Mini/Youth Playing Information & Training Times

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There will be a IRFU Stage 2 Coaching Course in the club in mid November – it takes place on 2 Wednesday evening’s and a Saturday morning at Longford RFC. It is designed for those coaching Youth’s Rugby U13 – U16 but is also the first phase for those who aspire to coach at adult level. You must be available to attend all three modules to complete the course. Bookings must be in by Fri 11^th November so please contact Trevor McHugh immediately if you are interested – 087 2532614 – tmch@eircom.net

Wed 16^th November 7pm – 10pm

Sat 19^th November 9am - 2pm

Wed 23^rd November 7pm – 10pm

Youth’s Fixtures 

Sat 12^th Nov

U13’s vs. Edenderry (Home)

U14’s vs. Birr (Away)

U15’s vs. St. Paul ’s (Away)

U16’s vs. Navan (Home)

U17’s vs. Ashbourne (Home)

U18’s vs. Ardee (Home)

Youth’s Results

Longford U14 14  Edenderry 27

Longford U15 27 Birr 5

Longford U18 29  Dundalk 12

Match Reports

U15 Leinster League

Longford U15 27 Birr 05

Showing further marked improvement week on week Longford’s U15s notched up a second victory in the League at home to Birr on Saturday.  Over the years when playing at U12, 13 and 14 level there has been very little between the sides, each team tending to win its home game, but Longford were comprehensive victors on this occasion, the win grounded on excellent defence work which by and large snuffed out any attacking threat from the visitors and at the same time created a plentiful supply of turnover ball.  In fairness to Birr, it was not all one way traffic and they certainly had the upper hand in the early exchanges and also had the edge in the scrum for much of the game.  What was most pleasing from Longford’s perspective was a solid defensive system coupled with a significant increase in intensity when compared to the performances in the early part of the season.  Added to this, the newer players are showing up well and settling into the side.

The opening 10 minutes was dogged enough with neither side able to secure a significant advantage over the other but Birr slightly held the edge courtesy of a superior scrum.  When Longford did get a foothold on the Birr line, however, they seized the opportunity, Shane Mallon drawing the defensive cover to allow Daire McManus a relatively easy touchdown.  After 25 minutes Longford extended their lead when sheer grit and determination on the part of Jamie Byrne gave him a try which his performances over the past few weeks thoroughly deserved.  The opportunity, however, came courtesy of Longford’s generally increased intensity in their overall play when they managed to steal possession from Birr as they tried to run the ball from a tap penalty in their own 22.  Minutes before half time Birr got themselves back into the game when Longford were unable to halt their big number 8 from crossing the line following a tap penalty 10 meters out.

Longford dominated the second period, the platform being laid by Conor Cox, Ciaran Shannon and Dylan Fay who constantly hassled and harried the Birr attackers with perfectly executed tackles, while strong carrying from recycled possession by Ciaran McCormack, James Doyle and Maks Napeiralski had the visitors on the back foot for much of the half.  Also posing a huge threat every time he got possession was Seamus McKeon who continues to improve week on week and it was a couple of strong carries from he in particular which yielded the first try of the second period, quickly recycled possession giving Daire McManus his second try of the day, converted by Shane Mallon.  It was almost incessant pressure on the Birr line by now and James Doyle carried straight and hard for Longford’s fourth try of the day.  The scoring was completed in the 17^th minute, Daire McManus benefiting from more solid work from the pack, Ciaran McCormack in particular, but it still took a fine individual piece of skill from McManus to gather a bouncing ball and ground it as he was bundled into touch in goal.

Next up is a game in Dublin against St Paul ’s School, Raheny, part of the squad’s day outing to take in the Ireland – v – Canada evening game in the Aviva.

Squad: - Gary Kenny, Jack McManus, Ciaran Shannon, JJ Jackson, Dylan Fay, Conor Cox, Ciaran McCormack, Ultan O’Sullivan, Daire McManus, Thomas McDermott, Shane Mallon, James Doyle, Jack Sullivan, Charlie Patterson, Frank Patterson, Jamie Byrne, Killian Rawle, Kieran Reen, Maks Napeiralski, Joshua Gray, Seamus McKeon, Oisin McDonnell.