By Padraig Murphy Longford RFC PRO Ph: 087 6063587 Email:  lrfconnects@gmail.com

Longford Ladies Rugby 

There will be a significant change for Longford women’s rugby next season as Head Coach, Nuala McGoey hangs up her boots.  Nuala retires from coaching the ladies’ team after a combined 20 years with the team as player and coach.  Nuala’s input has brought the team from strength to strength over the years and will be missed by all. 

Earlier this season Nuala commented, as part of a Women in Rugby piece for International Women’s Day,

‘Getting involved in coaching was a natural decision for me.

Having played rugby for the ladies’ team for a number of years, as I was getting close to retiring, there was an opportunity for a new senior coach.  There were never enough volunteers participating in ladies’ rugby and, I felt I could give something to the team.  After some consultation and encouragement l decided to take on the role which, at the time, kept some continuity for the team.  Experience is not absolutely necessary to be involved but it does help to have the knowledge from playing.  Every day is a learning day, you are always picking up something new.

My proudest coaching moment was the team getting promoted to Division Three and then winning the plate final.

I would say that the most notable change in the ladies’ side was going from having difficulty in fielding a team to the numbers growing steadily every year.  I remember how much I had gained from playing rugby over the years and all the friends I had made, and subsequently seeing the same thing happening for other players in the team through the years is really great to see.

As a coach, there are many challenges and you end up doing everything related to the team.  Club and teams need volunteers.  I would encourage anyone interested in ladies’ rugby to get involved at the club. 

Just come along and speak to coaches and club staff.  There are always lots that need doing, from taking pictures, to match reports, making tea, marking the pitch etc.  Every little bit helps, and it is always enjoyable to be involved.’

Maria Kelleher, Ladies captain commenting on behalf of the Longford Ladies team -

‘We would like to thank Nuala for all her time and commitment over the past few years.  Nuala always instilled a sense of encouragement and guidance for us players. She enabled each player to trust in their ability.  Many of the players who started rugby in recent years wished they had started sooner, which is reflective of Nuala's hard work.  Nuala worked tirelessly behind the scenes in getting a full squad in place each year and having the admin side of the team in order.  Her excellent dedication and work has not gone unnoticed and has been appreciated by each member of the ladies' squad.  Nuala will be missed, and it will certainly be strange her not being there going forward.  We hope she will continue to follow the team and join us at the Sin Bin for a quiet one after games.

Longford Rugby Club Vice President and Director of Ladies Rugby, Karen Lennon also said, ‘Nuala has been a constant of Longford Ladies rugby since its foundation in 2006. As a player she was a formidable opponent, and I was always glad she was on our team – she was a mighty woman to turn over a ball or nick one against the head in a lineout.

It goes without saying that women’s rugby in Longford would not be where it is today without Nuala.  When there was difficulty in finding a coach, Nuala stepped in and has driven the team to the success it is today.  There are big shoes to fill to continue with Nuala’s great work.  I would like to thank Nuala for her hard work and dedication to Women’s Rugby in Longford.’ 

Club President, Donagh McDonnell commented, ‘Nuala McGoey has been a huge part of our club since I have been involved.  She has put in all the hard yards both as a player and as a coach, in conditions that were often less than ideal.  Without people like Nuala, the ladies’ game would not be thriving as it is today. The club owes Nuala a huge thanks and we hope that she will stay involved even if she is taking a step back from coaching.’ 

All in Longford Rugby Club wish Nuala the absolute best wishes for the future and extend our appreciation for her contribution throughout the years.

Youth Rugby, sponsored by MLC, Midlands Language Centre. 

U16 Midlands League Final 

Longford RFC 17-36 Mullingar 

Longford U16’s fell at the final hurdle of the season as Mullingar too the Midlands League title on Saturday.  Mullingar took the lead on 6 minutes wit an unconverted try.  Longford applied pressure on the visitors after the restart with good Carrie’s into contact across the park.  The hard work was rewarded with a penalty on thirty metres which yielded three points from Senan Murphy.

Mullingar went in for two more tries from Midlands players, Peader Glennon and Jake Greene, as the hosts were slow to protect their own ball and gift the opposition cheap possession from which they were clinical.

Longford did not let the heads drop and fought to get themselves back up the pitch. A sweet cross field kick for the onrushing Jonathan Groenewald almost came off and indeed gave the home side the confidence to bring the game to Mullingar.  On the cusp of halftime, the hard work paid dividends as Mark Glynn dotted down to the right of the posts.  The conversion was good to go into the break 10-17 down.

