for Longford Slashers and all ‘sky blues’ with the new amenities at the grounds something that all of Longford Slashers people could be proud of and something that will be of great benefit to Longford Slashers and Longford G.A.A. for the future.

The Longford Slashers company secretary concluded by calling on Fr. Bernard Noonan and Rev. David Corterel to conduct the official blessing and prayer before the new facilities were officially opened. Along with the large crowd that had gathered at the new third pitch Fr. Noonan and Rev. Corterel said the officially prayer and blessing of the grounds.

It was then over to one of the true ‘sky blues’ and a man that has giving his life to Longford Slashers both on and off the playing fields and currently the senior club treasurer, Noel Caslin, who had the job of cutting the sky blue and white ribbon.

Others who proceeded over the cutting of the ribbon included Senior Club Chairman, Ronan McNevin, Company Chairman, Aidan O’Brien, Leinster Council Vice-Chairman, Liam O’Neill, County Board Chairman, Martin Skelly, Minor Board Chairman, Michael Carrigy, Sean McMullen of Longford Ladies Board, Longford Hurling Board Chairman, John Minnock and Longford Slashers Hurling Club Chairman, Bill Hayes.

Guests at the opening included politicians Peter Kelly, Mae Sexton, Denis Glennon and James Bannon. Among the guests included many past players and officials of the Longford Slashers club. On the day two games were played before the opening and they were a challenge exhibition game between the current Longford Slashers seniors and past Longford Slashers players. Also on the day Wolfe Tones beat the Longford Slashers senior hurlers when winning the Donal Sheehan Memorial Cup.

Longford Slashers Present Vs. Past Players Exhibition Challenge

Narrow victory for present ‘sky blues’

Longford Slashers Present 1-10 Longford Slashers Past 0-12

On Sunday last as part of the Longford Slashers G.A.A. Club’s 50th birthday celebrations and official opening of their all-weather floodlit playing pitch. A Longford Slashers past selection played a current senior team selection in an extremely close and light-hearted game with the current ‘sky blues’ recording a slender one-point victory over a selection of many Longford Slashers greats.

In what was a exciting game, many Longford Slashers greats from the past including, John Barry, Niall Caslin, Barney McNevin, Gerry Clarke, Dessie Barry and Ronan McNevin to name a few showed why they won three Senior Championships on the trot when showing that they never lost it when playing some good football. For the eventual winners Stephen Phillips had a good day at the office when scoring 1-7 when firing over a brace of fine points from frees. David Sheridan. Gary Matthews and Diarmuid McRory recorded the Longford Slashers present teams other points.

For the unlucky runners up John Barry pulled off a number of goods saves with current club secretary, Mickey Lynch having an outstanding game in defence along with Barney McNevin and Michael Duggan. In midfield current minor club secretary, Oliver Barry slotted over two well struck points with his midfield partner, a Longford Slashers legend and great clubman in all aspects, Gerry Clarke also played exceptional well when scoring a lovely point from play.

Upfront for the past selection current senior club chairman, Ronan McNevin also showed why he was a great football when slotting over three excellent points from play. Dessie Barry, the club’s current senior trainer and a Longford Slashers all-star also showed why he was one of Longford’s best footballers when firing over three well struck points. Other past players who notched scores for the unlucky runners up were Aidan England, Jimmy O’Neill and Barney McNevin. The past selection also introduced two true ‘sky blues’, Aidan O’Brien and Joe Reilly.

LONGFORD SLASHERS PRESENT: Paddy McKeon; Barry Gilleran, Tomas O’Rourke, Chris McGurran; Eamon Nolan, Gary Matthews (0-1), Bryan Farrell; Philip Cribben, David Sheridan (0-1); Diarmuid McRory (0-1), Willie John McDermott, Jason Glendenning; Christian Dann, John McKeon, Stephen Phillips (1-7, two from frees).

LONGFORD SLASHERS PAST: John Barry; Ollie Reilly, Niall Caslin, Mickey Lynch; Jimmy Diffley, Barney McNevin (0-1), Michael Duggan; Gerry Clarke (0-1), Oliver Barry (0-2); Gordon Hourican, Dessie Barry (0-3, one free), Jimmy O’Neill (0-1); Ronan McNevin (0-1), Aidan England (0-1), Padraig Smith.

SUBS:- Joe Reilly for N. Caslin (injured, 14 mins); Aidan O’Brien for O. Reilly (30 mins).

REFEREE: Michael O’Brien.

Longford Slashers 50th Anniversary celebrations commence

Festival of football and hurling planned for weekend

On the weekend of April 24/25 the Longford Slashers G.A.A. club, based on the outskirts of Longford town will commence celebrations for its silver jubilee with a festival of underage and senior football and hurling action taking place on the Saturday and Sunday.

This weekend members past and present and all the young ‘sky blues’ of the future will flock to Michael Fay Park, the home of Longford Slashers over the Saturday and Sunday for underage exhibition games, senior club games and inter-county challenge games.

