Longford RFC Notes 23/08/2022   29/08/2022

Leinster in LRFC, Men away to Tullamore, Women restart training, Mini/Youths is back, Sam Mills stars for Leinster....

By Padraig Murphy Longford RFC PRO

Ph: 087 6063587

Email:  lrfconnects@gmail.com





Amanda Butler meets her hero Johnny Sexton

Ladies news

Training continues as we near the start on the season. Monday and Friday 7.30pm

New players welcome always.

Contact Nuala McGoey  (086) 248 2005

LRFC Club President Donogh McDonnell receives Jersey from Leinster Head Coach Leo Cullen

Men’s news

Midland League fixtures.

The Midlands league is underway.  Our first opponents, Mullingar were unable to fulfill the fixture.  Week 2 was a free week for Longford, who took on Ballinasloe in a friendly.

Next up for the Longford men is an away fixture to Tullamore on Sunday.  While Longfords season started last week with a preseason friendly win against Ballinasloe, many of the more established players were yet to filter back in. It remains to be seen what the combined group can produce.  Training last week stepped up a couple of notches as the first competitive game approaches. There’s a lot of work to do in next 4 weeks, working on new combinations and trying to bring some of former underage players through into the senior set up. Excited to see what some of them can do as they’ve lots of talent.

Tullamore for their part took a relatively young side to Mullingar for their opening fixture.  In a high tempo game, it was Mullingar, with a more experienced team that took the game 44-22.

Group 1

21 August          Longford v Mullingar PP

28 August          Mullingar 44-22 Tullamore

4th September   Tullamore v Longford

Group 2

28th August       Match A Roscrea v Midland Warriors

                          Match B Edenderry v Birr

4th September  Winner A v Winner B

                          Loser A v Loser B

Leinster league Div 1B Fixtures 2022/23

With solid ambition for promotion come end of season, Longfords Leinster league begins in earnest on 25th September with an away trip to Cill Dara at Silken Thomas Park.  Last season’s corresponding fixture resulted in a 17-25 vital away victory for the Longford men albeit at the latter end of the season.  By then, Cill Dara were safely positioned mid table while for Longford, victory would be essential to ensure survival in division 1B for this season, thus avoiding relegation.  

25/09/22 Cill Dara v Longford

02/10/22 Longford v Wicklow

16/10/22 Mullingar v Longford

23/10/22 Longford v Carlow

06/11/22 Tullow v Longford

13/11/22 Athy v Longford

27/11/22 Longford v Dundalk

04/12/22 Longford v Cill Dara

15/01/23 Wicklow v Longford

22/01/23 Longford v Mullingar

29/01/23 Carlow v Longford

19/02/23 Longford v Tullow

15/03/23 Longford v Athy

26/03/23 Dundalk v Longford

Club Vice President Karen Lennon with Leo the Lion

Membership

Membership is now due for existing members, players, coaches, and those who wish to play for the first time with the club. Firstly, new members should register with the IRFU on the following link.

https://rugbyconnect.irfu.ie/

When prompted, select Leinster as the Provence, and then select Longford Rugby Club as your club. Once complete, note the player number.  You are then directed to https://sportsmanager.ie/sportlomo/users/login to complete the process. Please complete each line correctly or the player application will not go live.

Have a player head photo ready to upload also.

Payment is online and must be made as part of the process.  Players are only approved and available for match selection when full payment and forms are completed. 

Youth Training resumes

Youths’ rugby training us now up and running. There are girls only teams training from U14 up to U18’s.

Age group, coach contact details and training schedule as follows:

Girls’ teams

U14 girls - Mags McKenna  087 6309653

Wednesday 7:00-8:15pm

U16 girls – Morag Rowan 087 4135962

Wednesday 7:00-8:15pm

U18 girls – Declan Smyth 085 1375973

Monday & and Fridays 7.30pm

Boy’s teams

U13 – Lisa Brady 087 6119960

Monday 7.00-8.45pm

Saturday 10.30-11.30am

U14 – James Rowan 087 9870560

Wednesday 7.00-8.15pm

U15 – Aoghan Clarke 087 6727002

Monday and Wednesdays 7.00-8.30pm

U16 – Padraig Murphy 087 6063587

Tuesdays and Thursdays 6.30-8.30pm

U17 – Freddie Forde 086 1727145

Tuesdays and Thursdays 7.00-8.30pm

U18.5’s – Jimmy Murphy 086 2555621

Thursday 7.30-9.00pm

New players welcome at all age groups. Just turn up with a gumshield.

Please follow club social media for updates on our Instagram & Facebook profiles - Longford RFC

Youths’ Representative rugby Leinster U18 v Connacht – Sam Mills

Leinster U18 took on Connacht in an inter pro series in athlone at the weekend. Longford RFC youth player, Sam Mills, playing at number 8 had an exceptional game following on from his fine performance in the first game against Munster where he scored the winning try.  Leinster dug out a hard-fought win in a very entertaining battle from two talented sides, only taking the lead with a minute to go and down to 14 players after a harsh red card. Only Ulster stand in the way of a series win for the Leinster boys.

