Longford manager Padraic Davis following the recent O'Byrne Cup win over Dublin at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
By Cian O’Connell
Padraic Davis has been around long enough not to be getting carried away in any shape or fashion, but there is no disguising the opening few weeks of 2020 have been encouraging for Longford.
For Davis, though, it is merely a start with the focus and objective to retain Allianz Football League Division Three status. Two points have been pocketed, but there is no talk in the Longford camp about Tiered Championships or what the summer holds.
What truly matters is the present and that is why Sunday’s trip to Tullamore carries importance with Davis eager to build on a solid foundation which has been established.
“So far, so good, but the O'Byrne Cup and Louth are now in the past,” Davis says ahead of the Offaly encounter.
“It is very early in the season, we need to pick up points, the very same as every other county. I think it is all about retaining our position in Division Three first and foremost. Then we can see where that takes us.
“I know you have other counties talking about promotion and Tier Two Championships and Tier One Championships, but we are about getting points on the board as quickly as possible, making life that little bit easier on ourselves. I think most counties will be in that frame of mind which makes it all the more difficult.”
Now in his second campaign in charge is there a different dynamic compared to at this exact stage 12 months ago?
“Yet again you are going back into the unknown because obviously it is a different panel you are dealing with this year,” Davis replies.
“I think this group of lads have put their head down, they have worked incredibly hard to date. We have got the little bit of luck that every team needs in terms of staying relatively injury free.
“I think that is the key. It has given us a chance to work with a core group of lads, who seem very focused on what we are all trying to achieve together.”
Davis credits his backroom team, who have worked hard to ensure Longford are well placed to make an impact in 2020.
Longford manager Padraic Davis.
“We have Alan Malone in as our S and C coach and James Murray, two excellent lads,” Davis explains. “Right now we have one injury, one niggling injury. You'd have inter-county squads up and down the country with seven or eight guys on a physio table.
“Alan and James Murray deserve great credit for that. You can't put that down to me or any of the remaining management, they deserve great credit for that. It is the only area we changed. I'm particularly happy with the way those lads have performed.
“Their job first and foremost is to make the players available to the rest of us so we can do our work with them. They have done a brilliant job to date.
“It is certainly a case of touch wood because you need that luck. It isn't all about science getting players available. You do need that luck and every panel needs that luck. We didn't have that last year. We had eight to 10 injured so thankfully that has turned around and long may it continue.
“While we are getting the rub of the green from that point of view now it could change overnight. We are hoping we can avoid that.”
Division Three remains interesting with Davis acknowledging that anything can happen on a given weekend.
“It is hugely competitive this year; I think somebody else has said in the recent past that it is arguably as strong as Division Two,” Davis states.
“You could go in one game from being one of the favourites for relegation to being back up there for promotion. It will ebb and flow. Teams will take points from one another.
“There is no doubt that is going to happen. Leitrim went up to Derry, many would have given them no chance, particularly away from home and based on the two games against them last year. They got a brilliant result away from home, they should have won.
“You are going to see more of that and see lots of that. You have a lot of games to be played, it is going to be hugely competitive. Anyone who can get points on the board earlier it is going to make life easier on you.
“I'd imagine you are looking at six or seven points to make sure, to be absolutely certain you are not in danger of the drop. That is a big ask, three wins and a draw to be absolutely certain.
Longford defeated Offaly in the 2020 O'Byrne Cup Final.
“In Division Three we got seven points, it took three wins and a draw to do so. It is hugely competitive and enjoyable because in many ways a lot of them are like Championship games. We look forward to them.”
During the past decade Longford have repeatedly being forced to cope with the unavailability of key players, but Davis takes a pragmatic approach to the situation.
“I don't find it hard, yes I'm disappointed when lads aren't available, but that disappointment doesn't last too long,” Davis remarks.
“An hour after the phone call you move on. That is very much what we have done. We look at the group we have, the players we have, and we decide on a system that may suit us.
“It is a trial and error operation thereafter. If it fits and fits quickly then you are on the road. You know exactly what you want to do.
“If it isn't happening for you and you're picking up more losses than you are victories it becomes incredibly difficult. Even if you are doing the right thing it is all results based, I think so far I've been lucky and the management team have been lucky.
“What we have been asking lads to do they are well able to implement and as a result we have got a few victories. That helps a team along.
“Certainly there is no lamenting or regretting players we don't have. It is absolute focus from my point of view on the lads I do have.
“We have some fantastic lads there, some of our players there is very little managing on them. They are a fantastic bunch of lads. A lot of these lads have been very successful with their clubs and in terms of individual honours.
“They deserve great credit, they are a very good bunch to work with. I'm one of the more privileged managers in the country, certainly in Division Three and Four. I'm very lucky to have the group that I have and let us move on with them to see where it takes us.”
Regardless of the personnel taking the field throughout the past decade there has been an admirable resilience to the manner in which Longford continue to perform.
Darren Gallagher remains an important player for Longford.
Significant summer scalps have been taking in that time and Davis accepts that the county generally punches well with the playing resources in Longford.
“I think so, no matter who we put out they seem to be the best that they can be,” Davis replies. “I don't think you can ask for anything more than that.
“You look at the situation this year, we have maybe eight of last year's Championship team not available. So it is a big ask to go to be competitive at the same level they were last year, the year before, and the year before that again.
“That is life in Division Three and Four, in particular. It is a case of revolving doors unfortunately. I think while we have lost lads we have gained some serious players. Overall when you look at the five boys that came back to us, a few of them from the US last year and bringing through three, four or five from the underage structure we could be looking at a net gain.
“People won't see it that way, but it is likely and it is going to take a bit of time to see whether that is true or not. We are certainly giving the group we have now the benefit of that doubt.”
Davis, such a gifted forward in his own playing career, is adamant that Longford should always deal in the present. The initial objective for 2020 is to retain Division Three status.
“There is absolutely no chance earthly that in our dressing room any management or players would mention promotion or getting out of Tier Two for the Championship,” Davis admits.
“No way, I don't think we have got ourselves to a level by which we can be talking in those sort of terms. It is very much about getting points on the board, holding our place in the all important Division Three.
“We have been there now for five or six years and we intend staying in Division Three. What we are trying to achieve is from time to time to dip into Division Two.
“That isn't easy because we haven't been there since about 2013. You can see the importance in staying Division Three and avoiding going to Division Four. We have been there in 2011 and again in 2015.
“It is about making sure that the bottom rung for us is Division Three, but that is incredibly hard to do. I think the lads have done a very good job over the last number of years, but it remains a goal for us. We will see where it takes us thereafter.”
