Fixtures, Results & U15 Match report...

Mini/Youth Playing Information & Training Times

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Youth’s Fixtures

Sat 26th Nov

U13’s vs. Birr (Home)

U14’s vs. Portlaoise (Away)

U17’s vs. Dundalk (Away)

Youth’s Results

Longford U14 12 Carlow 22

Longford U15 36 North Kildare 24

Longford U16 07 Tullamore 28

Match Reports

Leinster U15 League

Longford U15 36 North Kildare 24

Longford U15’s wrapped up Phase I of the Leinster League with a comfortable victory against North Kildare leaving them with three wins out of four games, the only loss coming away to Dundalk . With Phase I now concluded the draw for Phase II will take place next week and the first round of matches are scheduled to take place on 3rd December.

With the exception of a 15 minute period during the first half Longford were always in control and had by far the greater share of possession and territory, their tally of six tries showing that they capitalised on most of the scoring opportunities that came their way. What was somewhat disappointing was the lack of concentration and individual errors which contributed to the visitors’ tries but these are all areas capable of being addressed with a bit more application and intensity, particularly in the tackle area.

North Kildare’s purple patch came midway through the first half even though Longford has secured an early lead when good recycling play created a three man overlap and it was Daire McManus who had the relatively straightforward task of scoring after the hard work had been done up front. A sustained period of North Kildare pressure should have yielded a try only for the ball carrier to knock on as he reached the try line. Longford fluffed two opportunities to clear their lines with poorly executed kicks from the hand, but at the second invitation the visitors made no mistake with a try out wide courtesy of a couple of missed tackles but the real damage was done when relieving kicks failed to find touch. Although Longford quickly went on the attack and laid siege to the North Kildare line matters went from bad to worse when the visitors out half ran the entire length of the pitch for a try when Longford inexcusably lost possession in ruck on the try line following good carries from J J Jackson and Seamus McKeon.

Facing the prospect of reaching the half time interval 10 – 5 down despite the greater share of possession and territory Longford increased the intensity to get back on level terms, a lineout catch and drive from J J Jackson creating the platform for Mossie McDermott to snipe over from close range. The first 15 minutes of the second period was all one way traffic, Longford scoring three converted tries to extend their lead to 31 – 10. The first came when the visitors conceded an unforced knock on and after Shane Mallon pounced on the loose ball Daire McManus took the offload for a try beneath the posts. From the kick off Kieran Reen brought play deep into the visitors’ territory with some hard straight running before he was hauled down but when the ball was recycled through the phases Mossie McDermott outfoxed and outran the defence for a try just to the left of the posts. The third came a few minutes later, once again, the author was Mossie McDermott (who had an excellent game throughout) when he stole possession from North Kildare on the Longford 10 meter line. This gave Longford the opportunity to attack and, even though a penalty kick failed to find touch, when North Kildare tried to run the ball back Mossie McDermott was alert to an intercept for his third try of the day.

Although comfortably ahead by this stage, Longford took the foot off the pedal somewhat and conceded two sloppy tries. The first came when they had North Kildare under pressure on their own 22 meter line but a poor missed tackle gave the visitors the initiative and when the ball was recycled through the phases North Kildare capitalised on a disorganised defence for a converted try just to the right of the posts. Following a blind side break from Daire McManus at number eight the platform was created for an assault on the visitors try line and J J Jackson steadied the ship with Longford’s final try of the day. At his first attempt he was held up just short of the line and when North Kildare were penalised at the result in scrum Mossie McDermott took a quick tap and even though he too was held up just short Jackson made no mistake when presented with the second opportunity.

In fairness to North Kildare they didn’t give up and their efforts were rewarded when their number eight muscled his way over for a try from a tap penalty.

Next up is a friendly game on Saturday before the League proper begins on 3rd December.

Squad: Gary Kenny, Mark McHugh, Jack McManus, JJ Jackson, Conor Cox, Ben Carthy, Ultan O’Sullivan, Daire McManus, Thomas McDermott, Matt Steadman, Shane Mallon, Christopher Manning, Jack Sullivan, Charlie Patterson, Frank Patterson, Jamie Byrne, Johnny Grier, Kieran Reen, Seamus McKeon.