By Tommy Butler Longford RFC PRO

Senior Men

Longford Senior Men took on Cill Dara in CPL Park on Sunday looking to get back on the winning trail after succumbing to Monkstown two weeks ago. They certainly did that with a 43-18 bonus point win and moved back into second in the table.  Next up is a trip to Drogheda to face third placed Boyne om Sunday. Boyne were relegated from Division 1A last season and plied their trade in the AIL Division 2C until a few years ago.  The only recent meeting between the two sides was last season in Provincial Towns Cup where Longford came out on top in their first stop on the way to the Provincial Towns Semi-Finals.  It will be a tough task for Longford but one which they are up for and know that they need a performance if they want to stay in the race for promotion and the Division 1B title.  The J2 XV were given a walkover by Cill Dara.  They are flying this season and would have preferred the game.  However, they remain four points clear at the top and will hope that Boyne will be a position to put out a team next Sunday. Training continues Tuesday and Friday at 7.30 PM with new and returning players particularly welcome.    

Upcoming Fixtures

Sunday November 10^th Leinster League Boyne v Longford KO 13:00/14:30 J1&J2

Sunday November 24^th Leinster League Longford v Clondalkin KO 13:00/14:30 J1&J2

Sunday December 1^st Leinster League Longford v Tullow KO 12.30/14:30 J1&J2

The full season calendar can be downloaded at: https://bit.ly/2KAwsrr

League Table Leinster League - Division 1B

Longford Women (Warriors)

Longford Women were due to play Tallaght at home in the Leinster League on Sunday.  Unfortunately, Tallaght could not fulfil the fixture.  Longford will be awarded the points so keep the winning start to their season going with four wins from four starts.  Longford are home next weekend again with a top of the table match against CYM at 1 PM.  Longford Women welcome new players throughout the season with all fitness levels, shapes and sizes are welcome.  The Warriors really are on an upward curve and are making an assault on the Division 4 Title and want you to be a part.  Training is on Tuesdays and Fridays and 7.30.  Drop in to training for a chat or alternatively give Head Coach Nuala McGoey a ring on 0862482005.

Upcoming Fixtures

Sunday November 10^th Leinster League Longford v CYM KO 13:00

Sunday November 17^th Leinster League Suttonians v Longford KO 13:00

Sunday December 1^st Leinster League Longford v Wanders KO 13:00

League Table Womens Division 4

Longford Mini/Youths

The Longford Mini/Youth Season is now in full swing.  All teams are now back training and playing.  

Training.

Remember new players are welcome at all levels with no prior experience required.  It could be you lining out for Ireland in a coming World Cup!

Minis U6-U12 

Training on Sundays at 10.30 am in CPL Park for both girls and boys.  A full season planner can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/2NxGL1j 

U13 Male

U13s training every Thursday at 6.30 PM.

U14 Male

U14s training every Thursday 7-8.30 PM.

U15 Male

U15s train every Wednesday at 7.30 PM.

U16 Male

U16s train every Wednesday at 7.30 PM.

U17s&18s Male

U17/U18s train every Thursday at 7.30 PM.

U14 Female

U14s train every Sunday morning with an extra day per week TBC.

U16&U18 Female

U16s&U18s train every Tuesday and Friday at 7.30 PM.

Please check our website for fixtures; http://www.longfordrugby.com/clubFixtures/14013/f_i_x_t_u_r_e_s

Fixtures

U18FM v Edenderry (Home)

U16M v Edenderry (Away)

U16FM v Seapoint (Home)

U14FM v Roscrea (Home)

U13M v Athy (Away)

U11&U12 Blitz (Home)

U7&U8 Blitz (Tullamore)

U8-U12 Girls Blitz (Tullamore)

M Male FM Female

Match Reports

Most of this weekend’s matches fell afoul of the weather.  

U14 Edenderry 31 Longford 17

Longford Under 14’s travelled up to a rainy Edenderry for their first match of this season’s Midland League Campaign. Edenderry are always a very physical side, so the game was going to won or lost in the forwards.  The game started at a frantic pace with some great rucking and ball carrying. However, the damp and the slippery underfoot conditions meant that the ref was going to be busy saying “crouch, bind, set”. Longford were a match for the Edenderry pack and won their scrums, with the power of Daniel Galvan & Jack O’Hara in the engine room and good ball control by the newly positioned Olan Bracken at number 8. Through some great hooking by Ciaran Heffernan Longford even took some scrums against the head. In one instance, with a move that John Mc Mullin would have been proud of, the ball was flashed out by Jack Reilly from the base of the scrum, to out half Conor Mulligan, to centres Diarmuid Glennon & Jack Mc Weeney, Jamie Dorr slipped into the line from the full back position, with a final pass out to Patrick Murphy on the wing. Unfortunately, with the slippery ball and Patrick eyeing up the gap, he just knocked it on. From the resulting scrum on this wing Edenderry broke up along the line to score in the corner and their kicker kicked a tough conversion.

This year shows Longford’s progression to never put the heads down and immediately went on the attack after the drop off and after contesting for the ball, regaining procession in midfield, the ball was passed out to Matthew Farrell on the wing who used is speed to get by the Edenderry winger to go into the corner. Just as half time approached Longford were unlucky to leave a rare gap in the middle of the defence to allow Edenderry back into the corner. Longford were unlucky to lose Diarmuid just before half time after he had a tussle with the touch judge as he defended the line, but Dylan Vance slipped into his centre role. The score at half time was Edenderry 12 Longford 5.

