A pall of sadness rests over Longford and Ballymahon GAA this weekend following news of the death of county 1960s goalkeeping star John Heneghan. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO RIP: ‘A Louth and proud man’ who left an enduring legacy in Longford: Owen Johnston lived his life very simply and honestly John, of The Clover, Creevaghmore, Ballymahon, passed to his eternal reward peacefully, surrounded by his heartbroken family, in Mullingar Regional Hospital on Friday, January 30, 2026. His death is particularly poignant since it occurred just twenty-five days after his wife Mary (née Rhatigan) passed away. A lovely couple, they were well known and highly respected by everyone in Ballymahon and beyond. A goalkeeper of renown, John won a National Football League medal in 1966 and he also guarding the net in 1968 when Longford won their only ever Leinster Senior Football Championship title. Longford defeated Laois by 3-9 to 1-4 in the Leinster Final on Sunday, July 21, 1968 at Croke Park and in the earlier rounds they dispatched with the challenge of Dublin (1-12 to 0-12, June 2 in O’Connor Park, Tullamore) and reigning All-Ireland champions Meath (0-12 to 0-7, July 7 in Cusack Park, Mullingar). Longford won the NFL title in 1966 and testament to their standing as one of the greatest teams of that era, five of the side represented Leinster on Railway Cup duty in ’68 – Larry Gillen, John Donlon, Jimmy Hannify, Sean Donnelly & Brendan Barden. While in ‘69, the late John was one of six Longford men on the Leinster squad - Seamus Flynn (who’d the honour of captaining the team), along with Brendan Barden, Jimmy Hannify, Seán Donnelly and Jackie Devine. Unfortunately, Longford’s heroic bid to reach the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final in ‘68 was shattered by Kerry on Sunday, August 4 before an attendance of 34,063 in Croke Park as they lost out by 2-11 to 2-13. The winner of an O’Byrne Cup medal in 1965, John’s place among the pantheon of Longford legends was cemented in 2000 when

placeholder image — A pall of sadness rests over Longford and Ballymahon GAA this weekend following news of the death of county 1960s goalkeeping star John Heneghan. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO RIP: ‘A Louth and proud man’ who left an enduring legacy in Longford: Owen Johnston lived his life very simply and honestly John, of The Clover, Creevaghmore, Ballymahon, passed to his eternal reward peacefully, surrounded by his heartbroken family, in Mullingar Regional Hospital on Friday, January 30, 2026. His death is particularly poignant since it occurred just twenty-five days after his wife Mary (née Rhatigan) passed away. A lovely couple, they were well known and highly respected by everyone in Ballymahon and beyond. A goalkeeper of renown, John won a National Football League medal in 1966 and he also guarding the net in 1968 when Longford won their only ever Leinster Senior Football Championship title. Longford defeated Laois by 3-9 to 1-4 in the Leinster Final on Sunday, July 21, 1968 at Croke Park and in the earlier rounds they dispatched with the challenge of Dublin (1-12 to 0-12, June 2 in O’Connor Park, Tullamore) and reigning All-Ireland champions Meath (0-12 to 0-7, July 7 in Cusack Park, Mullingar). Longford won the NFL title in 1966 and testament to their standing as one of the greatest teams of that era, five of the side represented Leinster on Railway Cup duty in ’68 – Larry Gillen, John Donlon, Jimmy Hannify, Sean Donnelly & Brendan Barden. While in ‘69, the late John was one of six Longford men on the Leinster squad - Seamus Flynn (who’d the honour of captaining the team), along with Brendan Barden, Jimmy Hannify, Seán Donnelly and Jackie Devine. Unfortunately, Longford’s heroic bid to reach the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final in ‘68 was shattered by Kerry on Sunday, August 4 before an attendance of 34,063 in Croke Park as they lost out by 2-11 to 2-13. The winner of an O’Byrne Cup medal in 1965, John’s place among the pantheon of Longford legends was cemented in 2000 when

RIP: Longford and Ballymahon GAA mourns sad passing of 1960s goalkeeping star John Heneghan

Published 1st Feb 2026, 09:33 GMT

Late John Heneghan, The Clover, Creevaghmore, Ballymahon, Longford will be laid to rest on Tuesday, February 3

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Caption: 2016: Sharon, Brenda, John, Mary, Emma and Joanne Heneghan at the Longford GAA Golden Jubilee Banquet to honour the county's National League and Leinster Championship winning teams of 1966 and '68, respectively, in the Longford Arms Hotel. John was Longford's trusty goalkeeper during that era Picture: Declan Gilmore

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Caption: 2000 - The Longford GAA Football Team of the Millennium, as selected by the readers of the Longford Leader, were honoured at a celebratory banquet in April 2000 and pictured are front row l to r; John Heneghan, Jackie Devine, Billy Morgan, Jimmy Hannify Snr, Harry McGann, Vincent Tierney, TJ Ward (representing Dessie Barry) and Brendan Barden. Back; Longford Leader Managing Editor Eugene McGee, Sean Donnelly, Seamus Flynn, Jimmy Hannify Jnr, Mick Casey, Jimmy Flynn, Larry Gillen, Ned and John Regan (representing their father Joe Regan) and GAA President-elect Sean McCague

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Caption: Longford National Football League Champions 1966. Front row l to r; Sean Donnelly, Sean Murray, Brendan Barden (capt.), Larry Gillen, Brendan Gilmore, John Heneghan and Jackie Devine. Back; Mickey Burns, Terry McGovern, Jimmy Hannify, Mick Hopkins, John Donlon, Seamus Flynn, Jimmy Flynn and Bobby Burns.

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Caption: 1966 National Football League 'Home' Final: Longford goalkeeper John Heneghan guards his near post and keeps a close eye on proceedings as his full back Larry Gillen rises high during this aerial tussle with Galway's star full forward Mattie McDonagh.

Longford Ballymahon

RIP: Longford and Ballymahon GAA mourns sad passing of 1960s goalkeeping star John Heneghan

Late John Heneghan, The Clover, Creevaghmore, Ballymahon, Longford will be laid to rest on Tuesday, February 3

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