Leinster U14 Plate Final 

Donnybrook Stadium

Longford U14 10 Wexford 22

Longford’s under 14’s quest for silverware at the end of a long season came up just short when they had to give second best to Premiership side, Wexford, in the Plate final played in front of a large crowd in Donnybrook on the Bank holiday Monday.  While the scoreline of 10-22 would suggest a somewhat one sided affair this was certainly not the case and it was only an intercept try at the death for the victors which created a somewhat unbalanced scoreboard at the end.  Indeed, having clawed their way back from 17-0 down it was Longford who finished the stronger and a further score to bring the game to a replay would not have been an unfair result. 

Although playing in Division 1, Longford had already taken the scalp of Premiership side, Navan, in the semi-final, and deservedly so, and there was no reason to be apprehensive when facing another Premiership side in the final.  Unfortunately, unlike in the semi-final when they got a dream start with a try after a couple of minutes, Longford found themselves on the back foot in the early stages and a well worked move along an unguarded blind side yielded try to Wexford after just two minutes.  In fairness to Longford, however, they regrouped and with the aid of the breeze at the backs laid siege to the Wexford line.  Good carrying from, in particular, Maks Napieralski, Ciaran McCormack and JJ Jackson kept the momentum going but Wexford stood firm for a 10 minutes period of sustained pressure.  Indeed, perhaps a little bit more composure and variation in the play might have yielded the score which could have had a significant psychological outcome on the game.  That Longford failed to capitalise on their territory and possession gave Wexford considerable heart and they capitalised after 15 minutes when they exposed Longford again on the blind side for another try wide out.

With neither try converted Longford were certainly facing an uphill battle, playing into the stiff breeze in the second half and their cause was not made any easier when they conceded a third try, this time converted, to fall 17 points behind just three minutes after the restart.  Many teams would have given up the fight at that stage but, to their credit Longford rallied and quickly gave themselves a lifeline when a solid scrum gave Shane Mallon the opportunity to drift his way through the Wexford defence for an unconverted try.  With five points on now the board Longford again laid siege to the Wexford line and it was clear that the ultimate victors were rattled because they began to concede penalties at the breakdown in a desperate effort to keep Longford at bay.  Eventually, after 13 minutes, Longford’s pressure paid dividends when Shane Mallon again burrowed his way over following a succession of penalties.  With just a converted try between the two sides it was all to play for and Longford certainly had their fair share of territory and possession but could not make the breakthrough.  On the few occasions Wexford did threaten out wide some excellent defensive work from Jamie Byrne, Kieran Reen and Mossie McDermott kept them at bay and only an unfortunate interception as Longford sought to keep play alive eventually sealed the victory for Wexford. 

While the result on the day was obviously disappointing, Longford can take great heart from the huge progress made over the course of what has been a long season.  From being an average Division 1 side last year and not challenging for any silverware at the business end of the season they have progressed to being one of the top Division 1 sides in Leinster, progressing the semi-final stage in the Midland League, securing a semi-final place in the Leinster League, being able to more than hold their own against two Premiership sides on successive weekends and giving an excellent account of themselves in Donnybrook Stadium in the Plate final.  The playing base has expanded considerably over the season and a number of the newcomers show great promise for the future.  All told, therefore, despite the Plate final disappointment, it can be classified as a very successful season.

Squad: Gary Kenny, Mark McHugh, Jack McManus, Ciaran Shannon, JJ Jackson, Dylan Fay, Connor Cox, Ciaran McCormack, Ben Carthy, Ultan O’Sullivan, Daire McManus, Mossie McDermott, Aaron Farrell, Shane Mallon, James Doyle, Jack Sullivan, Charlie Patterson, Frank Patterson, Jamie Byrne, Killian Rawle, Maks Napieralski, Kieran Reen.