Longford RFC Senior Notes 13/12/2021

Match Report

Close but no cigar for Longford Senior Men

By Tommy Butler at CPL Park, Longford

12/12/2021 Leinster League Division 1B Longford RFC 20 Boyne 29

Longford Senior Men will be wondering how they let a 15 point half time lead slip to a nine point loss at full time.  This one will really hurt, especially as they dominated the first half and arguably should have scored more points.

Longford kicked off the match played on the main pitch from the clubhouse end with a strong breeze at their backs.  They quickly established both possession and territory and set up camp on the Boyne line.  Longford did not cross the whitewash but knocked over a penalty courtesy of Joe McGowan to take an early lead.  Four minutes later it looked like for all the world that Longford would cross for their first score but a desperate Boyne cover tackle forced a Longford knock over the line.  However, the hosts did have the consolation of another penalty to lead 6-0.  Boyne then established some possession around the half way line but Longford’s defense was more than up to it during the first half.  Longford turned over and then went on the attack, kicking for the corner only to be forced into touch 5 meters out.

The home side continued the momentum and were unlucky not to convert a great break by Podge O’Farrell into some points. However, Longford kept on ratcheting up the pressure and eventually went over wide on the left for a well deserved unconverted try on the 25^th minute mark, to go into a 11-0 lead.  The lead was then added to by another McGowan penalty.  However, on 35 minutes Boyne converted their first real foray into the Longford half into five points.  Boyne kicked to the corner and then threw to the front and then back to the hooker who cruised in unopposed.  This was a big blow for Longford.  However, they did not drop their heads and managed to tack on two more penalties to establish a healthy 15 point lead at half time.

Everything was feeling pretty good in the Longford camp at half time even though they had to play against a strong breeze in the second half.  Glenn Baskett and his troops talked about how important the first ten minutes would be and this proved unfortunately prophetic.  Boyne managed to mount early pressure and go in for a converted try five minutes into the second half.  Longford came back and due to the strong wind opted to kick a penalty to the corner.  Unfortunately, the line out never really functioned for Longford on the day and Boyne turned over.  The home side came back again and with the line at their mercy knocked on.  Disaster then struck when Longford put a kick through while on the attack into the Boyne 22.  It was gathered by their dangerous full back and a minute later Longford conceded a penalty five metres out from their own line, which Boyne turned into seven points to cut Longford’s lead to one point 20-19.  All the momentum had swung to the away side at this point with Longford trying hard but with nothing coming off.  Boyne then took the lead for the first time of the match via a penalty and to add insult to injury, Boyne managed to score a converted try before the end, which earned them a bonus point and denied the home side the slim consolation of a losing bonus point.

So, it was certainly not the way the squad would have wanted to finished 2021, a year that had promised so much but has flattered to deceive.  It is fair to say due to a combination of a glut of injuries/unavailability, bad luck and off field issues that the side have had not anything like the rub of the green.  However, all in the club are 100% behind them and their coaching team lead by Glenn Baskett and are sure that the advent of a new year, will herald a big change in fortunes.  Finally, it was a great credit to field two competitive teams with upwards of 20 senior players unavailable or injured.  The J2 Senior Men also took on Boyne and were very competitive but ultimately succumbed to a loss.  Well done to the whole squad.  If the J2 team is make an assault on the seconds cup later in the season, the key will be getting the whole squad to train together.

Longford J1 Squad.

P O’Farrell, H Connolly (C), D Quinn, B McManus, D Geelan, J Geelan, M McHugh, K O’Gorman, F McGowan, A Wynne, D Connolly, J Bennett, D McHugh, J McGowan, R Shaw, J Forde, Andrew Beirne, F Davis, D Corrigan, J Mimnagh.

Longford J2 Squad

J Forde, P Kirk, S McKeon, P Kenny, P Dardis, B Hanley, D Corrigan, N Flynn, O McGowan, S Coy, A Marshall, S Moorehead, J Byrne, W McDermott, J Mimnagh, J Cooper, M McCallum & B O’Farrell.

