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heard today from a close friend of alan gough livin in co longford that brian mccarthy is signing from bohs onloan for the season...he was also with athlone two years ago and is an ex irish underage international
another name the longford news have said is signing for us possibly next week is robbie hamm current athlone town player..
the new signings are coming in thick and fast :D
Brian Shelley has signed for Bohs so it's possible. Although they've only a squad of 13 at the moment... let's see what happens. I didn't think he was too impressive for Cobh last year but I'd say he'd do well in the First
2 centre backs am I right in thinking that? So whats our first 11 looking like at the moment?
http://www.meathchronicle.ie/articles/2/34802
Royal County loss is Longford’s gain
Brendan Murphy has opted out of the Meath GAA football panel and will play with Longford Town in the League of Ireland this year.
Pic by: John Quirke
Meath senior football manager Eamonn O’Brien has been hit with his first major setback after goalkeeper Brendan Murphy confirmed on Sunday afternoon that he was withdrawing from the panel and that he will be playing soccer with Longford Town this season.
Murphy expressed his desire to leave the panel because he no longer felt that had the appetite required to give the commitment that would be necessary if Meath are to return to the top table of Gaelic football.
The Trim net minder announced that his wife Sharon is expecting a baby in July and that, coupled with his lack of hunger and changing circumstance in his personal life, contributed to his decision.
“It was a very tough decision to make, but I feel I’m making it for the benefit of Meath football,” Murphy told the Meath Chronicle.
“I didn’t feel the same hunger when I went back training this year, and that is not like me. Normally I’m bursting down the door of the gym and raring to get going, but this year I was dreading training and my heart wasn’t in it.
“I could have stayed on the panel and went through the motions because being involved with Meath brings great pride, but I felt I would have been doing the new manager, the team and the supporters a dis-service.
“My decision has nothing to do with what happened last year. After the Limerick game I couldn’t wait to get back into it, but when I started training the motivation just wasn’t there.
“It is better that I have withdrawn from the panel as it allows Eamonn O’Brien to work with David Gallagher and Paddy O’Rourke. Both men are great goalkeepers and Paddy will learn a lot from 'Gally’ and he really is a great prospect for the future.”
Murphy also announced that he will be signing for League of Ireland soccer club Longford Town for the new season and is glad of the opportunity to keep playing in goals, while cutting back on the huge commitment necessary with Meath.
Longford Town have made it clear that Murphy will only have to train once a week and play a game at the weekend. Murphy views that as the perfect compromise.
“There is a big difference in the commitment needed with Longford Town compared to Meath,” stated Murphy who has under-age international honours with the Republic of Ireland.
“I would have commitments on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with Meath, but it will be a lot less demanding with Longford.
“The main difference now is that I will be able to spend four or five nights at home instead of just one or two, I will miss being with Meath, but it is best for all concerned.
“It will be difficult to sit back and watch the game against Dublin in June, but that’s the decision I’ve made.
“I mightn’t get to play a whole lot with Trim either, but I’ll have to see what I can do with Longford, they might let me play a bit,” concluded Murphy.
Murphy will be the second former Meath goalkeeper involved with a League of Ireland club. St Ultan’s player Gary Rogers is still under contract to Premier Division side Galway United, despite rumours linking him to Sporting Fingal.
In Murphy's absence at Newbridge last Sunday, O’Brien stuck with Skryne net minder Paddy O’Rourke as his number one.
David Gallagher was listed as substitute goalkeeper and he is sure to figure is some of the inter-county challenges that will take place prior to the NFL Div 2 opener against Cork in three weeks time.
Sunday’s 1-8 to 1-10 loss to Kildare was a disappointing result for the O’Brien as he was hoping for some more competitive games ahead of the leagues, but he can take heart from the commitment and endeavour produced by his charges in deplorable conditions.
Joe Sheridan’s sparkling 20-metre goal boosted Meath to a 1-6 to 0-5 interval lead.
However, after the turn around Kildare took full advantage of the strong wind and punished Meath’s inability to grab the crucial scores when needed in the opening half.
