Gaels vs Clonguish - Tight but Drumlish always have guile to pull out tight wins at home. Can imagine it being close against a unrecognisable Clonguish team with no bardens, p Dowd, o brien, watters and Enda Wiliams. Dunno how theyll cope. is mahon still on longford panel. enda barden and john dowd to play midfield. Killoe to have too much for Granard team that doesnt have much hunger i think. Abbey should beat Ballymahon despite county player loss this time with home advantage important. Dromard with players of calibre of cahal conefry, james martin, pee maserson and david pettit too strong for ardagh. with only one Keenan available Paddy. Colmcille will eat rats, of that there is no dobt but by a smaller margin than you would expect. 4 or 5 pts, final fixture slashers to beat connolys in dour affair. No hope for connollys the year and relegation looms for the ball boys. mourinho with edge over fergie tonight. Expect drama from the start.

khafelnikov (Longford) - Posts: 91 - 11/03/2009 17:39:12    230298

Some big results so far this weekend in the league.Clonguish lost againwhile mullinaghta beat mostrim and Ardagh beat Dromard by a point.Any opinions???

heyhey (Longford) - Posts: 80 - 14/03/2009 21:37:42    232466

Wouldnt be suprised with most of the results really. Even though Abbey were missing their county players, thought they would have enough for Ballymahon anyway. Wouldn't expect Ballymahon to do much really this year, an average team at best. Also not suprised to see Drumlish beating Clonguish. Clonguish always unpredictable and definitely without county players you wouldnt be banking on big performances from them. Must say Ardagh beating Dromard was a bit of a shock although Dromard will be completely different team with Mimnagh and McGee playin inside. Could say Slashers losing to Connolys was bit of shock but think that Slashers will struggle this year without Mark Smith, Paul Kelly and Adrian Murphy. Mullinalaghta doing well so far, heard JJ Matthews was very impressive. killoe beating Granard also no suprise whatsoever.

Mondo (Longford) - Posts: 148 - 16/03/2009 11:01:48    233068

In fairness I was at the Ardagh - Dromard match.Ardagh were down a few regulars with injuries and for other reasons.Also Ardagh had a man sent off midway through the first half.Dromard had P Masterson sent off midway through the second half and Ardagh probably deserved the win as they played with some real passion in the second half with a strong breeze against them.Ardagh also had Danny Keenan playing because he wasnt in the 24 man squad for yesterdays game against Down.Ardagh also got lucky with their second goal where a ball dropped short and the keeper fumbled it into the net,something which would not have happened had Damien Sheridan being playing.Ardagh led throughout the game and with about 5 mins to play were 4 or 5 point ahead with Dromard pulling it back to within a point.Overall I think Ardagh deserved to win but just about.

heyhey (Longford) - Posts: 80 - 16/03/2009 14:05:43    233205

very disapointing display by our lads against ardagh, but they played the better football and deservedly got the 2 points

dromardabu (Longford) - Posts: 175 - 19/03/2009 16:29:39    234953

the league is so hard to predict this year.its probably a good thing though.Ardagh beatin dromard and clonguish gettin turned over again.Slashers losin to connollys was a shock coz slashers should have almost a full selection,with connollys losin half a team nearly.Any report on that game?connollys gud?any player stand out for either team?Abbey again seem to be doing the business.

iknowmystuff (Longford) - Posts: 33 - 19/03/2009 17:11:15    234989

Unfortunately it looks like my prediction will prove to be correct and our early league form now going pear shaped. Defeat in Drogheda likely as they are much better than recent results indicate leaving us two final games to save our bacon. We were awful in Pearse Pk on sunday. Are the returning players really helping the cause? Well done to Kavo on tuesday not a vintage performance by him but an all ireland medal in his first year is fantastic. Lets hope he is available on sunday next to improve our scoring potential.Some real shocks in Longford Div 1. How could Dromard lose at home to Ardagh and Slashers to Connolly's. Also Colmcille's draw in Rathcline a surprise. Clonguish result also a surprise and please do not take away from St Columba's and FMG beating them as the Clonguish panel now is probably stronger than what they had available for Championship last summer when they were joint favourites for Connolly Cup.Abbey going well and winning games no matter what players available. Still early yet and clubs probably at different levels of physical fitness.

SlasherNavy (Longford) - Posts: 45 - 19/03/2009 17:12:50    234990

Its hard to read too much into early league form at this time of year,of the teams so far Abbey are holding up well without their county players and will be serious contenders for the Connolly Cup in September.

kasbah_bliss (Longford) - Posts: 41 - 20/03/2009 15:28:49    235743

So the league resumes next week and as far as i know all clubs will have there county players. Opinions?
Abbeylara v Rathcline.....Abbey should be comfortable
Colmcille v Emmet Og.....Killoe by 2 points
St Marys v St Columbas....even though Columbas on form granard very hard place to go to, I'll go for a draw.
Mostrim v Fr Manning Gaels....Gaels to edge it.
Clonguish v Longford Slashers...tough one to call but I'l go for Clonguish by a point.
Sean Connollys v Dromard...dromard with Mcgee and mimnagh back shoud win by 4.
Ballymahon v St Patricks...Ballymahon's home advantage to be the difference.

