Former Dublin star Sheedy named as new Longford manager

Former Dublin senior footballer Jack Sheedy was this evening appointed as the manager of the Longford senior and under-21 football teams.

Sheedy takes over from Kildare native Glen Ryan who stepped down in the wake of Longford's All-Ireland qualifier loss to Wexford.

The 1994 All-Star will take charge of a senior inter-county side for the first time, but has had a successful stint with club teams in both Offaly and Kildare.

Sheedy guided Moorefield to Kildare Senior Football Championship success in 2010, while the previous year he managed Edenderry to a Division 2 League success in Offaly.

Sheedy explained what attracted him to seeking to take charge of the Midlands county.

"I look at various different aspects of the Longford set up, the players available, the success and the structures right down to the development squads," he told Shannonside FM.

"There is a very positive, progressive effort being put into the whole system there. It is going in the right direction. It is being presented in the right way to try and get the best out of the young players that are coming through and produce good lads to come on at play at the higher level.

"That was principally the attraction from the outset."

Meanwhile, Sheedy's backroom teams have yet to be confirmed.

Sheedy's first game in charge will be Longford's opening fixture in the Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup in January, with his new side opening their Allianz Division 3 League campaign at home to Roscommon in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park the following month.

Longford's Leinster Championship opener is against Midland neighbours Offaly.