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08/04/2011 SLASHERS REGAIN U-14 FEILE TITLE
2010 County Longford Senior Club Champions
Back Row: D. Sheridan, G. Hourican, E. Nolan, G. Mathews, C. Barnes, P. Brady, N. Mulligan, D. Glennon, A. Murphy, S. Flynn, A. Lyons, B. Farrell, R. Duffy, M. Smith, S. Campbell, R. Barnes, G. Trappe and B. Gilleran. Front Row: A. Lynch, P. Kelly, J. McKeon, T. Glendenning, G. Ghee, S. Phillips, D. Brady, P. Dobson, D. McRory, T. O'Rourke, S. Dann, M. Jennings.
125 year celebrations - click on image to enlarge
From L to R: K. Dalton, H. Griffin, A. O'Brien, N. Caslin, J. Murphy, Eileen Flynn, T. Mulligan, G. Sheehan, D. Brady and H. Brennan
Under 11 hurling Champions (click on imager to enlarge)
(team pictures courtesy of Ray Donlon Photography)
2010 League Tables and Results
GAA CODE Of BEHAVIOUR AND BEST PRACTICE The GAA has launched a Code of Behaviour policy to cover all aspects of and involvements in our games. Whether you are a player, a mentor, a parent or a supporter, there are guidelines in the document which effect you and it is well worth reading. Check it out on GAA.ie ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION (ASAP) The GAA has rolled out a whole structure to deal with the growing problems attached to under age drinking and the abuse of drugs. Each club has an ASAP Officer who is part of a County Committee which deals with this area. Here in Slashers we have an ASAP committee which is representative of the 5 constituent clubs, and which also takes responsibility for the Code of Behaviour. This committee has produced a policy document which has been accepted by all our clubs and which is now part of our official club policy. This policy will be available on this site shortly and should be closely studied by all members. Policies and Forms Longford Slashers GAA Club ASAP Policy 2010 Minor Club Registration Form
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©Longford Slashers 2007 - This site was updated 08/04/2011
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Club Sponsors
INFORMATION ON LONGFORD SLASHERS We are always looking for information about Longford Slashers, either historical or current, to add to our website. Information on games, teams, events coming up and any digital photos, recent or old are vital to keep our website current and relevant. Please send them on to info@longfordslashers.com If you have printed photos we can have them scanned and we guarantee to return them in the same condition. Contact us at the email address above or call our PRO Liam Eivers 087 6364583.
2011 Senior Football Club Committee
President John Murphy 087 2271949 Chairman Donal Brady 087 2589511 Vice Chairman Peter Creamer 087 6004383 Secretary Thomas O'Rourke 087 9363592 Treasurer Tom Mulligan 086 6875590 Assistant Treasurers Liam Eivers 087 6364583 Bernard Duffy 087 2401855 P.R.O. Liam Eivers 087 6364583 Language & Cultural Officer Michael O'Brien 087 1394143 Registrar Pat Chapman 086 8511340 County Board Seamus McRory 087 9966398 Seamus Lee 087 6238053 Kevin Hughes 086 8067752
2011 Minor Football Club Committee Chairman Benny O'Brien 0868527620 Secretary Jerry Sheahan 08705024052
Annual General Meeting 15th January 2011
SECRETARY'S REPORT - PAT CHAPMAN
I want to refer back to one of the opening lines in my report of 2010. “How much we crave for success at senior level, it would mean so much to so many”. I am very happy to report that we have had a great measure of success in the senior club during 2010 and many have been made very happy. The basic facts from 2010 are that we won the Senior football championship, runners-up in both ACL Div1 and ‘Leader cup’, defeated semi-finalists in ACL.Div3, winners of ACL. Div 5A, took part in ‘Junior’ and U-21 championships with, unfortunately, no success in either. Our Seniors played a total of 25 ‘official’ fixtures, 6 – senior championship, I – Leinster club championship, 3 – Leader cup games, 15 – All county league games. Our ‘Intermediate’ squad played 11 games in ACL Div 3. Our ‘Juniors’ played 7 games, while conceding 1 in ACL Div5a and 2 games in the ‘junior’ championship, while our U-21s played 2 games and conceded 1 in the championship. That accounts for some 47 games and there were, also, at least 20 ‘challenge’ games, in various grades. It is therefore very easy to describe 2010 as an exceptional busy season, a very successful one and most pleasing of all was the fact that so many players were playing Gaelic games, representing this club.
The season did not get underway until mid-March due to matters which occupied the County Board and which should not have come in the way of its main purpose, that is, the promotion of gaelic games. This delay did nothing, other than hinder clubs and in the end caused a log-jam in the fixtures, which meant more mid-week fixtures, something that players and mentors do not particularly enjoy.
