Longford RFC Notes 24/01/2022   24/01/2022

Senior Men

Longford Senior Men have a day to forget in Carlow

16/01/2022 Leinster League 1B Carlow 29 Longford 05

By Tommy Butler at CPL Park

Longford Senior Men travelled to Oak Park in Carlow with their tails up after a big win versus Clondalkin the week before but unfortunately even with best laid plans, it became one of those days where no matter how hard Longford tried, nothing went to plan. The weekend did not start off the best with over twenty players out injured or not making themselves available, meaning that Longford 2nd XV could not fulfil their fixture.  Hopefully, a lot more players will put their hands up in coming weeks with the Provincial Towns Cup for both 1st and 2nds looming large on the horizon. However, Head Coach Glenn Baskett assembled a good squad and hoped that Longford could replicate their attacking prowess of the week before.

The match started off disastrously for Longford, when Carlow quickly got on the front foot. They earned a penalty, kicked into the Longford 22 and then after mauling the ball from the lineout, spread the ball out wide, to cross for an unconverted try. Longford then came back into the game and earned a kickable penalty, which unfortunately did not go through the posts. Longford continued putting Carlow under pressure and earning a five metre scrum. However, Longford unfortunately knocked on before crossing the line to relieve the pressure. Longford kept Carlow in their 22 but then got pinged for accidental offside while on the attack and then to add insult to injury, after working a good move at the front of the lineout, knocked the ball on, with the line at their mercy.

You have to take your opportunities against a good team like Carlow, who then worked their way back up the pitch, scoring another unconverted try before half time to leave Longford starting the second half with a ten point deficit. The half time talk from Glenn Baskett was surely to cut out the mistakes and up the aggression in defence but unfortunately try as Longford might, it was not enough to turn the tide. Longford did have their opportunities in the second half, especially with Carlow playing it for 20 minutes with only 14 men due to two yellow cards. However, Carlow ran in three more tries to Longford’s one, which was scored by Simon Moorehead, to run out 29-05 winners. A day to forget. Longford’s focus now turns to an away game versus Tullow in two weeks times, which is a big one for two teams who were aiming towards the top at the start of the season but now find themselves at the lower end of it.

Longford Squad: P O’Farrell, H Connolly (C), D Quinn, F Davos, D Geelan, Aaron Beirne, M McHugh, K O’Gorman, F McGowan, A Wynne, J Mimnagh, D McHugh, G McDermott, J McGowan, R McHugh, J Murray, P Dardis, J Geelan, P Molloy & S Moorehead.

 Post-Match Reaction from Longford Senior Men’s Head Coach Glenn Baskett

“That’s a disappointing day in Carlow. We knew they would come at us after we physically dominated them in Longford and defensively, they came at us with a lot of line speed that we didn’t deal to well with. A really slow start allowed them a soft score in the first few minutes and from there we took a little while to get into the game.  But when we did, we got breach on their line and put ourselves into scoring positions but didn’t finish them.  Defensively I’m disappointed with our work we didn’t impose ourselves on Carlow and simply fell off too many tackles if we are honest.  I think the frustration is we made great progress on what we do with the ball the last few weeks and then we are just off today without the ball and that stings. On the positive side +5’s or spark plugs did what you hope they’d do and added energy to the group. Now we look to Tullow on the road, like us not where they want to be so it’s all to play for.”

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 11

05/12/2021 Wicklow 34 v 25 Longford

12/12/2021 Longford 20 v Boyne 29

16/01/2021 Longford 48 v Clondalkin 05 CPL Park

23/01/2021 Carlow 29 v Longford 05 Oak Park

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

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

TBC Cill Dara v Longford Silken Thomas Park (1st XV 3.00 2nd XV 1.30)

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

Senior Women

Longford Rugby Club had the privilege of hosting the Senior Women’s Midland League Finals in CPL Park on Sunday past.  A big crowd attended.  Mullingar took on Edenderry in the Plate Final with Edenderry emerging as the winners. Longford took on Division 1 Tullamore in the Cup final and although gave a good account of themselves recorded a 34-0 loss. It was a great credit to Nuala McGoey and their squad that they reached the final for the first time. Next up is the visit of New Ross to CPL Park on Sunday week.

