"Stupid mistakes" to blame for Leinster championship exit
Basic errors and stupid mistakes cost Longford their place in this year's Leinster championship.
That's a summary of Glenn Ryan's assessment of his team's performance in O'Moore Park in Portlaoise. He also lashed out at some refereeing decisions that he feels cost Longford dearly, at crucial stages of Sunday's game against Wicklow.
Once again, for the long suffering Longford supporters there's a hard luck story to be told about their teams' championship exit, and there will be plenty of time to dissect that defeat as they wait for seven weeks to emerge through championship back door and into the qualifiers.
Longford had every chance to win this game, even though they weren't firing on all cylinders. If they'd discovered how to get Brian Kavanagh into the game earlier and not kicked so many balls straight into the Wicklow goalkeepers' hands, then things might have been different.
If Longford had carried the ball closer to the target instead of kicking it straight down the throats of the Wicklow halfbacks, then a one-point lead at half time might have been so much more.
To their credit Longford showed how good they can be when they ran straight at the Wicklow defence, but too often the forwards looked for an extra pass where none was needed. As a result, Longford coughed up valuable possession and several scoring chances were lost.
The fact that Wicklow turned the screw in the second half was no surprise. Mick O'Dwyer's men looked the better side throughout and the two goals at either end of the second period set the seal on a frustrating day for Longford football.
Longford's comeback to level the game late on showed just how much spirit is in this squad, and how vulnerable Wicklow were in defence. Padraig Berry's goal was one of those rare occasions when Longford managed to get up close and personal with the Wicklow fullback line.
It was a glimmer of hope that a draw, or even a sneaky win, might be on the cards, but that hope was quickly dashed when our good friend Paul Earls hit the net to end the contest. Longford's manager was visibly annoyed after the game and he'd every right to be. Glenn Ryan's team had just blown a wonderful opportunity to save their season and make it into the Leinster championship quarterfinal.
Now that relegation in the league has been followed up with a first round championship defeat, the early promise, and confidence in, the Glenn Ryan era looks misplaced.
Luke Dempsey's manufactured departure from the job was billed as the opportunity to do something different and take Longford to the next level. In seven weeks time Longford will find themselves back where it all came to a shuddering halt last summer, with defeat (to Laois) in the qualifiers.
The last remaining chance for progress in 2009 now depends on winning a game in those qualifiers. Seven weeks is a long time keep a panel of players focused on the job in hand, and hoping they'll stay injury free.
How many of the younger players will now push ahead with their travel plans, and will the management team get the access to the players that Luke Dempsey alleged he was denied? Will club games take precedence over challenge matches, or has Glenn Ryan a stronger say than his predecessor?
There are plenty of questions to be answered in the coming weeks, not least who Longford will meet in the first round of the qualifiers. Let the speculation begin.
"Almost the perfect rugby year"
Maybe we've become too used to winning European rugby finals, but I thought Saturday's win for Leinster in Murrayfield was greeted with a muted, if not entirely blas response.
It broke some people's hearts to offer a hand of congratulations to Leinster jersey wearing supporters on Saturday night. The closet Munster fan came out in so many people, and maybe that explains why Leinster's historic win was greeted with nothing more than a shrug of the shoulders by so called 'rugby' supporters.
What was very different about this final was that we had seen it done twice before in recent years, by a team that- if most rugby followers are being honest- they care for, far more, than Leinster's fancy Dan brigade. Seconds after the final whistle the victory was set in the context of an extraordinary year for Irish rugby.
Some commentators couldn't give Leinster the credit for making themselves into a side that finally can compete at this level and can win the tight matches. That said, there is a reality here that Leinster will never be loved and cherished like Munster.
It said it all when there was no big screen event organised to watch the game in Dublin and that the homecoming could be held without any panic in the RDS. Leinster rugby has a limited constituency and it will take massive work on the ground to change that.
When a European Cup win for Leinster prompts a Munster follower to offer that it "was almost the perfect rugby year", then you know just how deep this divide goes. Supporting Leinster rugby is set to continue to be viewed from the south of the country as a pursuit for the innocent.
While remaining calm at all times; just remind the winners of this year's Cider League where the Heineken Cup is residing for the next 12 months!
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Longford, Ireland
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
