Longford RFC Club Notes 2802202   01/03/2022

Longford Senior Men Secure Division 1B Status for another year

20/02/2022 Leinster League 1B Cill Dara 17 Longford 27

By Tommy Butler

Longford completed a full Lazarus like recovery in securing 9 points out of a possible 10 from their final two league games of the season versus Mullingar and Cill Dara, to move out of the relegation play off position and eventually finish the league in a respectable fifth place, after overtaking both Tullow and Mullingar on the last day, the later team who now have to play a relegation/promotion playoff versus DLSP.

It was very much touch and go whether the match versus Cill Dara would go ahead at all, as a consequence of the repeated storms recently battering Ireland.  However, after a pitch inspection and hard work from Cill Dara, the match was given the go ahead.

The playing conditions were extreme to say the least with many experienced campaigners having said they never witnessed a match being played in such a combination of wind and cold.  A few weeks before Longford played against Tullow in windy conditions but this was another level.  Indeed, Longford took away good learnings from that match in electing to play with the wind in the first half.  The wind was that strong that it made getting out of your own half virtually impossible.

Longford knew that they had to try and rack up a substantial score as the wind advantage would mean they were going to be virtually pinned in their own for the second half and that they did with aplomb.  Longford logged three tries in the first half from Packie Molloy, Joe McGowan and Finbarr McGowan, with a penalty from Ryan McHugh to bring a 20 point lead into the second half. 

Cill Dara then used the wind to come back hard at Longford.  Longford hussled hard in defense but were under a lot of pressure.  The key score of the second half was a great break out try finished off by George McDermott to leave Longford’s final points total at 27 and importantly secure a four try bonus point.  Cill Dara crossed the whitewash three times in the second half to bring their total to 17 points.  However, after what felt like the longest second half of all time, Longford held on to secure a 10 point bonus point win and secure their place in Division 1B for another season.

For a squad that have had everything run against them all season, the heart and determination shown in the last two games has made everyone in Longford RFC exceptionally proud and augers very well for the future.

Longford Squad: P O’Farrell, H Connolly (C), D Quinn, B McManus, D Geelan, J Geelan, M McHugh, P Molloy, F McGowan, A Wynne, J McGowan, D McHugh, G McDermott, C Hughes, R McHugh, L Brady, P Dardis, F Davis, R Shaw & D Connolly.

 

Longford 2nd XV warmed up for their 1st round Cup clash versus Boyne on Saturday with a good work out versus the UCD Veterinary College team going down 30-20.  There were many good performances from Longford players with some excellent rugby being played, which augers well for Saturday.


Leinster League 1B 2021-22 Final Table


Pos 

Team 

Pld 

PF 

PA 

Diff 

BP 

BP 4-try 

BP L 

Ded 

Pts 

1

Boyne

14

12

0

2

443

239

204

10

9

1

0

58

2

Wicklow

14

12

0

2

307

185

122

8

6

2

0

56

3

Co Carlow

14

8

0

6

267

248

19

6

4

2

0

38

4

Cill Dara

14

6

0

8

245

293

-48

7

4

3

0

31

5

Longford

13

6

0

7

255

254

1

5

3

2

0

29

6

Tullow

13

5

0

8

261

252

9

8

2

6

0

28

7

Mullingar RFC

14

5

0

9

281

288

-7

6

2

4

0

26

8

Clondalkin

14

1

0

13

188

488

-300

2

2

0

0

6

Cup Weekend

Longford Senior Men are both preparing for the First Round of the Provincial Towns Cup this weekend.  Both teams have been given tough draws with the 2nd XV at home to Boyne on Saturday, while the 1st XV are away to Carlow on Sunday. However, both teams will go into the fixtures in buoyant mood especially following the 1st XVs brilliant recent performances where they overcame Mullingar and Cill Dara to finish fifth in the league.  Carlow finished just ahead of Longford in the league, with honours even as regards wins this season.  Longford won 18-13 at home while going down to a more recent 29-05 defeat in Carlow.  The away defeat was one of those days where everything went right for the home side and the opposite for Longford.  However, Longford know that they will need to produce a great all round game to see off Carlow in Oak Park.  It is not beyond Longford who with a few different rubs of the green would have been challenging for league honours.  The Towns Cup is always a very exciting event and one that Longford have faired well in recently, reaching a final and semi-final in the last decade.  The equivalent for the 2nd XV is also an exciting tournament so your support in CPL Park on Saturday at 3 for the 2nd XV and away in Carlow on Sunday at 3 would be very appreciated, on a weekend that the Six Nations is taking a break.

Provincial Towns Cup Draws

Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup 1st Round (all games Sunday March 6th, 3PM)

County Carlow FC v Longford RFC
Wexford Wanderers RFC v Boyne RFC
Edenderry RFC v Cill Dara RFC
Enniscorthy RFC v Mullingar RFC
Clondalkin RFC v Portlaoise RFC
Wicklow RFC v Naas RFC
New Ross RFC v Tullow RFC
Arklow RFC v Tullamore RFC
Navan RFC v Roscrea RFC
North Kildare v Skerries RFC
Balbriggan RFC v Athy RFC
Newbridge RFC v Midland Warriors RFC

Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup 2nds Cup (all games Sunday March 6th, 3PM)

Longford RFC v Boyne RFC
North Meath/Athboy v Clane RFC
Wicklow RFC v Rathdrum RFC
Tullow RFC v North Kildare RFC
Ashbourne RFC v Portlaoise RFC
Mullingar RFC v Edenderry RFC
New Ross RFC v Wexford Wanderers RFC
Gorey RFC v Ardee RFC
County Carlow FC v Birr RFC
Portarlington RFC v Athy RFC

Byes
Naas RFC
Newbridge RFC
Cill Dara RFC
Kilkenny RFC
Dundalk RFC
Clondalkin RFC

Senior Women

Longford Senior Women’s did not have a game this weekend and travel to Greystones this weekend for their last away weekend of the season.

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 07 v Longford 17

06/02/2022 Longford v Arklow CPL Park (Conceded by Arklow)

06/03/2022 Greystones v Longford

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


Notes

Strange match in Landsdowne Road

Ireland achieved a good fillip in their points difference if nothing else in a rather bazzar match against Italy yesterday, where Italy played most of the match with 13 men.  Firstly, Italys hooker broke his arm and went off injured.  This was followed by their replacement hooker being sent off for a high tackle.  As Italy did not have another player that could play hooker, the scrums reverted to uncontested.  As a result of a serious controversy between France and Wales a number of years ago when France were destroying the French scrum and a member of the Welsh front row controversially went down injured, to make sure the scrums were then uncontested, it was deemed that the team who cannot field the front row would lose another player so as not to gain an unfair advantage from uncontested scrums.  It is a bit of a mouthful and one that ruined the match in the Aviva as a spectacle.  The best way to probably deal with it in the future, is give the referee some discretion to make a decision appropriate for the circumstances.  France looked very impressive versus Scotland and will be hard stopped for the Grand Slam.  Ireland now travel to Twickenham to face an English side who have flattered to deceive so far in the Championship.  It is a game both sides need to win to stay in the hunt for the title and will tell a lot about where both sides are at come final whistle.

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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