Chapter 7: The 2000's

At the turn of the millenium, Longstone were to begin in Division 2, after a previous loss in the play-offs. However, this decade was the start of unheralded success for the club. There was not much to boast about on the senior stage, as we had become a mid-table second division side, but the U-15 squad won the Ulster Óg Sport at St. Oliver Plunkett Park, Crossmaglen, after claiming the Down title at Downpatrick by defeating heavy favourites An Ríocht in that final. At Crossmaglen, in a controversial straight knock out tournament, they quite easily defeated Derrygonnelly of Fermanagh in the first round, won an extraordinary game against Glenties of Donegal in the semi, then beat Killeshil of Tyrone in the Final.

The hall underwent major redevelopments, and the addition of 2 more changing rooms and a sports hall were made. The top tier of the hall was modernised, and the Sports hall was aptly named after the all-time great, Ambrose Rogers.

2001 saw the return of Longstone to a major championship final after 9 years, under the guidance of P. J. Magee, when the Senior team won through to the Intermediate decider against a strong Warrenpoint side. But it was not to be as Warrenpoint walked out of Páirc Esler with the W. J. Farrell Cup. P. J. Magee said after the final, "You have to learn how to lose a final before you win one". How true he proved to be!

The team were back in the Intermediate Final in 2002, and once again went in as underdogs against Saval. The Saval side had just wrapped up the league title and were looking to add the Championship for a double, but the pain of the previous season's defeat spurred the 'Stone on and we ran out easy winners on a scoreline of 1-13 to 1-7. When the final whistle sounded at St. Patrick's Park, Newcastle, there was a sea of red and white all over the pitch.
That season also seen Longstone gain promotion with Saval, and the 'Stone made sure that Division 1 status has not been lost and have stayed there for many years after.
This was not all a good year for the 'Stone, as an All-County Bosco side showed their class and beat the 'Stone at Páirc Esler, Newry in the Minor Championship.
The U-21 team suffered defeat in the County Championship to Kilcoo, after winning the South Down competition.

In 2003, Longstone won the Castlewellan Sevens tournament for the first time in the club's history. The 'Stone had a strong team under the captaincy of Michael Higgins. Barry Doran picked up the Player of the Tournament on the same day.
The U-21 team avenged last season's defeat to win the County Championship against Bryansford on a scoreline of 0-13 to 0-10.
The minors won the SD League, beating An Ríocht in the final.
The U-16 team lost in the final of the SD League to Mayobridge.
The redevelopments of the pitch made it a pitch to be proud of when new perimeter walls, ballstops, goalposts and a new electrical scoreboard were installed. The pitch was also lengthened by a few metres, showing the club's giant leap into the future.

2004 showed that the club's newly-found success wasn't a one-off, as the Sevens team got to the final of the Castlewellan Sevens, only to be beaten by St. Gall's of Antrim. This earned an invitation to the Kilmacud Sevens, but the team failed to make it out of the group.
The Reserve team were shocked by a decision in Tullylish, which allowed the 'Stone to advance to the ACPRL Division 1.
The U-21 team suffered defeated in the SD Final, and the Minors suffered defeat in the SD League Final.

In 2005, the Senior team avoided the relegation play-offs a week after their fixture schedule finished, as a result elsewhere kept the 'Stone in the top flight for another season.
The Sevens team won the Castlewellan Sevens for the second time in three years, and got to the semi-finals in the Kilmacud Sevens.
The U-12 team made the final of the 'B' Championship, which shows some great prospects for the future.
The redevelopments of the pitch resumed, with the fencing around the field being replaced and the dug outs being replaced, yet another sign of the club's continuing ambitions for the future.

2006 saw one of the club's most sucessful seasons in senior football. In the ACFL Div 1, Longstone reached the final, only to be creully denied the title in the closing minutes after conceding a late goal. This showed a great improvement from the previous year, as the club were locked in a relegation battle previously.
The Sevens team continued their sucess through from the previous season by winning the Castlewellan Sevens tournament yet again, and went one better at Kilmacud by reaching the final, only to be denied by a penalty shoot-out.
The minor team were also beaten in the final minutes by a late goal in the final of the MFC B competition.
The U-16 team picked up more silverware for the club, winning an Invitational Sevens tournament in Belfast.

2007 yielded more finals for the club. The seniors reached the SFC final for the first time in 21 years, only to be defeated in a replay by holders Mayobridge, with the sky blues needing a late goal to lift the title.
The Sevens team went one step further in Dublin this year, beating St Galls in the final of the Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland 7s competition.
The U-16 football team lost in the final of the league to a strong Attical/Glasdrumman team.
The camogie team lost in the Division 4 league championship final, while the U-16 camogie team lost in the league final to Ballycran, after a replay.
The club continued to run their annual underage tournaments, with U-14, U-12 and U-10 competing in Longstone Park, while on another day, the U-8s enjoyed a day of indoor football due to heavy rainfall on the day of the tournament.
This year, the pitch saw more redevelopments, with the sides of the pitch receiving a facelift, with concreted standing areas added.