Longford RFC Notes 17/01/2022   17/01/2022

Senior Men

Longford Senior Men get back on the winning trail with emphatic win

16/01/2022 Leinster League 1B Longford 48 Clondalkin 05

By Tommy Butler at CPL Park

Longford Senior Men got back to winning ways with a bonus point win versus Clondalkin in their first game of 2022 on Sunday past.  Covid put pay to their first league fixture of the year last weekend away to Cill Dara so after a long break of over a month the start was key for both teams to blow off the cobwebs.  It was Longford who blew off the cobwebs quicker, starting brightly and confining Clondalkin to their 22 for most of the first 20 minutes.  Indeed, Longford light up the game with some scintillating attacking rugby at times, orchestrated by Aidan Wynne at 10 and Danny McHugh at 12.  Longford had a few early chances but lack of resourcing at ruck time lead to some turnovers.  However, they were not to be denied and on seven minutes a sweeping back line move saw Danny McHugh go over under the posts of a converted try.  Longford then had a shot at goal, which hit the posts and was cleared but Ryan McHugh made amends 16 minutes in, to give Longford a 10 point lead.  Clondalkin then made their first foray into the Longford half via a kick at goal after the home side conceded a penalty from the kick off, which was missed.  Longford then gradually began to turn the screw with Ryan McHugh knocking over another penalty on the 25 minutes mark.  Longford put the result beyond doubt before half time with two well worked tries by Joe McGowan and Ryan McHugh to leave the half time score 27-0 in the home side favour. 

Clondalkin obviously got the proverbial hair dryer treatment at half time as they started the first half much more competitively.  The first ten minutes was largely played around the half way line until Clondalkin had their purple patch.  One of Longford’s props was sent to the bin for overall team indiscipline and despite a heroic near 10 minute defensive spell, the Longford line was eventually breached for an unconverted try.  There was some apprehension in the home support at this stage, not about the result but ability to score the all important fourth try to secure a bonus point.  However, these doubts were emphatically put to bed by the end of the match.  Firstly, Captain Hubie Connolly crashed over for the bonus point try and then adding a second shortly after.  To the supporters delight, the victory was capped off by a Joe McGowan try on the stroke of full time to leave the final score Longford 48 Clondalkin 05. 

Longford now head on the road with two trips to Carlow to firstly face Carlow next Sunday January 23rd and then Tullow on February 6th.

Longford Squad: P O’Farrell, H Connolly (C), D Quinn, D Geelan, Aaron Beirne, J Geelan, M McHugh, K O’Gorman, F McGowan, A Wynne, R Shaw, D McHugh, G McDermott, J McGowan, R McHugh, S McKeon, P Dardis, Andrew Beirne,  F Davis, J Mimnagh & J Forde.

Longford on their way to scoring their final try.

Post Match Reaction from Longford Senior Men’s Head Coach Glenn Baskett

“We have to be happy to get a win today as Tullow was the last win on the scoreboard for us. The group needed that to start 2022 well and hopefully give us a bit of momentum for January. But we do know there are tougher tests over the next few weeks in Carlow and Tullow away. We do know if we perform in the upcoming away games we are capable of getting results, but I believe we need to work a bit harder and smarter without the ball. Because going forward we went pretty well but I reckon we didn’t win those collision moments. We’ve been working on a few things with the ball and some of it showed today. Our 2nd man plays went well at times. But our work around the tackle area was 2nd best at times, the ref was blowing up if you looked like you had hands on and we needed to be quicker there but also the ball carrier has to work hard to give that time. But that also comes from not playing in over a month. If we can clean that up it opens up ball for Finnbarr to get quick ball moving. The quality of some of Finns passes off the deck was excellent today, but we’ve gotta give him that clean platform. Our scrum went well at times, but Clondalkin looked to fix that and steadied it mid way through the game. I do think our next 5 after the starters brought an energy to the game so that’s a real positive. Some good things today, some work ons but 48 points on the board and only 5 conceded is a good days work.”

Men’s Leinster League Fixtures/Results 2021-2022

19/09/2021 Longford 09 Wicklow 14

16/09/2021 Boyne 13 Longford 08

10/10/2021 Longford 17 Cill Dara 15

17/10/2021 Clondalkin 15 Longford 34

31/10/2021 Longford 18 v Carlow 13

28/11/2021 Mullingar 22 v Longford 11

05/12/2021 Wicklow 34 v 25 Longford

12/12/2021 Longford 20 v Boyne 29

16/01/2021 Longford 48 v Clondalkin 05 CPL Park (1st XV 2.30)

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)

TBC            Cill Dara v Longford Silken Thomas Park (1st XV 3.00 2nd XV 1.30)

The Towns Cup will be played at the end of the league.