Mondo (Longford) - Posts: 148 - 23/03/2009 15:37:40    237190

i think clonguish will destroy slashers

ondaflop (Longford) - Posts: 83 - 23/03/2009 21:54:21    237624

there should be wins for

Abbey
colmcille
st.columbas
fr manning gaels
clongish
dromard
ballymahon

jackinthebox212 (Longford) - Posts: 20 - 23/03/2009 22:43:41    237687

Full round of games this weekend will be interesting.County players available and teams getting fitter.Many non county players will have used Div 4 games to up the ante.Of course attendance in "Spirals"may also be a factor!!

Abbeylara v Rathcline......home win by 7pts plus.Most impressive team to date or is that just because they are fitter?

Colmcille v Emmet Og.....going for a draw here.Killoe may still be hurting from semi final defeat last yr.

St Mary's v St Columba's...another local derby. Columba's to continue good form and win a close encounterby 2pts.

Mostrim v Fr Manning Gaels....Mostrim to kick start their season after promising so much last yr.Home win by 5pts.

Clonguish v L Slashers...Slashers in my opinion deprived Clonguish of a double last season.If Clonguish had survived that quarter final short so many key players they would have been too good for other teams later.Home win by 5pts plus.

Sean Connolly's v Dromard...Dromard need to start picking up points and should do so here in comfortable manner.Away win by 5pts plus.

Ballymahon v Ardagh....Flynn a loss to Longford and even more so to club. This will be close but going for a 1pt home win.

What you think?

SlasherNavy (Longford) - Posts: 45 - 24/03/2009 10:15:08    237875

As far as I know mondo dromard wont have mimnagh and mcgee.Longford are playing in de league on saturday evening.

heyhey (Longford) - Posts: 80 - 24/03/2009 11:11:21    237925

The boys will be fit to play, game vs limerick on the saturday, so all longford players available to clubs on sunday. connollys would have struggled but if dromard click with masterson, martin, mimnagh and mcgee playin in forward line. no upseets this weekend with form teams winning again, and that includes ardagh to beat ballymahon after dromard win. drumilsh, killoe, mullinaghta, slashers, and mostrim all to record wins.

khafelnikov (Longford) - Posts: 91 - 24/03/2009 12:50:04    238013

abbey not drumlish, before patrons start ramming that one edown my neck

khafelnikov (Longford) - Posts: 91 - 24/03/2009 12:51:29    238017

Theres 1 match down for decision on Saturday evening at 5 o clock. Does either team still have any players on the county panel?

heyhey (Longford) - Posts: 80 - 24/03/2009 13:38:58    238073

The big question is who will win division 6

samanthamumba (Longford) - Posts: 31 - 24/03/2009 23:34:52    238829

Interesting article on emigration concerns on the homepage. Not surprised by it and have no doubt it will impact on every club in the country not just county. Clubs with county players will probably be at an advantage now as no doubt some of the funds raised in Punchestown will be used to keep star players at home.But what of the ordinary club player?
Can i ask;

How many clubs have already lost players? I see figures for FMG's
How many expect to lose players before championship?
What other ideas have clubs came up with to help players obtain jobs? Coaching roles,FAS schemes,Garda reserve!!

The article notes that rural clubs will be hurt more than their urban rivals but in reality apart from Slashers what other club in Longford has "Urban" status? Ballymahon,Shroid,Clonguish,Granard,Mostrim?????

I believe attendance figures at both club and county games will continue to decline this year.Increase in number of live games will also ensure supporters consider the cost of a day out supporting their team to sitting down in front of the box for free (apart from the ongoing licence fee).

On a related issue are we justified paying Ryan and colleagues huge "expenses"in the current climate. Considering performances to date a local manager may be a better option.Ryan is a teacher so his employment much more secure than many players.I believe our medical bill will be enormous this year with a number of very high profile medical guru's treating Longford players.

SlasherNavy (Longford) - Posts: 45 - 26/03/2009 15:35:05    240238

Should have added two further points.

1.More longford players will follow Kavanagh and sign up for clubs in Dublin etc. Attraction of employment will be too great to ignore.
2. Back door/league system should be scrapped at both All Ireland and Longford level immediately.Why burden counties/clubs and supporters with additional costs following and preparing teams through the backdoor.Return to knock out format and attract larger crowds to fewer championship games.Clubs/counties will still have their league program to complete and that is a minimum of 13 games in longford this year.(minimum of 7 for county team)

SlasherNavy (Longford) - Posts: 45 - 26/03/2009 15:46:41    240259

Abbeylara v Rathcline......Abbey should win easy here, alothough rathcline looking better than expected
Colmcille v Emmet Og.....Colmcille to get back on track here
St Mary's v St Columba's....St. Mary's narrowly
Mostrim v Fr Manning Gaels....Mostrim should win this
Clonguish v L Slashers...Slashers
Sean Connolly's v Dromard...Dromard should have too much for poor connollys!
Ballymahon v Ardagh....Ballymahon should have too much

potential suprise might be rathcline...

SonicDHedgehog (Longford) - Posts: 150 - 27/03/2009 12:58:41    241150