Longford Slashers 1954 - 2004 - Where it all began

Longford Slashers football club first arrived on the Longford GAA scene early in 1954 but in the latter months of 1953 moves behind the scene had set the machinery in motion to amalgamate Whiterock Slashers and Longford Wanders.

In those 50 years the Longford Slashers club has written many success stories into the history books and travelled a lot of miles with 13 Senior Football Championship titles to their credit, and that all started in their first year of existence in 1954 when winning two-in-a-row.

But probably the main achievement on the playing fields over the 50 years, and the highlight was winning the three-in-a-row in the years; 1989, 1990 and 1991. When our current senior team trainer Dessie Barry was awarded the man-of-the-match award in all three finals.

The following were the years the Longford Slashers seniors captured Senior Football Championship titles; 1954, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1994. Longford Slashers have also appeared in countless County finals over the last 50 years when finishing runners up on a many occasions.

But, its not only at senior level Longford Slashers have excelled on the playing fields over the last 50 years with 3 Junior titles to their credit, 6 Senior League titles, 3 Division 2 titles and 6 U-21 Championships titles.

At underage grade Longford Slashers has also dominated for the last 50 years. In 1958 Longford Slashers won their first ever Minor Championship and since then they have won 10 Minor Championship titles and 11 Minor Leagues.

At Juvenile (U-16) grade they have won 16 Championship titles and 8 League titles, the last of them coming last year under the guidance of Peter Cremer, Gerry Clarke and Bernard Duffy. Longford Slashers have also enjoyed countless success at hurling within the county over the past 50 years when winning numerous titles at all levels.

At U-14 grade Longford Slashers have won 22 U-14 Championship titles and 10 League titles over the last 50 years. At U-12 grade the Longford Slashers club have won two U-12 Championship titles the last of them coming last year under the guidance of Colin Smith, Kevin Hughes and Ray Donlon.

At schools level both primary and secondary Longford Slashers players have being to the fore with all successful teams in all the local town schools. Just last month Longford Slashers had ten players on the St. Mel’s U-16 football team who won the Leinster U-16 Championship.

Longford Slashers have had also a great relationship with county teams over the past 50 years both on the Longford Senior, U-21, Minor and U-16 squads with countless Longford Slashers players representing their club on county teams throughout the last half decade.

At the moment Dermot Brady is on the Longford senior team, Trevor Glendenning and William Murray are on the U-21s, Ronan Duffy, Colin Smith and Niall Mulligan are on the Minors with many clubs players also on the U-16s.

Over the last 50 years the Longford Slashers club has also travelled the four corners of the world with trips from Longford to Leeds, Balllina to Boston, Cooley to Connecticut, Tuam, New York, Bray, Washington, Achill, Killarney, Hartford to name a few mounting up a lot of miles.

Since the club’s formation in 1954 one the club’s greatest ambitions of its founders, and those who guided its fortunes since, was to acquire a ground of its own. And, that all began in 1977 when an ambitions 3-year development plan was unveiled.

And, since then the now known Michael Fay Park has grown to be one of the biggest clubs and complexes in the country with three playing fields, three stands, four dressing rooms, squash and handball courts and gym, meeting rooms, a bar, ballroom and kitchen. In addition to that Longford Backstage Theatre and Centre for the Arts is also part of the complex.

Over the 50 years many names have pasted through the Longford Slashers registration books. Some of them include probably two of the best known Longford Slashers people, the late great Tommy O’Brien, Michael ‘Smiler’ Fay and many more. Others who have played an immense part in what Longford Slashers is to-day include Noel Caslin, Michael Gilleran, Hugh Brennan, Pat Chapman, Hal Carey and Dessie Barry to name a few.

At underage level over the last 50 years many people have also contributed immensely to the club with Tom Chapman, Michael Gilleran, Tony Mannion, Gerry Barrins and John Murphy and in later years Peter Cremer, Bernard Duffy, Gerry Clarke to name a few have played their part.

However, its not individuals that have made the club what it is today, it’s a team effort and everybody that has being part of the club over the last 50 years have played their part.

This weekend the Longford GAA club and family will begin their 50th anniversary celebrations, which will be ongoing throughout the year, with a festival of football. Commencing on the Saturday the young stars of the future, will get the ball rolling with the finals of the U-10 Town School League.

Following that our U-12 football team and U-14 hurling team will play exhibition games with our U-16 and Minor teams also playing games on the Saturday.

On the Sunday the Longford Slashers senior team will be in action in an exhibition game with the official opening of the new playing pitch, stand and flood lights the main event of the evening which will be followed by a senior inter-county challenge game between Longford and neighbours Westmeath.

This weekend the Longford Slashers GAA club starts celebrating their 50th anniversary as members past and present will come together for a festival of football and hurling to look back, reminisce, remember members not with us anymore and celebrate what is something very special to all ‘sky blues’ as we now look forward to another 50 years this weekend - where it all begins again!