Gilmore, Brendan
February 28, 1997
Brendan Gilmore
REMEMBERS LONGFORD'S GLORYS DAYS
Brendan Gilmore will not be heartbroken if Longford fail to win the Leinster Championship next summer; a little disappointed, but not heartbroken. Brendan's main hope is that the midlanders remain in Division Three of NFL; he sees that the number one objective, the essential element in keeping Longford on the path to the top. Division Three, then Division Two, Division One and after that realistic aspiration can be held for the bigger prizes-perhaps even an All-Ireland title. That's the plan.
As secretary of the Longford County Board, Brendan eats, sleeps and drinks football, particularly Longford football and anything to do with the game in the county, he feels deeply passionate about.
Brendan played on Longford teams in 1960's that won National League and Leinster Championships and would dearly love to see those halcyon days, those glory days return to a county that has become accustomed to defeat and disappointment.
'Longford had a great team in the sixties. We were fortunate in the way a group of top class, very dedicated and committed footballers came together at the one time. They were capable of beating anybody at the time and we were unfortunate not to win an All-Ireland.
'I Would dearly love to see those days return and there are definite signs we are going in the right direction. There are some very good young players emerging now in Longford in the minor and in the u21 teams and last year we won promotion from Division Four. I see it as vitally important for us to remain in Division Three to allow the players play against teams of higher standard, although having said that, there are some very good teams in division four,' says Brendan who lives in Teffia Park, in Longford town with his wife Ann. They have seven children, Andrew, Susan, Stephen, Aisling, Janet, Laura and Natalie. Brendan acknowledges the help given to him as secretary by his Wife Ann, with her own secretarial skills providing particularly useful.
As County board Secretary, Brendan's spare time is mostly taken up with meetings, phone calls, fixtures lists and matches. It can be a hectic schedule but it is one he enjoys; content that he has an opportunity to contribute in some way to the development of Longford football.
In the past Brendan has served as Vice-Chairman of the County Board and rarely has he been away from the football scene. He would have it no other way. He played for Longford for six years at senior level and also referred for years and took charge of the Vocational schools All-Ireland Final in as well as games at all levels in his own county. Brendan's three brothers, Nicholas, cosmos and Damian, all played in the blue and gold of Longford and last year, Cosmos captained Rathcline to the Longford Leader Cup - the clubs first success in the competition for many years.
A Garda for thirty two years, Brendan Gilmore now works as a security consultant with an upwardly-mobile, progressive security firm in Longford. Eur-Ace Security is based in the Golf View Glack area of Longford town and it is a company that has made impressive progress since it was established six years ago. It's chairman is Patrick j Duffy and it employs a staff of twenty two people full time plus twenty nine part-time.
'We operate in counties Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon, 'explains Brendan. 'We also extend into Meath, Monaghan and Cavan at times, depending on the job we are asked to carry out.'
Eur-Ace Security provides a wide range of security services, including static guard mobile patrols, key holding, courier service, store detectives, personnel protection and security escorts and industrial and commercial liquidation security (providing guards to protect goods during a liquidation sale). 'We are also increasingly being asked to provide security for private houses during weddings and even funerals as people are afraid of having their houses robbed while they are away. 'It's a sad sign of the times'
In providing a top class. Efficient service. Eur-Ace Security places a major emphasis on staff training with all personnel 'highly trained' in aspects of the security business. Sophisticated equipment is used in most security operations so motivated trained personal are required. Brendan Gilmore enjoys the work, over-coming the various challenges and problems that have to be dealt with each day. He points out that the company's ethos of doing a professional job has contributed to its impressive growth-rate in the last six years. 'The management and staff here are keen to do as good a job as they can and take a keen interest in each contract . It's vital to give the customer good value for what he pays for and provide a good efficient, professional service. Its what we always aim to do.' Although very much a Longford man now, Brendan Gilmore's roots are in Monaghan; in Tyholland where he grew up and played underage football for the local team. In the mid 1950's when still a youngster, Brendan and his family moved from Tyholland and he ended up living in Lanesboro in Longford and was destined to spend most of his football career in Rathcline colours (apart from a brief spell with the Newtown Blues in Louth, helping them to a county title).
Brendan's love for football was inherited from his father john, who played for Tyholland . 'Only for him, I don't think I would have played at all. He had a great interest and often took me to games on the back of a bicycle. His interest in the game had an effect on me,' recalls Brendan, whose mother Kathleen still lives in Lanesboro.
It wasn't long before Brendan himself was making an impact in footballing circles in Longford. Blessed with a considerable talent for the game, his career really took off in 1963 when he helped Rathcline win the Longford Junior Championship - the same year he was chosen on the county panel.
It was the beginning of a long and unprecedented run of success for the Longford team with Brendan Gilmore claiming a place at left full back, although he could easily fill any of the other positions on team, in defence or attack. 'I could play in a number of positions but corner back was where I was usually selected to play. My first game in the county jersey was a challenge game against Roscommon in St Coleman's Park, and I was marking the great Ronan Cravan. It was a baptism of fire.' In the following six years Longford emerged as one of the top sides in the country, winning the National League in 1966 and the Leinster Championship two years later.
Reflecting on it now, Brendan pinpoints a few reasons why Longford did so well at the time. 'For a start' the County Board showed great initiative in getting Mick Higgins, the great Cavan footballer, as our trainer. He was a tremendous trainer, way ahead of his time. Officials like Liam Hastings, who was County Board Chairman for a while, Jimmy Flynn, Fr Mcgee, Eugene's brother, Matt Fox, the board secretary, all showed great initiative and ambition.'
However hard-working and forward-looking the County Board was little could be achieved without the players and Brendan says the Longford squad at the time was a bunch of dedicated, talented people who badly wanted to be winners and were willing to work hard to achieve their objectives.
'It was a coincidence that so many good players should emerge at the same time but all the players were willing to put in the work. There were no excuses for missing training. We would train twice a week and sometimes twice a day at the weekends and as well as training in a group, most of us would train on our own to get that extra sharpness. A trainer can only do so much. We had the players who were prepared to put in that extra bit of effort which is why I wonder if the modern players do put in any more effort in training and preparation than we did, I doubt it.'
While National league and Leinster titles within a two year period is no mean achievement, Brendan Gilmore cannot escape the feeling that the team could, and should have won more. There was the 1965 Leinster Final when the young Longford took on Dublin, lost a few players through injury before and conceded two 'easy' goals from 50's.
The following year the midlanders fulfilled some of their potential by claiming the league title, yet a short time later, they were out of the championship 'we played the league final and a week or two later we lost Louth in the championship. We played them too soon after the league final. It was a mistake, we weren't mentally prepared.'
The big opportunity, Brendan feels, was missed 1967. He feels Longford should have won the Leinster title that year, because the team was at its peak, confidence high. Instead, Meath were provincial champions. In '68 the Leinster crown was picked up but a powerful Kerry team- and some unfortunate lapses- proved the stumbling block. It was the end of the Longford fairy-tale.
Having refereed for many years after hanging up his boots, Brendan is better qualified than most to comment on standards these days and says if referees used discretion and 'commonsense' a bit more rather than a strict interpretation of the rules, the game would be better served.
Disappointed by Longford's defeat in the All-Irelands B Final before Christmas, Brendan is sure manager Eamonn Coleman is taking the team in the right direction. The Eur-Ace Security Consultant is looking forward to what the future holds for his beloved county
Take from Hogan Stand magazine
28th February, 1997
Most Read Stories