Longford RFC Club News 11/03/2019   12/03/2019

Senior Men

Longford secured second place in Division 1B of the Leinster League, their highest ever finish and now go into a Promotion Playoff against Bective for a place in Division 1A next season.  It will take place at a neutral venue towards the end of March.  The date and venue will be confirmed this week.  Longford’s attention now turns to Kilkenny in the Provincial Towns Cup ¼ Final on St. Patricks Day in CPL Park at 3 PM.  A separate preview is available.

Upcoming Fixtures

Sunday March 17th Provincial Towns Cup ¼ Final Kilkenny (Home) KO 3 PM.

Saturday March 30th Division 1A/1B Promotion Relegation Playoff v Bective at neutral venue (date and venue TBC).

Longford Women (Warriors)

Longford Women had last weekend off.  The team has really improved as the season has progressed and are well worth your support.  Longford Women await the cup draw to see who they place next up.  Nuala McGoey is also trying to arrange some friendlies.

Longford Mini/Youths

It was another busy weekend of underage action in Longford RFC.  Longford Minis host a big Blitz this Saturday and ask all parents and coaches to make themselves available to help out. It is not too late to start playing Mini/Youth rugby.  Longford RFC welcome new players at all levels both boys/girls with no previous experience necessary.  Training times and Fixtures can be found on www.longfordrugby.com or at https://goo.gl/qAVBPv

Fixtures:

Saturday March 16th       

U15 v Arklow (Away).

Sunday March 17th       

U6-U12 St. Patricks Day Parade

Match Reports

U13 by Freddie Forde (U13 Head Coach)

As a prologue to the Under 13’s match report on their first home match of the season, I would like to give appreciation to all involved. Initially at the start of the season we only had 6-7 players at this age group but, through the word of mouth among these players, the numbers have been steadily growing week on week, so we now have a squad of 19 players. Thanks to the parents & siblings for bringing their lads in every week to training, dropping them into the club to meet the bus and this week to come and support their lads at this first home game.

Despite the recent wet weather; I know that the pitches may have been muddy, a thank you the grounds volunteers for their work in lining out the pitches and cleaning the dressing rooms. To the coaches, not Jimmy and myself, but to the coaches who lent us bibs and kit, the coaches who allocated pitch time, organised the referee, helped us flag the pitch and put on the water for the showers, to Dylan for coming in for some specialist coaching, thank you as the lads in the scrum and lineout did you proud and to Trevor for coming in to go through some refereeing issues with the lads. We should also show appreciation to Gerry, who, through his survey, hopes to continue the legacy of the late Hugh Connolly, in progressing the development of the mini’s and youth sections of the club. There are also the other members of the youths & senior committee who are fund raising, using the raffle, church gate collections & your club your country tickets, to raise the necessary funds to provide the excellent facilities that the club has to offer. All players at Youths level have to be registered with the IRFU and to this end Karen has been brilliant for us with one of our players only having his registration going through at 2:07am on the morning of the match.

There can be great pride in what the club has to offer and this Saturday the parents stepped up to the mark with the fine fare of food that was offered to the travelling team, their coaches and supporters. There was oceans of food available, the hot dogs were devoured and the piping hot homemade lasagne was delicious. Everybody can take great pride in what this club is doing for these future young men (and ladies) as this is more than a club, it is like extended family, and I am glad to be able to say I am a small (and getting smaller through the help of Longford Fitness) member of this family.  As you can see I am still on a high from the match yesterday and the following match report will be brief.

Longford  U13 10 Naas B 5

Longford Under 13’s hosted their first home match of the season when they took on Naas B team in the Leinster Plate competition. Despite having come second in all our previous 4 matches this season, the lads focused on our strengths in these matches and they had analysed what may not have gone right previously. At training we had concentrated on getting the focus and structure right for the start and to not allow the opposition in for an early score, which had been our Achilles heel in the previous encounters.

