Longford 1st XV narrowly lose out away to Portarlington
26/09/2016
Leinster League Division 2A Portarlington 13 Longford 11 260916
Longford RFC had a rather inauspicious start to their
Leinster League Division 2A campaign last Sunday the journey to Portarlington
for the first outing in their new division resulted in a narrow defeat. The trip to Lea Road has never been an easy
one for Longford teams,
but on this occasion a little more sharpness could have seen the team return
home with a few more points in the bag. Longford gave a good account of
themselves in early season contests, but the defensive cuteness and swift line
speed that has been a mark of their play abandoned them in Laois.
The clash with the maroon and white got off to a thundering start with the home
side showing Longford exactly what it means to them to be playing at home.
In the opening ten minutes it was all in for Portâ and the visitors did well to
contain the onslaught. The early exchanges were typified by two packs squaring
up to each other in an effort to set the tone. A significant downpour
just before the start of the game made the playing surface and ball slick, but
this did not inhibit either teamâs efforts to play wide ball. Longford came to
grips with the game and started to assert themselves from minute 20 on.
Runs by Cillian Bartley and Shane Rodgers from the back line tested the
opposition. The fruits of such attack ripened when Eoin Bartley crossed
the line out wide, notching up his first five pointer in a senior jersey. Outhalf
Joe McGowan was unable to add the extras at the time, but a penalty 35 metres
out ten minutes later set the score to 00-08 where it stayed to the break.
Portarlington started the second half as they had the first, only this time the
intencity of the attack saw them cross the Longford line.
The conversion was swiftly added to with a penalty and the home side slid in
front 10-08. Longford pressed the Laois men into their own half and that
pressure resulted on another kickable penalty which McGowan slotted over to put
his side back in front 10-11.
Although the visitors dominated the game for most of the rest of the game Portâ
were the next to secure points. A penalty in the Longford red zone put
them ahead 13-11. The men in black heaped the pressure on their opponents
and although Longford had three penalties in the final 10 minutes they were
unable to get the scores on the board. There were some great performances from
Longford notably Neal Farrell, the afore mentioned Rodgers and Bartley, Benny
McManus, Paul Gallogly and Barry Stewart all putting in star turns.
This was an unhappy start to the season, but not a catastrophic one. Longford
will be looking to make some minor adjustments in order to set the record
straight for the visit by Railway Union next weekend.
Longford Squad; M Bannon, H Connolly, J Forde, A Hughes, B McManus, B Stewart, D Farrell (C), P Gallogly, N Farrell, J McGowan, K Bartley, C Hughes, S Rogers, E Bartley, G McDermott, D Quinn, F McGowan, P Donnelly, P Kirk & J Geelan
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