Senior Women

Longford Senior Women scored a brilliant 32-20 win versus league leaders Naas at home in CPL Park on Sunday.  Naas had not lost in the league until their loss to Longford.  It shows what an excellent side Longford Senior Women are when all players are available.  Well done to the whole squad. 

Next Sunday is a big day for Longford Senior Women on two fronts.  Firstly, Longford have been chosen to have the honour of hosting the Women’s Midland League finals.  Secondly, Longford will be appearing the final versus Division 1 Tullamore.  It is a big step for Nuala McGoey and her squad but one they will undoubtedly be relishing.  The match will be proceeded by the Plate Final where Mullingar take on Edenderry.  Why not come down, support Longford and see some excellent rugby in CPL Park?

Women’s Midland League Final

23/01/2022 Longford v Tullamore KO 2.30 PM in CPL Park, Longford

Women’s Midland League Plate Final

23/01/2022 Mullingar v Edenderry KO 1 PM in CPL Park, Longford

Women’s Leinster League Fixtures 2021-2022

03/10/2021 Longford v Portlaoise (Conceded by Portlaoise)

24/10/2021 Longford 17 v New Ross 19

31/10/2021 Arklow 19 v Longford 07

14/11/2021 Longford 41 v Greystones 0

28/11/2021 Naas 52 v Longford 15

05/12/2021 Garda/Westmanstown v Longford (Postponed)

12/12/2021 Portlaoise 8 v Longford 5

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

Leanne Keegan offloads the ball v Naas

Notes

Rugby Round Up

It was nearly a perfect weekend for the Irish Provinces only for Connacht to let an 18 point lead slip in the second half to lose by one point 28-29 to English Premiership Leaders, Leicester.  Munster travelled to Castres and secured qualification for the last 16 with a match to spare, when they ground out a last gasp win versus French side Castres 13-16, courtesy of a try from Jack O’Donoghue.  Interestingly that was Castres first loss at home of the season.  Fast forward to Sunday and Leinster dispatched a weak Montpellier side by a record 89-7, running in a total of 13 tries.  The only blemish to victory was Tadhg Furlong going off with a calf injury early in the match, which is hopefully not too serious.  After a five week break and no doubt smarting from harsh award of the previous away fixture against them due to Covid, Leinster cut loose.  It actually could have been more but for some rustiness in the first half resulting in quite a few handling errors.  All in all Andy Farrell would have been delighted to see the performance of Leinster and especially Johnny Sexton returning to playing as sub in the second half.  The weekend was rounded off by Ulster securing an away win in Northamption 24-28, where the silky skills of Mike Lowry at full back and Robert Balacoune on the wing were very much to the fore.  Overall, it means Munster and Ulster are qualified with a match to spare, Leinster are looking strong but will want a bonus point win away to Bath to secure their highest possible seeding and Connacht probably need a result away to Stade Francais to reach the last 16, which will be played home and away.  The trip to France may not be as daunting as it seems because Stade are out of the running for qualification.

Round 4 Champions Cup Irish Fixtures

Saturday 22nd January Bath v Leinster 1 PM

Saturday 22nd January Ulster v Clermont 5.30 PM

Sunday 23rd January Stade Francais v Connacht 2 PM

Sunday 23rd January Munster v Wasps 3.15 PM

Appointment of Leinster Rugby CCRO

Longford RFC are pleased to announce that Aoghan Clark has been appointed as the new Longford Rugby Club Community Rugby Officer (CCRO).

As part of its commitment to rugby throughout the province, Leinster Rugby employ 41 CCRO’s who, under the guidance of the area Community Rugby Officer, work with clubs, schools and community groups to deliver tailored rugby programmes and expand the game of rugby within the clubs and schools of the province.  While promoted by Leinster Rugby, the programme is supported and part funded by Longford County Council. 

Hailing from Ferriskill, Mostrim, Aoghan has had a lifetime of involvement in sport, through the GAA, club rugby and athletics initially and, for the past four seasons, as a coach with Longford RFC Minis and Youths.  Aoghan will be linking up with schools in the Longford area to discuss the programme but in the meantime, he is contactable at longfordccro@leinsterrugby.ie should any schools wish to initiate contact with him. 

Leinster Rugby and Longford RFC join in wishing Aoghan all the best in his new role.

Patsy O'Gorman (Leinster CCRO Midlands Manager) & Aoghan Clarke (New LRFC CCRO)

Fantasy Six Nations

Longford Senior Men will be running a fund raising Six Nations Fantasy League.  Entry will be only €10 with a cash prize of €200 to be won by the overall winner, a €100 voucher for the Club great Sin Bin restaurant for second place and a €50 prize for third place.  Online entry will be available soon.  Stay tuned to our social media for updates.  We ask all members and friends of the club to support the competition, which should be great fun.

Sin Bin

The Sin Bin is back open this week from Wednesday January 20th,  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 update, specials and updated opening hours;  www.facebook.com/thesinbinlongford/












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