Post Match Comments from Longford RFC Head Coach Glenn Baskett

“I thought we took a step up in performance last week against Wicklow and the way we went about our work in the first 40 today was as good. We kept the scoreboard moving with scores in that first half but looking back on it maybe we should have looked for 5 pointers when we were dominant instead of 3’s. But the boys are backed to make those calls on the pitch and I stand by their decisions. But when you don’t score for 1 half of a game you are going to struggle. We talked about winning the first 10 minutes after HT and we didn’t, momentum is key and we let it go to Boyne. The score we gave up from set piece at the end of the first half and the last one from the goal line drop out were disappointing and won’t be a good watch back, but the last one was down to fatigue whereas the first was a system fail. We’ve got ourselves into a position now we shouldn’t be in, the boys are better than the table position. But we are here now with work to do over Xmas to be ready for Cill Dara away. The 2 teams should have won today with the personal out there. And I can’t say enough of the guys that put their hand up today, guys that had things on but did what they had to to get out to play, they know who they are. I go back to my mate saying to me after the Tullow game… “you’ll learn a lot about them over the next few weeks”, well I don’t believe in simple luck deciding moments so let’s see.”

Men’s Leinster League Fixtures/Results 2021-2022

19/09/2021 Longford 09 Wicklow 14

16/09/2021 Boyne 13 Longford 08

10/10/2021 Longford 17 Cill Dara 15

17/10/2021 Clondalkin 15 Longford 34

31/10/2021 Longford 18 v Carlow 13

28/11/2021 Mullingar 22 v Longford 1

05/12/2021 Wicklow 34 v 25 Longford

12/12/2021 Longford 20 v Boyne 29

09/01/2021 Cill Dara v Longford Silken Thomas Park (1^st XV 2.30 2^nd XV 1.00)

16/01/2021 Longford v Clondalkin CPL Park (1^st XV 2.30 2^nd XV 1.00)

23/01/2021 Carlow v Longford Oak Park (1^st XV 2.30 2^nd XV 1.00)

06/02/2022 Tullow v Longford Black Gates (1^st XV 3 2^nd XV 1.30)

13/02/2022 Longford v Mullingar CPL Park (1^st XV 3 2^nd XV 1.30)

The Towns Cup will be played at the end of the league.

Senior Women’s Update

Longford Senior Women travelled to Portlaoise and went down to a very tight 8-5 loss.  Theyd do have the consultation of a losing bonus point though.  They next welcome Naas to CPL Park in the new year.

Women’s Leinster League Fixtures 2021-2022

03/10/2021 Longford v Portlaoise (Conceded by Portlaoise)

24/10/2021 Longford 17 v New Ross 19

31/10/2021 Arklow 19 v Longford 07

14/11/2021 Longford 41 v Greystones 0

28/11/2021 Naas 52 v Longford 15

05/12/2021 Garda/Westmanstown v Longford (Postponed)

12/12/2021 Portlaoise 8 v Longford 5

16/01/2021 Longford v Naas CPL Park

30/01/2021 New Ross v Longford

06/02/2022 Longford v Arklow CPL Park

20/02/2022 Greystones v Longford

13/03/2022 Longford v Garda/Westmanstown CPL Park

Notes

Simon Community Sleep Out 2021 in partnership with the Longford RFC

Thanks to everyone who supported the Simon Community Sleep Out on Friday past were vital funds were raised for the Midlands Simon Community and Longford RFC.

Thanks to Shannonside and Kiernan Steel for supporting the event.

Sin Bin

The Sin Bin Event Centre is back open as per Government Guidelines.  Superb food and drink are available across the weekend (Friday to Sunday) and lunch on Wednesday/Thursday.  Christmas nights are now also available for booking.

Phone 087 346 4914 for bookings or email sinbinbookings@outlook.com.  Check out the Sin Bins Facebook page for updates and specials;  www.facebook.com/thesinbinlongford/