John Heneghan (Gaelic footballer)

John Heneghan
Personal information
Native name
Seán Ó hÉanacháin (Irish)
Born1946 (1946)
Ballymahon,
County Longford, Ireland
Died (aged 79)
Mullingar,
County Westmeath, Ireland
OccupationBusiness owner
Sport
SportGaelic Football
PositionGoalkeeper
Club
Years Club
Ballymahon
Naomh Mhuire
Club titles
London titles 1
Inter-county
Years County Apps (scores)
1965–1970
Longford 11 (0–00)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 1
All-Irelands 0
NFL 1

John Heneghan (1946 – 30 January 2026) was an Irish Gaelic football player and selector. At club level, he played with Ballymahon and Naomh Mhuire and at inter-county level with the Longford senior football team.

Playing career

Heneghan first played Gaelic football at juvenile and underage levels with the Ballymahon club. He made his first appearance for the club's intermediate team in 1966, however, he also emigrated to London that year and spent the next eight years lining out with the Naomh Mhuire club. Heneghan won a London SFC medal in 1968.

At inter-county level with Longford, Heneghan made his senior team debut as a 19-year-old in September 1965. After winning an O'Byrne Cup title that year, he was part of the team that beat Galway and New York to win the National League Division 1 title in 1966.[1] He was also part of the under-21 team that reached the Leinster U21FC final for the very first time in 1966.

Two years later, Heneghan added a Leinster SFC medal to his collection after Longford claimed their first ever title.[2][3] He was also included on the Leinster team for the Railway Cup in 1969.[4]

Post-playing career

Heneghan served as a sepector with Longford's senior team in 1986. He was chosen as goalkeeper on the Longford Team of the Millennium in 2000.[5] Heneghan died on 30 January 2026, at the age of 79.[6]

Honours

Naomh Mhuire
Longford

References

  1. ^ "When New York were feared". Hogan Stand. 10 April 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Five other famous Longford wins". Irish Independent. 3 February 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Leinster Senior Football Finalists" (PDF). Leinster GAA website. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Death of legendary Longford goalkeeper John Heneghan". Hogan Stand. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Funeral of former Longford goalkeeper John Heneghan takes place". Shannonside. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  6. ^ "RIP: Longford and Ballymahon GAA mourns sad passing of 1960s goalkeeping star John Heneghan". Longford Live. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.