Navan O’Mahonys David Bray picked up a yellow card late in Sunday’s game at Newbridge, but he wasn’t the only Meath man to receive his marching orders under the new disciplinary rules.
Kevin Reilly saw yellow during DCU’s 0-11 to 0-5 win over DIT. The O’Mahonys player lined out at midfield for the Dublin college and he was joined by Seneschalstown’s Brian Sheridan at full-forward and Longwood’s Rory Maguire, who will have his transfer request to join Wolfe Tones heard by the Co Committee next week, at right-half-forward
Hamm's a left back I think. He scored against Galway in the Cup last season.
Just in this article linking Carmine Russo to the Town as well.
http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/articles/2/34608
Why don't Longford Town just merge with Athlone ! Would be easier in the long run than just bringing the players in one by one. Is being a retirment home or whatever for ex-athlone players what it has come down to ?
And before someone jumps up and down on their keyboard, I know some players have came from other clubs too !!!!!
Yeah it just reminds me of the great Mickey O'Connor era when all the Athlone rejects followed him over!! At least their not as rubbish as some of the lads he brought over but then again some weren't far off!! Whatever about the 2 lads we signed and Hamm I don't think Athlone fans think too much of Russo although I could stand to be corrected!!
It's kind of predictable though that when you're going to be training in Longford (presumably) and you don't have a lot of money you'll be looking at lads who are within driving distance and are pretty cheap. It's just more noticeable now because ourselves and Athlone are now in the same division, we've been training in Longford again after about five or six years of training in Dublin and neither of us have a lot of money. The natural catchment area is players from Sligo, east Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath. A lot of those players that we can afford at the moment will have been with Athlone at some point. I don't know much about any of these individual players and whether they're any use, it's just a general point.
Bring back Frank Darby and Ronnie Murphy too.........;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Town Legend
Just as we're talking about ex Longford and Athlone players I came across this article about Anthony "Jelly" Keenan while looking at the article linked to above. Sad to see he's not at all well.
http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/articles/1/34605/
Heard from the horse's mouth that Gougher contacted ex Dundalk midfielder Paul Crowley on Tuesday evening. Crowley's reluctance to spend another year in the graveyard that is the First Division in addition to Gough wanting to base his coaching in Longford means a deal is highly unlikely. If it's a thing we did manage to sign him, it would represent a major coup for the club as this lad is quality and is really a Premier Division player. Crowley was instrumental in last season's Lily White's promotion campaign to the Premier Division chipping in with ten goals from midfield (striker Robbie Farrell only managed 11!). 19 players were given their P45's at Dundalk after acheiving promotion, absolutely disgraceful on O' Connor's part. Let's hope Dundalk's losses might be our gain though as there are a lot of good players now out of contract.
Any more updates or rumours on possible transfers?
Yeah saw that, a real gentleman. Hope he will be ok.Quote:
Originally Posted by Longfordian
when did jelly keenan play for magic mons magicme??Quote:
Originally Posted by Magicme
read in longford leader yesterday about jelly keenan. jelly was a well known character from his two spells with the club ( 88-91 and 97-98 seasons). he was one of the few players that i built an affinity with on the sidelines and I like to wish him well in his recovery.
see there is going to be a sports table quiz in athlone at the end of the month as a fundraiser for him. just wondering would anyone that posts here be interested in going down to the sports quiz ie enter a ltfc team.. its what he deserves. anyone interested in takin part in the quiz give me a pm...
does carmine russos dad own a sports shop in longford anyone??Quote:
Originally Posted by Town Legend
Doubt it, they live in Offaly. Though you couldn't imagine there being that many Russo's in the Irish Midlands!
As for Anthony Keenan, a fiver from every ticket sold in the upcoming Athlone Town Legends game is being donated to his fund as well. Ash or someone will confirm this, story has disappeared off the iStat website.
Quote:
Originally Posted by atfconline
why what sort of match is this? maybe where I have got confused is the sherlock lad that plays for ye???
As part of the fundraising ideas brought about after the recent public meetings. Teams to be managed by Turlough O'Connor and Liam Buckley.
Quote:
Originally Posted by iStat
Quote:
Originally Posted by iStat
Eric Lavine an Athlone Legend. Hmm.