Well, done Sam!

Sam Mills with Derick Turner after a playing a starring role for Leinster at No.8 in their 31-28 victory

Mini Rugby returns 

Longford Mini Rugby’s new season starts on Sunday 4th September. Training time is 10.30am to 11.30am at Longford RFC.

Players need to wear football boots, appropriate clothing, and a gum shield.

We cater for all age grades from U6 up to U12 , for both boys and girls with a girl only team at U12.

Please note the following if your child was born in/Age Grade/Team contact:

2010 - Age Grade U12's - Pauline Marlowe 087 6323373

2011 - Age Grade U11's – Mark Quinn 085 8642266

2012 - Age Grade U10's – Colm Glynn 087 1520428

2013 - Age Grade U9's – John Healy 0879884240

2014 - Age Grade U8's - TBC

2015 - Age Grade U7's - TBC

2016 - Age Grade U6's* - TBC

2010 & 2011 Age Grade U12 Girls – Gerry Carthy 086 8046857

* Children born in 2017 are welcome to train with our U6 Age grade team.

For further information please contact Pauline Marlowe, Mini Co-ordinator, Longford RFC. 

Mob - 087 632 3373

New coaches are needed at the younger age groups. If you are interested in helping, please contact Pauline Marlowe or Gerry Carthy. 

Please follow club social media for updates on our Instagram & Facebook profiles- Longford RFC

Derick Turner and Donogh McDonnell with Leinster Senior Coach Stuart Lancaster

Boot room

Parents - we all know how quick the kids grow up and requirements to have a new pair of boots as they have outgrown the most recent, expensive pair.  Why not check out the hugely popular Boot room here at Longford rugby club where we have a self replenishing stock of replacement boots.  The idea is that you drop in a pair you no longer need and replace it with a pair that fits your child. That way your pair of boots doesn’t go to waste and someone else gets to benefit also, thus also helping someone else save a few Euros. 

If you have any boots that you wish to donate or exchange, please bring them into minis training and drop off the office for the attention of Gerry Carty or Pauline Marlowe who will assist with selecting the replacement pair.  Boots should be clean, laces intact and no missing studs.  No blades will be taken in. 

Please note it is not possible to guarantee there will be a suitable replacement available however we have rarely not had some to choose across a wide range of sizes.

Leinster Rugby open training session at Longford Rugby Club 

Leinster Rugby’s open training session at Longford Rugby Club took place on Thursday.  The Leinster squad had an early start with half the squad at a gym session at DKIT while the rest had a closed field session at Ashbourne RFC.  After an early lunch at neighbours Mullingar RFC, the team arrived earlier than the expected 2.30pm for the open training here at CPL Park.

The opportunities for autographs and photography with the players and coaches after the training session was plentiful.  The Leinster players took their time with the fans, posing with them for photos and signing anything available!

The crowd swelled as the session progressed and it’s estimated that 2000 fans attending to see their hero’s.

Media interviews were from Head Coach, Leo Cullen, international players Hugo Keenan and James Lowe for the assembled local and national press.  

Hugo Keenan was delighted to highlight his Longford connections with Keenan’s of Tarmonbarry and apparently, he hosted a presentation on the county to his teammates prior to coming to Longford!  James Lowe was the player to start the ball rolling with the autographs and had to be almost dragged in for his interviews commenting “Jesus, I got absolutely mauled out there, it was mayhem,”

People traveling from far and near were highly complementary of Longford RFC with many saying how nice the facilities and people were on the day.  Feedback on social media followed with pictures from fans with their favourite player and delight that they could meet them up close and personal.

It’s not often our club gets to present itself to the wider audience and the club did a fantastic job in doing just that. Led by club VP, Karen Lennon, the team worked tirelessly to ensure the day ran smoothly.

The club wish to thank each one who gave their time to assist Karen prepare and run the event so well.

We also would pass a special note of thanks to Longford County board for use of the car park at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong sign autographs

International comment

With so many Irelands rugby international players present in Longford on Thursday it was a timely reminder of the exploits of the Ireland team on the summer tour in New Zealand.  The All Blacks had previously only lost three international test series on New Zealand soil and Ireland were the next to take a series on kiwi home ground.  Subsequently, the All Blacks went on to SA where the Springboks added to their woes.  However, in the second test they looked to have turned things around in taking that test quite convincingly giving Ian foster some reprieve as coach.  The All Blacks since then have gone on to succumb to another defeat on home soil against Los Pumas, which is the third test defeat in a row at home.  It’s the first time that had ever happened, this is a stark reminder of the slide in the quality in New Zealand now. 

With former Ireland head coach, Joe Schmidt now in the backroom team, starting to pull the strings, it’s a good outside bet the All Blacks will come good for the World Cup in 2023.

Sin Bin

The Sin Bin is open from Friday’s.  Superb food and drink are available across the weekend (Friday to Sunday). 

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/sinbinlongford/












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