2018 Longford Senior Football Championship Explained

Competition:Longford S.F.C.
Sponsor:Peter Hanly Motors
Origin:1890
Season:2018
Winners: Mullinalaghta (5th title)
Relegated:Ballymahon
Continentalcup2:Winning Captain
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Shane Mulligan
Continentalcup3:Man of the Match
Continentalcup3 Qualifiers:David McGivney
Continentalcup4:Winning Manager
Continentalcup4 Qualifiers:Mickey Graham
Matches:27
Prevseason:2017
Nextseason:2019

The 2018 Longford Senior Football Championship is the 102nd running of the Longford GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior graded teams in County Longford, Ireland since the first County Championship was held in 1890 (101 completed since 1890, 1 started but not completed in 1891). The 2018 tournament consisted of 11 teams, with the winner going on to represent Longford in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship starts with a group stage and then progresses to a knock out stage.

Mullinalaghta St Columba's retained their title in the final, defeating Abbeylara after a replay to become the first team to win three successive titles since Fr. Manning Gaels in 1998. They went on to become the first Longford club to reach the Leinster Club Senior Football final and the first Longford club to be crowned Leinster champions with victory over Kilmacud Crokes. Mullinalaghta made history by competing in the All Ireland Club Semi-Final, losing out to Dr Crokes.

This year the number of teams was reduced to 11 after the 2017 Intermediate champions, Rathcline, opted to remain at that grade rather than be promoted. The relegation playoffs scheduled to determine which team would be regraded to Intermediate were cancelled after Ballymahon decided to withdraw and go down to Intermediate for 2019.

Team Changes

[1]

The following teams have changed division since the 2017 championship season.

From S.F.C.

Relegated to 2018 Longford Intermediate Football Championship

Group stage

All 11 teams entered the competition at this stage. Groups A and B each consisted of 4 teams with 3 teams from each group progressing to the quarter-finals and last year's finalists being kept apart. Group C consisted of 3 teams, with 2 teams proceeding to the quarter-finals. The bottom finishers in each group were to play off to decide relegation to the 2019 I.F.C.

Group A

Team
Clonguish32015133+185
Mostrim 31113337-43
Abbeylara31115135+153
Ballymahon30212655-291

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Group B

Team
Mullinalaghta St Columba's33006930+396
Colmcille32105349+42
St Mary's Granard31204654-82
Carrickedmond30303772-350

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Group C

Team
Dromard21012827+13
Killoe Young Emmets21102724+32
Longford Slashers20112630-41

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Knockout stage

The top 8 teams from the league stages qualify for the quarter-finals.

Relegation playoff

Ballymahon, Carrickedmond and Longford Slashers were scheduled to play off in a three-team group, with the bottom team being relegated to Intermediate for 2019. However, after the draw had been made, Ballymahon decided to withdraw and voluntarily regrade to Intermediate for the following season.

Leinster Senior Club Football Championship

See main article: 2018–19 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Longford Leader Archives. 16 January 2018. Irishnewsarchive.com. 16 January 2018.
  2. Web site: Longford SFC: Last gasp Colm Flynn point earns Ballymahon a well deserved draw against Mostrim. Longford Leader. Deniese O'Flaherty. 24 July 2018.
  3. Web site: Longford SFC: Robbie Smyth scores late, late equaliser as Abbeylara earn a draw against Clonguish . Longford Leader. Padraic O'Brien. 24 July 2018.
  4. Web site: Longford SFC: Abbeylara in complete control in very easy win over Ballymahon. Longford Leader. Deniese O'Flaherty. 30 July 2018.
  5. Web site: Longford SFC: Shane O'Brien goal the matchwinner for Clonguish against Mostrim. Longford Leader. Deniese O'Flaherty. 30 July 2018.
  6. Web site: Longford SFC: Clonguish far too strong for Ballymahon. Longford Leader. Padraic O'Brien. 19 August 2018.
  7. Web site: Longford SFC: Robbie Smyth injured as Abbeylara suffer defeat against Mostrim. Longford Leader. Deniese O'Flaherty. 19 August 2018.
  8. Web site: Longford SFC: Title holders Mullinalaghta far too strong for Colmcille. Longford Leader. Padraic O'Brien. 24 July 2018.
  9. Web site: Longford SFC: St Mary's Granard come out on top in clash against Carrickedmond . Longford Leader. Liam Cosgrove. 24 July 2018.
  10. Web site: Longford SFC: Colmcille score comprehensive win over Carrickedmond . Longford Leader. Padraic O'Brien. 28 July 2018.
  11. Web site: Longford SFC: Mullinalaghta turn on the power in the second half in comprehensive win over Granard. Longford Leader. Deniese O'Flaherty. 29 July 2018.
  12. Web site: Longford SFC: Colmcille gradually assert superiority over St Mary's Granard . Longford Leader. Deniese O'Flaherty. 20 August 2018.
  13. Web site: Longford SFC: Mullinalaghta score emphatic victory over Carrickedmond . Longford Leader. Deniese O'Flaherty. 19 August 2018.
  14. Web site: Longford SFC: Dromard snatch draw against Slashers with stoppage time goal . Longford Leader. Deniese O'Flaherty. 24 July 2018.
  15. Web site: Longford SFC: Killoe prove too strong for Slashers . Longford Leader. Padraic O'Brien. 29 July 2018.
  16. Web site: Longford SFC: Cian Mimnagh lands terrific winning point as Dromard beat Killoe. Longford Leader. Padraic O'Brien. 19 August 2018.