The second half went aray quite early as Mullingar scored twice in the first ten minutes to extend out to a 10-29 lead. Longford still were not done and, but for poor handling on a couple of occasions we would have been a lot closer.  However, the lads kept plugging deep in opposition territory and eventually Mullingar conceded a penalty on the try line.  The set piece move straight off the training ground went to plan and Mark Glynn was over for his second try.  Longford should have kicked on from there as the momentum was building but again when diligegence was most needed, Longford failed to retain their own possession and allowed Mullgar back in for the final score.  The team should build on the positives from this season as they have done on last season.  Two end of seasons finals has been a big step up and hopefully we can go one better next season and claim silverware.

Longford: James Cosgrove, Mark Glynn, Tadhg McCauley, Joseph Davidson, Ryan Spollen, Danny Kelly, Conor O’Grady, Aaron Hopkins, Derek Belton, Harry Byrne, Shane McGuigan, Mel Mulligan, Senan Murphy, Donnacha Golden, Tom Murray, Darragh Walsh, Jonathan Groenewald, Daniel Corr, Jamie Donohue, Jack Brogan,  Gift Orbrehor, Dan Donohue

U18 Leinster Plate Final

Longford U18’s will take on Naas Rugby Club on Saturday next in North Kildare in the final of the Leinster plate competition.  We wish Jimmy Murphy and his team the best of luck in their quest for silverware.

U17 Leinster Plate Final

Longford U17 team take on Mullingar in the Leinster plate final on Saturday. The final will take place at North Kildare Rugby Club.  This is the second final for the U17’s this season and is a remarkable achievement for the team and coaches. We wish Freddie and the boys the best of luck in their final.

Girls Rugby - Give it a Try

Longford Rugby Club will host a girls rugby Give it a Try series over the coming weeks.  The training sessions will run from 6.00pm commencing on Wednesday 19^th April.  For further information please contact Karen on 087449228.

Link to Leinster league and Midlands’s area competition fixtures and results can be found on the following link.

https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/domestic-rugby/domestic-fixtures-results/

Youth’s training 

Training for all youths’ teams has now finished for the season with the exception of those remaining in competition. Age group, coach contact details and in season training schedule as follows:

Please contact the coaches below ahead of next season for updates.

Girls’ teams

U14 girls - Mags McKenna  087 6309653

Wednesday 7:00-8:15pm

U16 girls – Eugene Larkin 086 6015325

Wednesday 7:00-8:15pm

U18 girls – Declan Smyth 085 1375973

Wednesday & and Fridays 7.30pm

Boy’s teams

U13 – Lisa Brady 087 6119960

Monday 7.00-8.45pm

Saturday 10.30-11.30am

U14 – Declan Elliott 086 8125363

Wednesday 7.00-8.15pm

U15 – Aoghan Clarke 087 6727002

Monday and Wednesdays 7.00-8.30pm

U16 – Padraig Murphy 087 6063587

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

Mini Rugby

Longford U12 boys competed in the Wilsons Hospital blitz on Saturday last. The team  of twenty-two players attended. We fielded two balanced teams and played six games each.  Both team’s players played some spectacular rugby, and these young men are improving week on week. We would like to thank the staff of Wilson’s Hospital, referees and of course all who travelled to support our young teams. We are wrapping up our season in the next few weeks but before then are travelling to Setpoint next Sunday for the largest blitz of the year where 150 teams will be competing.

For further information on all mini’s rugby, please contact your coach or our Mini’s Co-ordinator, Pauline Marlowe on Mob - 087 632 3373.

For all teams not involved in blitz games, Longford Mini Rugby continues on Sunday mornings, 10.30am at the club.

Players should wear football boots, appropriate clothing, and a gum shield. Blade type boots are not permitted.

At Longford Rugby Club, we cater for all age grades from U6 up to U12 for both boys and girls with a girls’ team at U12. This group is for girls born 2010 & 2011.

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

2011 & 2012 Age Grade U12 Girls – Gerry Carthy 086 8046857

ew players can be registered via this link

https://rugbyconnect.irfu.ie/

For further information please contact Pauline Marlowe, Mini Co-ordinator, Longford RFC. Mob - 087 632 3373

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

Boot room

Parents - Why not check out the hugely popular Boot room here at Longford rugby club where we have a self-replenishing stock of replacement boots. 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 does not 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.

For all Longford RFC club correspondence please contact :

Ph: 087 6063587 Email:  lrfconnects@gmail.com