Our ACL.Div.1 campaign commenced on March 14th. V Fr. Manning Gaels and after 4 rounds of the league we had a total of 4 points with 2 defeats. and by mid April we seemed to get our act together and results started flowing in the right direction. As the league progressed we moved out of the bottom half of the table and very soon moved up to the top and stayed there for the remainder of the league. Our final round game V Carrickedmond , in early October, could have ensured we would win the ACL.Div1 but somehow on the day, we lost focus and let the title slip by the narrowest of margins. Then onto the Leader Cup, and as a result of not winning the ACL.Div1 outright we had to play a quarter final, adding more pressure of our fixture list. Just to jog the memory, we played senior Championship final, 26th. Sept. 2010. ACL.Div 1. V. Mostrim, 3rd. Oct. V. Dromard 6th. Oct. V. Carrickedmond 10th.Oct. Leinster Club C/Ship. V. Garrycastle 24th. Oct. Leader Cup V. Dromard 29th. Oct. V. Abbeylara 7th. Nov. leading eventually to Leader Cup Final 14th.Nov.
That list of fixtures being played by amateurs, would easily take its toll on players, and add to that a number of injuries, and that was reflected in our Leader Cup semi and final games. We lost out on the ‘Leader Cup’ title by the narrowest of margins and it was only then that the curtain came down on our 2010 senior season. This all involved incredible commitment from players and mentors alike. Our senior championship campaign commenced on 18th. July, when we played St. Marys in Edgeworthstown. A nervous start and as we progressed we became more confident and were considered emphatic winners at the end of the campaign. 16 years awaiting for a senior championship title is a long time but that made this success all the more sweet. We must acknowledge the commitment of the players and team mentors. The vast majority of players became passionate in their efford for success and this reflected in their attitude on the playing fields. We had to play a total of 6 championship games, that is the most we ever had to play, to win a championship, all undefeated.
The ‘mentors’ were a very committed bunch of people also and their effords are so very appreciated. A special thanks to the team manager, Denis Connerton. He arrived on our scene in early 2010 and set about building the foundations for a very successful year. His selectors, Benny O’Brien and Derek Ryan were very much part of his plan. In the background were Martin Jennings, Jnr, Seanie Meenaghan, Cathal Cremer, Ozzy Hackett, and Paddy O’Connor. They all had specific tasks that contributed greatly to this great year. We take this opportunity to thank them for their commitment to this club.
There is someone who plays a vital role in the players welfare, has the showers ready for all games and training sessions, dressing rooms at the ready, and most importantly has food ready after most training. We want to acknowledge the massive contribution of Martin Jennings snr. and thank him for all his efford noit just 2010 but many years.
2010 saw the return of ‘Intermediate’ and ‘junior’ grades and this was something our club was in great need of, to provide football to a greater numbers of players. We took part in Div. 3, a team made up of 5 regrades from championship 2009 and players striving to get onto the senior panel. This squad played a total of 11 games, many of which were as compedative as any senior game. From early on in this league we were at the top of the table but it was at semi-final stage that we stumbled, and on 15th. Oct. fielding an understrenght side, due mainly to senior team fixtures and ‘injuries’, we exited the league.
Our ‘junior’ players played in ACL Div. 5A, and had a total of 7 games, and unfortunately had to concede 1 game, but still managed to win the league with a fine victory over Abbeylara in sun-drenched mostrim back on 20th. June. There were times when it was tough-going, to field teams in this league and were it not for the dedication of those who undertook to manage the squad, we would have failed. Our thanks to Joe O’Reilly, Peter Cremer, Billy McDermott, Liam Eivers, Mervyn Clendenning and especially Mick Gilleran, the ‘contact’ man, for their dedication in 2010. The last group of players to get on the stage are the U-21s. It seems as if, when all else is finished, someone realised it should be fitted in. This seems so unfair to this group of players, and a major problem that needs to be addressed is the major drop-out of players just over 18 years, who seem to lose interest in playing. This championship was fitted-in at the end of the season and were it not for the effords of Gerry Clarke, Michael O’Brien, Seanie Meenaghan and Tom Mulligan, we would not have been able to take part. We played 2 games, both ended in defeat and conceded 1, not very encouraging.