Right from the starting whistle we pressurised the Naas team and were quickly rewarded with a scrum. We have better technique in the scrum and were able to drive the opposition pack back, this gave us forward momentum to be able to gain territory. These were two very evenly matched teams going at it hammer and tongs, tackling, carrying the ball, rucking, passing the ball out the line. As Longford’s confidence grew, after many phases inside the opposition’s 22 the ball was passed out to James Gehan and with only the winger to beat he went in, for what was Longford’s first competitive try of the season, in the corner.

But as what happens in rugby and so many other sports, we lost our focus and concentration after scoring and from the drop off Naas retained procession, rucked the ball and we left a gap in the middle for their fast flanker to be able to break through and go in got a try just on the stroke and half time to leave the teams level at 5-5.

The second half was tighter again with both sides giving it all. Longford used the kicking game to great effect to get them territory, with kicks from our out half, a variation by then giving it back to our full back to kick and we even saw some forwards kicking, and the quick pace of our wingers put the opposition under pressure. The clock was ticking down and it looked as if we were heading for a draw. Then there was a break on the right wing, Conor Mulligan kicked it on, the ball was picked on the wing by Alex Forde who, when tackled, scooped the ball up to the supporting Ciaran Heffernan who when in to score a try in the corner in what was the last play of the game.

At this stage one usually names players who played well, but this was the best display of a team performance, so every player in the squad deserves a mention for the brilliant running rugby that we witnessed. The squad was Cathal Byrne, Ciaran Heffernan, Killian Mc Givney, Sean Molihan, Jack O’Hara, Daniel Galvin, Olan Bracken, James Grehan, Dylan Vance, Conor Mulligan, Alex Forde, Jack Mc Weeney, Diarmuid Glennon, Cathal O’Hara, Rian Macken, Darragh Kelly, Colin Gilna and lest we forget the 2 members of the squad who were absent because of Community Games, Jack Reilly & Rian Browne.

Thanks to all the parents and siblings who supported the players and to the parents who provided the food for the 2 squads. We are now into the next round (Q/F) of the plate and we travel to the winners of the New Ross v Tullow game. Traning as usual Thursday at 7pm.

Club News

Donal Considine

We were deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Donal Considine. Donal was a big rugby supporter and along with his family was involved in the club at many levels over the years. Donal was also well known for spinning the tunes especially at the Reunion Discos in the club over the years.  The President, Board and everyone at Longford RFC would like to express our sincere condolences to Donal's wife Mona, daughter Laura, son Daniel, Donal's parents, brothers and sisters and all of his extended family as well as his many, many friends.
Rest in peace Donal from all your rugby friends.

Steak Night/Six Nations Rugby this Saturday

We are hosting our famous steak evening to coincide with Irelands Six Nations match with Wales in the Principality Stadium this Saturday March 16th. This could well be the Championship decider and promises to be a great night as Ireland look to make it four wins out of five in this year’s competition. Wales v Ireland kicks off at 14:45.  Finger food will be served during the match with the steaks straight after.  The Calcutta match will be live after, where we are looking for Scotland to do us a favour.  Tickets are selling quick and are available from Michael Connellan, Barry Stewart, Padraig Murphy, Matt Hanley and Tony Headon.  The Steak Night has kindly been sponsored by Kepak.

Great Food/Events & Six Nations Rugby at Longford RFC

The Sin Bin at Longford RFC serves great quality and value food on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 12-3 and 12-7 on Saturday and Sunday.  It is also the best place to watch all this year’s Six Nations matches if you are not lucky enough to have a ticket. Booking for events such as birthdays, christening, confirmations, communions, weddings and funerals are also available.For bookings and information phone Kris on 0872872357.

4G All Weather Pitch Rental

Our state of the art floodlight Mel Diffley 4G pitch is available for rental.  It contains shock absorption so that players can play contact sports/fall over without hurting themselves.  It is also perfect for 5 a side soccer.  If you would like to book it phone Damian on 0862757103.











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