Mullingar proved to be the more effective team at shaking off the Christmas cheer to scope the PST Midlands League Plate Trophy from a Longford side that struggled to keep pace last Saturday at Shay Murtagh Park.

This encounter between neighbours was a one sided affair that the visitors will be happy to assign to the “run out” folder.  The score line of 40-05 indicates an outing in which Longford failed to get out of neutral, let alone find any high gears.

Longford’s last clash with the Westmeath men was one of their first positive games of this season, but this game fell into the opposite category.  The post Christmas barney with the old foe failed to grab the attention of the Longford team and the injury dented side looked content to run through the motions on a miserable afternoon.

The weekend weather may have been abysmal, but the worst of Storm Frank had no effect on the astro surface.  Down by 23-05 at half time the travelling team would have had an eye on the exit gate, but Mullingar continued to eye the try line. 

Longford did some heavy duty defending and had some notable line breaks, but momentary dips in concentration were ruthlessly punished by the home team.  Two of the three Mullingar opening half tries came from line out mauls, with the third a scything run through the Longford defence.  Mike Walls used his boot to further compound Longford misery.

The visitor scored by grafting their way from their own 22 to the red and grey try line before Huby Connolly stretched into the scoring zone.  Longford put together one or two moments to lift the travelling fans, but most of their energies were directed to defending the relentless home side’s assaults.

Mullingar crossed the whitewash three more time in the second half without reply to complete the rout.  This was not the start to the New Year that Longford would have hoped for, but with a number of players returning from injury they will be looking to put this outing behind them.

Next up for Longford is a visit to the Maws in Kilcock to play North Kildare in Leinster League Division 1B.  Two points separate the sides as get set to play the last five games of the year.  Every point from here on out is vital and Longford will be targeting this game as a must win.

Dylan Quinn, Huby Connolly, Justin Murray, Aaron Beirne, Benny McManus, Kevin Coffey, Fergal McGlade, Clifford Richardson, Shane Rodgers, Joe McGowan, Lorcan Connolly, Kurt Beeney, James Connolly, Jonathan Beirne, Kieran Kennedy

Peter Kirk, Liam Brady, Eoin McGowan, Finbar McGowan, Niall Flynn, Karl Murray.