Leinster League Division Two

Mullingar 27 Longford 25

Longford's penultimate game in the Leinster League ended up in a disappointing defeat away to near-neighbours Mullingar, who secured a vital win in their bid to avoid relegation.

The slender defeat secured Longford's ninth bonus point of the season, which have proven vital in keeping them out of the trouble that Mullingar have found themselves in.

The first half was dominated largely by Longford, who raced into an early 17-0 lead.

Paul Gallogly got the scoring underway in the opening minutes of the game with a well-worked try. Colm Glynn's kick into the corner set up Longford in an attacking position.

When they were awarded a penalty five metres from the Mullingar line, Longford opted to run the ball with a quick-tap.

Two quick phases later and Longford were over the line, with Paul Gallogly bursting through the Mullingar cover. Colm Glynn added the conversion.

Minutes later, a successful penalty by Glynn made it 10-0 in Longford's favour.

Fifteen minutes into the game, Longford went further in front when a try came from another kick into the corner led to Jimmy Connolly going in under the posts.

As Mullingar defenders looked to let the ball bounce into touch, the last bounce slowed the ball enough for Connolly to collect and race through for a try. Glynn converted to put Longford 17-0 in front.

Mullingar responded well and with their first meaningful foray into the Longford 22, they managed to drive their way over for a  try, which was converted.

The tries kept coming, and on the half hour mark, Longford went over for their third. A backline move saw Longford create an overlap by the time the ball got to Barry Trueick, who raced around the cover to score a try, which was not converted.

Crucially, Mullingar scored their second try just before the break. They kicked to the corner from a penalty, and from the resulting lineout, they managed to drive over the line for a try that was converted to leave Longford leading 22-14.

The second half was just minutes old when Mullingar closed the gap to just one, with a carbon copy of the try they scored before the break, which was also converted.

Longford managed to regroup and put together some phases of play, including some impressive backline moves. Glynn extended Longford's lead to four with a penalty in the 46th minute.

Try number four was millimetres away as the game entered the closing stages. A kick through was chased by Ciaran Kennedy, but he couldn't get the ball into his hands, which allowed Mullingar to clear.

Mullingar, however, finished strongly and two converted penalties by their impressive kicker put them in front for the first time in the game.

Longford did manage to build a late attack, but the drop goal attempt from Glynn fell short.
The league champions, Portarlington, come to the Demesne next Sunday, April 4 (KO 3pm), and Longford will be keen to finish the season on a high. A significant amount of progress, building on the work of recent seasons, has been made this year.

Following Sunday's game, Longford play Wexford Wanderers in the Provincial Towns Plate, on April 11.

Longford:
Stephen Carroll, Ronan Keith, Fran Deffew; Andy Hall, Paul Gallogly; Kevin Coffey, Derek Farrell, Keith Richardson; Dane Costello, Colm Glynn; Ciaran Kennedy, Derek Bannon, Robert Kennedy, Jimmy Connolly; Barry Trueick. Subs: Hubie Connolly for Coffey.

PHOTOS FROM THE MATCH HERE.