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 32 v Naas 20 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

Rugby Round Up

The final weekend of the group stages of the Champions Cup took place over the weekend with all four Irish provinces qualifying for the knock out stages for the first time. Leinster hammered Bath and look in good shape to challenge for honours again. Connacht were again pipped at the post, this time away to Stade Francais. Ulster made it four from four with a good home win versus Clermont, while Munster put away Wasps well. Overall, the last sixteen draw pits Leinster v Connacht, Ulster v Toulouse with Munster taking on Exeter. Next weekend sees a round of the United Rugby Championship before attention turns to Ireland v Wales on the opening weekend of the Six Nations.

URC Irish Fixtures

Friday 28th Ulster v Scarlets 7.35 PM

Saturday 29th Connacht v Glasgow 2.55 PM

Saturday 29th Zebre v Munster 5 PM

Saturday 29th Cardiff v Leinster 7.35 PM

Longford RFCs Fantastic Underage Section

Longford U14 Girls

Well done to Chair Gerry Carthy and all involved in Longford RFCs Mini/Youths Section over the weekend past.  Not only did they run a highly successful Blitz for our U11/U12 players with many visiting clubs they also hosted a plethora of other Youths Matches.  All being told there was over 350 Underage Players playing in Longford on Saturday and that is not even including some teams on the road.  Well done.  We are still accepting new players at all age levels both Male/Female.  It is never too late to give it a go.  For more information, please email lrfconnects@gmail.com and we will put you in touch with the right coach.

Action from U11/U12 Blitz

Thank You

As Covid restrictions finally relax, everyone would like to say a big thank you to Gerry Larkin who was our Covid officer during the period.  We had no outbreaks at the club and that was undoubtedly down to Gerry and his team of volunteers. Gerry serves on the board as Head of Administration and is responsible for the smooth running for the excellent facilities we have.  Please thank him the next time you see him!

Appointment of Leinster Rugby CCRO

Longford RFC are pleased to announce that Aoghan Clark has been appointed as the new Longford Rugby Club Community Rugby Officer (CCRO).

As part of its commitment to rugby throughout the province, Leinster Rugby employ 41 CCRO’s who, under the guidance of the area Community Rugby Officer, work with clubs, schools and community groups to deliver tailored rugby programmes and expand the game of rugby within the clubs and schools of the province. While promoted by Leinster Rugby, the programme is supported and part funded by Longford County Council.

Hailing from Ferriskill, Mostrim, Aoghan has had a lifetime of involvement in sport, through the GAA, club rugby and athletics initially and, for the past four seasons, as a coach with Longford RFC Minis and Youths. Aoghan will be linking up with schools in the Longford area to discuss the programme but in the meantime, he is contactable at longfordccro@leinsterrugby.ie should any schools wish to initiate contact with him.

Leinster Rugby and Longford RFC join in wishing Aoghan all the best in his new role.

Fantasy Six Nations

Longford Senior Men will be running a fund raising Six Nations Fantasy League. Entry will be only €10 with a cash prize of €200 to be won by the overall winner, a €100 voucher for the Club great Sin Bin restaurant for second place and a €50 prize for third place. Online entry will be available soon. Stay tuned to our social media for updates. We ask all members and friends of the club to support the competition, which should be great fun.

Sin Bin

The Sin Bin is back open this week from Wednesday January 20th, as per Government Guidelines. Superb food and drink are available across the weekend (Friday to Sunday) and lunch on Wednesday/Thursday.

Phone 087 346 4914 for bookings or email sinbinbookings@outlook.com. Check out the Sin Bins Facebook page for update, specials and updated opening hours; www.facebook.com/sinbinlongford












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