Ryan departs from Longford post

Glenn Ryan has quit as Longford senior football manager after five seasons in the position. An extra-time defeat to Wexford in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers last month was his final match in charge.

A short statement released on the official Longford GAA Twitter account confirmed Ryan's departure. "Glenn Ryan has stepped down as senior team manager. We wish Glenn well and thank him for his efforts and the success he brought to Longford," it read.

Unfortunately for the former Kildare star, his final season with Longford was a disappointing one with relegation from Division 2 during an injury-hit Allianz League and a Leinster Championship first round loss to Wicklow.

Although Ryan's charges recovered to beat Limerick in the All-Ireland qualifiers, helped by an eight-point haul from Seanie McCormack, their Championship run was ended by that 2-15 to 0-16 reversal by Wexford at Pearse Park.

Longford's best moments under Ryan often came in the qualifiers with Leitrim defeated in his debut season of 2009 and the following summer they lowered the colours of current Connacht champions and All-Ireland hopefuls Mayo.

They showed promise in the league with Division 4 success in 2011 and last season saw them also claim promotion and the Division 3 title, beating Wexford in a tight final with free-taker McCormack landing eight points.

They did threaten to make a breakthrough in that summer's Leinster Championship with an opening round victory over Laois, but league rivals Wexford gained revenge on them in the next round and Limerick duly knocked them out in the qualifiers.

Ryan's successor should at least have some talented youngsters at his disposal with Longford contesting two of the last three Leinster Under-21 finals - they scored a shock win over defending All-Ireland U-21 champions Dublin in this year's Leinster U-21 Championship.

Among those already mentioned as possible replacements for Ryan are current Longford U-21 boss Eugene McCormack, Padraic Davis, who has been one of Ryan's selectors, and former Longford player and assistant manager Declan Rowley who had a managerial stint with Leitrim.

Notably, Rowley spoke in May of his expectation that Ryan's tenure at Longford's helm was coming to an end.

Speaking to Shannonside FM at the time, he said: "I think five years is a long time. What's been moving Glenn positively with Longford, I suppose, is that they've had a bit of success along, they've won the Division 4 and 3 titles.

"That gives you momentum and keeps you fresh, but once a losing streak starts coming and it's the end of a five-year run, it is the natural end to a reign.

"I think that Glenn himself will know that it's coming towards that end and the players will need a new voice and a new challenge."

Emphasising that injuries and the unavailability of certain players took its toll, he added: "Glenn has given five good years to Longford football. He took big hits this year, Declan Reilly missed most of the year, Brian Kavanagh was in America, David Barden was gone, Paul Barden wasn't available for most of the year, Diarmuid Masterson and Paddy Dowd weren't available."