We made some changes at half time with Ryan Sheridan coming into the pack to freshen it up, in this close contest. It took us a little too long to settle after the restart (maybe it was the oranges at half time!) and we let Edenderry in for a soft try. Thinking that they had it all done, Edenderry were in for a shock, some good ball carrying by wing forwards, Rian Brown & Darragh Kelly, as well as props Sean Molihan & Cathal Byrne, pushed Edenderry back and then “twinkle toes” Matthew Farrell got the ball again to run from our own 22 to score in the corner to leave the score 17-10. Oran Lyons came on at wing forward and we had to make some positional changes as Ciaran Heffernan took a knock to the knee. Olan Bracken came into hook and Darragh Kelly took over the no. 8 position. After some great ball control in the scrum by the no. 8, the ball was passed out the line to the Matthew running with vigour, spotting the gap on the wing to run by the defender and Edenderry could do nothing to stop him scoring under the sticks, with Conor converting, leaving Longford within 2 points.

With about 10 minutes to go the Longford legs were getting tired and after Edenderry ran in another 2 tries via fortunate breaks, the score was now 31-17. Jack O’Hara, Longford’s main ball carrier had to come off and John Sheridan came in to the back row and Fionn Crossan come onto the wing. Due to miss communication Christopher Trautt did not get a run today but his time to shine in the sun (or rain) will come.

Thanks to Padraig for travelling and Edenderry for their hospitality afterwards. There is no competitive fixtures for the next 2 weekends but back to training next Thursday.

As a footnote, would you all mind lobbying your local politician to build an airport in Kinnegad. As with the miracles in Knock, there was some miraculous recoveries from all bangs and bruises happened in the Kinnegad Plaza, somewhere between Spar, Papa Johns and Supermacs.

U13 Longford 17 West Offaly Lions 0Longford U13 squad lined out at home minus a few regulars this week as they took on West Offaly Lions (WOL) at CPL Park.  From the kick off Longford we’re on the front foot as they pressed well into the opposition half. The lads carried well into contact and supporting play in the rucks was excellent. Unfortunately, a knock on at the 5m allowed WOL clear their lines from the following scrum.  The pressure game continued for the next few phases until James Cosgrove eventually crashed over for the first try of the game. The conversion unfortunately fell short. That gave us a 5-0 lead.  As we gathered the restart the lads set out in a similar vein. Strong carrying from Ryan Spollen, Daniel Corr and Derek Belton in his new role at No. 6 helped Longford drive on at the defensive line. WOL had to work hard under all afternoon and were solid for significant periods of the game. The odd time they got the ball Longford really worked hard on their line speed to stop the potential attacks. Conor Gallagher and Danny Kelly were working really hard in the engine room in repelling any attack. This forced the errors from the WOL team which gave the platform back to Longford. WOL began to use the boot to clear lines more often from turnover ball.

However, in his first game at full back, Mikey Glennon was rock solid under the high ball and took it on each time he gathered. Sean Ginty and Mitch Clark worked hard in the pack giving two good performances showing consistent improvement in their games recently. It wasn’t long before the work paid off and Daniel Corr was diving under the posts for the second try and this time the extras were added by Senan Murphy. Score 12-0

There was a couple of line breaks by WOL from their tall centre, these were snuffed out by Donnacha Golden and also Mikey Glennon in good covering defending. Tomás O’Brien made two brilliant tackles one after another to end one attack.  Apart from that there was little by way of defensive work required.

The pressure near the end increased on WOL and after a couple of rehearsed moves off penalties we got try number three from Shane McGuigan bringing the score to 17-0.

The performance was workman like from Longford. The repetition in rucking, tackling and closing down space was what we targeted the lads with before hand so full credit to the team for bringing it out in the game.

Next week we are away to Athy in the first fixture of the Leinster league. We are in a very tough group and are not expecting any easy games.

Training resumes Thursday 6.30pm.

New members welcome. Just come in and give it a go. Bring gumshield.

Call Padraig 086 2526741 for further details.

Longford; Ryan Spollen, Mitch Clark, Sean Ginty, James Cosgrove (1 try), Danny Kelly, Derek Belton, Conor Gallagher, Daniel Corr (1try), Senan Murphy (1 Con), Mel Mulligan, Tom Murray, Donnacha Golden, Niall Connaughton, Ryan Kiernan, Mikey Glennon, Shane McGuigan (1 try) Daniel Fahy, Tomas O’Brien, Darragh Nash, William MacEntire.

The Your Club Your Country Raffle is back! Tickets are available from any Longford RFC Club Member now!

The IRFU, in conjunction, with its partners supply the prizes for the draw, ensuring clubs reap the maximum benefit and can raise up to 10,000 euro from the fundraising scheme.A trip to follow the Ireland team in Australia next summer and packages to Guinness Six Nations clashes in England and France are among this year’s prizes.
Over €657,000 was raised by rugby clubs for rugby clubs in 2018 with the support of Irish Rugby’s valued sponsors and partners. The success of last year’s campaign means that over €5.1 million has now been raised for the club game since ‘Your Club, Your Country’ was first introduced in 2011.
Longford RFC retain 100% of the funds from ‘Your Club, Your Country’ ticket sales to support grassroots rugby communities across the four provinces.
Tickets are now available from any club member. The winners’ draw will take place on Monday, December 2, 2019.

Clothes Swap Fundraiser

An innovative clothes swap fundraiser will take part in Longford RFC this Saturday November 9^th and 7.30 PM. How it works; €25 Donation and 5 items (clothes, jewellery, handbags) you no longer love and leave with 5 ones that you do!! You will also get a class of Prosecco on arrival.  Give Carrie a call on 0874102779 to RSVP and arrange clothes drop off.

Great Food/Events at Longford RFC

The Sin Bin at Longford RFC serves great quality and value food on Friday from 12-3 and 12-7 on Saturday and Sunday.  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.