RUGBY | Longford secure emphatic bonus point derby win over Mullingar

Those in attendance were treated to a pulsating encounter at Longford Rugby Club on Sunday past. This was the big one. For some time, the local derby had been on the horizon as a potentially pivotal fixture in Longford’s frustrating league season to date.

Leinster Rugby League Division 1B: Longford RFC 29 Mullingar RFC 20

A win was simply non-negotiable if Longford’s recent resurgence in form was to continue to gather pace and the league comeback was to continue.

A mixture of understandable nerves and quiet confidence was in the air as the home team took the field to lock horns with the old enemy. The scene was set, the talking over – it was time to put everything on the line and make recent progress count.

Longford got off to a great start and set the early tempo. After a high intensity start to the game, Longford were awarded a penalty on 4 minutes that was calmly slotted over by Ryan McHugh. An early 3-0 lead settled the nerves and for the next 10 minutes it was all Longford as they launched attack after attack.

However, just as Longford should have been making their early dominance count, they were punished by the referee for what was deemed an intentional infringement by the in-form Alistair McCormack who was then yellow carded. Just as the momentum was building, the home team were then on the back foot and having to defend against a dynamic Mullingar team who intended to make their advantage count.

This they did over the next phase of the game. A penalty was landed on 22 mins to balance the scoreboard at 3-3. However, there was worse to come from the home side’s perspective after a comedy of errors in Longford’s backline allowed Mullingar in for a very cheap try under the posts on 24 minutes which was converted to give Mullingar a 10-3 lead.

This was the pivotal moment of the game – could Longford bounce back after giving so much momentum to the visitors. The answer was an emphatic yes.

Longford was awarded a lineout on the stroke of halftime close to the Mullingar line. After securing clean possession, a pre-rehearsed wave of carries were launched by the Longford loose forwards.

It was on the second wave of attacks that the ultimate Player of the Match, Tom Gilheany, crashed over for an outstanding try that was a deserved reward for the home side's first half efforts. The conversion was missed to leave the scoreboard 10-8 at halftime in the visitors’ favour.

As both the teams and those lucky enough to be in attendance gathered their breaths at halftime, no one knew that even more drama was set to explode in a second half that will live long in the memory.

It did not start to plan for the home side as Mullingar landed the first blow on 44 minutes after a dominant scrum enabled their back row to capitalise and score a try on the back of a scrum advantage. The conversion was missed, but Mullingar had made the best possible start to the second half and swung the scoreboard 15-8 in their favour. What happened next however was a run of events that even the most experienced scribe would have struggled to keep up with.

On 47 minutes, both sides were simultaneously punished with yellow cards with Ryan McHugh the unlucky victim for the home side. Longford however pushed on and made an incisive break that was broken down illegally by the visitors who received another yellow card on 50 minutes.

Longford all of a sudden had a one-man advantage and went for the jugular. The hugely talented Cormac Casey at full back made a great break only to be halted by a dangerous high tackle which was punished by yet another yellow card against Mullingar. Longford now had a two-man advantage and it was time to make it count. Longford secured a lineout from the ensuing penalty deep into the Mullingar half. A flawless lineout saw Kieran O’Gorman rise highest at the back which set a textbook driving maul at the Mullingar line. The ever-dependable Mark McHugh drove over for his second try in consecutive matches which was sweetly converted by Danny McHugh. Score 15-15.

Mullingar were rattled and the home side could smell blood. They needed to keep the pressure on and this they did via another try on 58 minutes when Player/Coach Henry Bryce took matters into his own hands and launched a typically aggressive solo effort that saw him break the attempts of three Mullingar tacklers. He touched down under the posts to give Danny McHugh a straightforward conversion which he took sweetly. Score was now 22-15 to Longford.

Longford were now dominating every aspect of the game and producing arguably some of their best rugby of the season with wave after wave of excellent running rugby. Up front Podge Farrell, Liam Brady and David Geelan were putting in huge shifts especially at the set piece. Packie Molloy added real dynamism after replacing the unfortunate Benny McManus who had to retire earlier in the game having himself put in his signature physical shift at the coal face. In the backs there were big displays from Finbarr McGowan, Danny McHugh and George McDermott who were in scintillating form throughout.

But it was Player of the Match, flanker Tom Gilheany who made the next impact. After a superb read on 70 minutes, he intercepted a Mullingar attack and at full tilt ran the length of the field. It looked for all in attendance that he had made it only to be caught at the very last metre under the Mullingar posts.

There were two supporting backs on his shoulder who recycled the ball but were desperately unlucky to knock on over the Mullingar line. Longford were relentless and were in no mood to show mercy to their shell-shocked opponents. George McDermott made a superb break on 73 minutes and was also unlucky to be caught. However, Longford were aggressive in their support and recycled for the resurgent David Geelen to carry hard over the line to score Longford’s fourth, and bonus point try. Ryan McHugh landed the sweetest of conversions to swing matters 29-15 in favour of the Men in Black.

Indeed, Longford looked to have bagged yet another try on 75 minutes when Diarmuid Masterson made a great effort and seemed to have touched down in the corner. The referee initially agreed and raised his arm to signal the awarding of the try until an intervention by the linesman resulted in the score being cancelled.

In fairness to Mullingar they never gave up and indeed scored the game's closing try in the final play of the game which was not converted. The game ended 29-20 in favour of Longford – a huge result landed on the back of a huge performance by every player who took the field.

Next up Longford RFC travel to Carlow RFC next Sunday in what is always a tough fixture. However, this side has nothing to fear given their recent performances. Confidence is back, the systems are really starting to take shape and the talent is evident for all to see. Together, they have everything to play for.

LONGFORD: 1 – P Farrell 2– M McHugh 3 – L Brady 4 D Geelan 5 B McManus 6 A McCormack 7 T Gilheany 8 K O’Gorman 9 F McGowan 10 R McHugh 11 D McHugh 12 C Glynn 13 G McDermott 14 D Connolly 15 C Casey 16 R Collum 17 S McKeown 18 P Molloy 19 H Bryce 20 D Masterson