Longford RFC Senior Match Report & Notes 181021   18/10/2021

18/10/2021 Leinster League Division 1B Clondalkin 15 Longford 34

By Tommy Butler

Longford score second win on the bounce

Longford Senior Men’s 1st XV travelled to Kingswood to take on Clondalkin hoping to build on their last gap victory in CPL Park versus Cill Dara the week before.  Longford and Clondalkin are familiar foes over the last decade with the Dublin side putting a serious dent in Longford’s promotions hopes, when they scored a win, two years ago in CPL Park.  Interestingly, Longford’s last match before the lock down was away versus Clondalkin, where they recorded a bonus point win.  Longford also played them in the pre-season Colm O’Shea cup in August, where they recorded a 36 7 win.  However, Clondalkin were somewhat understrength on that day and previous meetings between the two sides showed that getting points from Clondalkin means fighting for every yard and also fronting up.

Clondalkin started the match well and earned a kickable penalty within the first five minutes but did not convert it.  This was the signal for Longford to move into gear and start to get on top.  Longford moved up the pitch and then kicked a penalty into the corner.  The lineout was won by Aaron Beirne, with Benny McManus just being stopped short.  However, Longford recycled with Aidan Wynne crashing over for a converted try to put the away side into the lead 7-0 after eight minutes.  Longford then piled on the pressure but as per the case so far this season struggled to hold on to the ball or put away the player with the final pass.  However, persistence eventually paid off on 29 minutes, when Longford were again awarded a penalty, which was kicked to the corner.  The lineout was won cleanly with a tip on pass from Keiran O’Gorman putting fellow back row Mark McHugh in under the posts for a second converted try.  Clondalkin then came back into it for the closing minutes of the first half, scoring a unconverted try to leave the half time score 5-14. 

Longford came out of the blocks well at the start of the second half, with the message again from coach Glenn Baskett, surely to take a breath and then more of the opportunities will result in scores.  Longford should have had more than two tries in the first half.  They seem to have listened as some lovely hands out the back line with a great final pass by Ryan McHugh putting Daithi Connolly in for a great score, to make the score 5-19 with ten minutes gone in the second half.  Longford then lost their shape somewhat with the game lacking any real flow and allowed Clondalkin in for a second try to narrow their lead to seven points.  Longford and Clondalkin then exchanged penalties with the game very much up for grabs before Longford eventually eased away.  Again, Longford went to the corner and this time prop Podge O’Farrell went over for the bonus point try with the result being put beyond all doubt with a try from John Geelan to leave the final score 15-34 in Longford’s favour.

There were a lot of positives from the match, none more so than a second win, this time with a bonus point and a win on the road in Clondalkin.  The side are creating a lot of chances and the general feeling is once it clicks for them, then we could be in for a very positive season.

Longford: P O’Farrell, H Connolly (C), D Quinn, B McManus, Aaron Beirne, M McHugh,         K O’Gorman, J Bennett, D McHugh, A Wynne, D Connolly, G McDermott, C Hughes, R Shaw, R McHugh, J Forde, D Geelan, J Geelan, F McGowan & Neal Farrell.

The Senior Men have a break from the league for the bank holiday weekend but will regroup for the double Carlow header, when Tullow and Carlow visit CPL Park on successive weekends, in two matches that will have a large bearing on Longford’s season.  A big home support is asked to attend the games.

It is hoped to arrange a friendly for the Men’s 2nd XV this weekend, to give the players much wanted match time.  Cill Dara could not field the week before and Clondalkin chose not to enter a team in the 2nd XV Leinster League this eason.

Post Match Comments from Longford RFC Head Coach Glenn Baskett

“That was a difficult game to go through. Clondalkin defended with a bit of passion and I don’t think their place in the league table is a reflection of their effort on the pitch. They have some good players in their winger and centre and a lineout that put pressure on ours. Indeed, we weren’t as good at set piece time as last week but in phase play generally we were improved. It’s a difficult place to build into. A tight area, right pitch and you have to be switched on from that from the start. That said we did keep the scoreboard moving apart from a period where we gave them a bit of momentum. However the last 15/20 minutes we worked hard to get the BP. And as we said you can’t get any more than that. Now we have a big 2 weeks with back to back home games against Carlow and Tullow who have always been strong opposition, but a great opportunity.”


Men’s Leinster League Fixtures 2021-2022

31/10/2021 Longford v Carlow CPL Park (1st XV 3 2nd XV 1.30)

07/11/2021 Longford v Tullow CPL Park (1st XV 2.30 2nd XV 1.00)

28/11/2021 Mullingar v Longford Shay Murtagh Park (1st XV 2.30 2nd XV 1.00)

05/12/2021 Wicklow v Longford Ashtown Lane (1st XV 2.00 2nd XV 12.30)

12/12/2021 Longford v Boyne CPL Park (1st XV 2.00 2nd XV 12.30)

09/01/2021 Cill Dara v Longford Silken Thomas Park (1st XV 2.30 2nd XV 1.00)

16/01/2021 Longford v Clondalkin CPL Park (1st XV 2.30 2nd XV 1.00)

23/01/2021 Carlow v Longford Oak Park (1st XV 2.30 2nd XV 1.00)

06/02/2022 Tullow v Longford Black Gates (1st XV 3 2nd XV 1.30)

13/02/2022 Longford v Mullingar CPL Park (1st XV 3 2nd XV 1.30)


Women’s Leinster League Fixtures 2021-2022

24/10/2021 Longford v New Ross CPL Park

31/10/2021 Arklow v Longford

14/11/2021 Longford v Greystones CPL Park

28/11/2021 Naas v Longford

05/12/2021 Garda/Westmanstown v Longford

12/12/2021 Portlaoise v Longford

16/01/2021 Longford v Naas CPL Park

30/01/2021 New Ross v Longford

06/02/2022 Longford v Arklow CPL Park

20/02/2022 Greystones v Longford

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


Simon Community Sleep Out 2021 in partnership with the Longford RFC

The start of October saw the launch of a new partnership between Longford Rugby Club and the Simon Community for three years in the Sin Bin.  It also saw the official launch of the Simon Communities innovative sheltered housing project on Earl Street, which has helped 14 people move out of homelessness

Like all voluntary organisations the Simon Community and Longford RFC have seen a huge drop in fundraising due to Covid restrictions.  However, the costs continued to accumulate and this led to the innovative fundraising partnership between the two organisations.

The first fund raising event is the ‘annual’ Sleep Out event hosted by Longford RFC, where volunteers commit to spending a night under the stars to try and gain some small understanding of the daily struggle a homeless person endures.  Sleepers are asked to raise as much sponsorship as possible, with all funds raised going to the Simon Community locally and Longford RFC.  The event will take place on Friday December 10th with registration from 9 PM. 

If you would like to participate please contact Noel Greene 087 961 5766 or Gerry Larkin 086 819 5519 for information and sponsorship cards.

Thanks to Shannonside and Kiernan Steel for supporting the event.

Sin Bin

The Sin Bin Event Centre is back open 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 updates and specials;  www.facebook.com/thesinbinlongford/














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