Longford’s search for a senior football manager has ended with Laois native Billy O’Loughlin.

The 2013 DIT Sigerson Cup winning manager has been given the nod to replace Padraic Davis by the county’s Management & Finance Committee.

“Following a meeting of Longford’s Management & Finance Committee, it was unanimously agreed to ratify for appointment by the County Board the name of Bill O’Loughlin (Arles Killeen & Laois) as the new Longford Senior Football Manager,” a Longford GAA statement reads.

“Bill comes with a great pedigree, both as a player with Arles Killeen and St. Loman’s among others and manager of Sarsfields (Kildare 2020), Laois U20’s (who he brought to a Leinster final in 2019) & DIT (where he had both Freshers and Sigerson success).”

O’Loughlin – whose father Declan served as a selector during Mick O’Dwyer’s time as Laois senior football manager - expressed his delight at being appointed to the role and revealed that he “intends to bring a fresh and dynamic approach to the intercounty set up and that he is looking forward to building on the existing talent and working with emerging new prospects within the county”.

Handball icon Paul Brady of Cavan will be involved in O’Loughlin’s backroom team as a Performance Coach while two local selectors will be appointed in the coming weeks.

The new management team also includes Michael Hannon (Cavan – Coach), Daniel Doherty (Tyrone – S&C), Aidan Kilcoyne (Mayo – Goalkeeping Coach), Ryan McKittrick (Dublin – Analysis) and Ian Mulligan (Stats).

Longford GAA chairperson Albert Cooney said that he was delighted with O’Loughlin’s appointment and in particular the calibre of people involved in the backroom team. He added that he felt that it was worth the wait in order to get the right team.

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