Just to recap, we had a total of 47 official games, some 15 more than 2009. This amount of games puts serious pressure on rescources, financial and other, and requires an incredible amount of commitment from a large number of dedicated people. We thank all those involved in playing a part in helping to provide football for so many players. A special thanks to all the players that donned the ‘Slashers’ jersey in 2010. It was obvious that most of you felt proud and passionate about representing this great club on the playing fields. The only ‘down’ to this is a pet-hate of mine, and that is, that, on occassions, a small number of players were not wearing the proper gear/kit, something that could be seen as a measure of indiscipline or disrespect, but maybe this will change. The only problem is the fact that they seem to appear in published photos regularly. We also congratulate all who have been selected on various ‘county’ teams.
Each year there is an improvement in the standard of facilities at our club, and 2010 was no different. The ‘juvenile’ field has been ‘rejuvinated’ with major works carried out during 2010 and in the very near future we will have a top class pitch for all to play on. This has come about due largely to the great and dedicated effords of Hugh Griffin, Aidan O’Brien, John Murphy and Martin Jennings. During the year, Donal Brady and Mervyn Clendenning played a major role in maintaining our grounds and we are happy to acknowledge that. The facilities are always in most presentable order due in no small way to the magnificent work of Irene Jones and the ‘Fas’ employees.
The group, who represent all the disciplines in our club, are very active and focused. They deal with club policy on alcohol and substance abuse, club code of ethics, club discipline procedures and more. This includes John Murphy, Bernard Duffy, Jennifer Simpson(Hurling), Paula Tanner(Ladies football) Micheail Walsh / Damien Bartley(Minor football) and Pauline Gray(camogie) One of the major tasks undertaken by them is to ensure that all mentors and trainers, involved in underage games/coaching, are in possession of Garda Vetting clearance, which is now, compulsory.
We are so fortunate to have a good sponsor, especially in these times. A very big thank you to our main sponsor, UNICARE, pharmacy (Irl). Their sponsorship, along with the other fundraising ventures, namely our now Annual Club Draw and Golf Classic, are indeed our main means of income and need your support and promotion. We urge all members to support our local UNICARE outlets in our town. Our thanks to all directly associated with these, Michael Gilleran and Donal Brady (Unicare), Tom Mulligan, Bernard Duffy, Liam Eivers and Noel Caslin (Draw), Aidan O’Brien, Martin Jennings and Irene Jones (Golf Classic). I would also wish to acknowledge the generous sponsorship received at Senior County Final time. This helped in no small way to provide players kit and was seen as a major bonus by all. There is a really great sense of pride when so many players, senior and under-age can be seen dressed in track-suits, replica jersies, hoodies, sweat shirts etc. bearfuing the club colours and crest. It gives a sense of club identity, something that has not been about except for the past few years. I must particularly thank the Minor club, in this regard, especially Carmel Maguire and Damien Bartley, who are specialising in ‘club’ merchandising. As a result of winning the senior championship and progressing to ‘Leinster’ Club championhip we have benefited from sponsorship from an A.I.B. sponsorship deal. Recently we were presented with essential ‘training’ kit and will benefit from a cash grant in the near future, for which we are grateful.
Our Minor club continue to work diligently at promoting and introducing the youth in the area to gaelic football. They have been led by Ciaran Dalton for some time now, but Ciaran has had to hand over the reins as he has moved from this area for work reasons. The job of running the Minor club now falls to Benny O’Brien, and we wish him well in his endeavours. He is very fortunate to have a great crew of willing and enthusiastic helpers and while success has been scarce and is important, it is vital to remain focussed on the promotion of our games and the involvement of the youth of the area in healthy outdoor activities.
It is a very few short years ago since our Ladies football club again became active and 2010 has proved to be a very successful year indeed. Under the watchful eye of Niall Philips and a willing band of helpers, this section has made great progress and continues to encourage young people to take part in outdoor games.
The ‘Hurling’ and ‘Camogie’ clubs continue to introduce young people to the great game of hurling. The club is indebted to all who help out in any way, but especially Sean Stakelum ( Snr), Martin Jennings, Martin Glennon, Jennifer Simpson and Niall Ward, who works extremely hard at coaching under-age.
A special ‘thank you’ to our friends from the press. Unfortunately, they are becoming fewer with the closure of the ‘Longford News’ during 2010. To Padraig O’Brien of the ‘Longford Leader’, thanks for all your help.
My sincere thanks to my fellow officers. I can assure you of their sincere efford in the everyday running of this great club. We are all merely caretakers who are given and take on the responsibility of carrying on the traditions of those who founded Longford Slashers.
Our deepest sympathy is extended to our members and club friends who suffered bereavements in 2010. Ar dheis De go raibh a nainmWe extend congratulation to all those connected in any way with the club, who had the joy of either births or marriages. Padraig O’Chapman
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