Injury hit Longford RFC in relegation trouble as Tullow triumph

Longford RFC . . . 8     Tullow RFC . . . 24 

With a good start from Tullow, Longford were under pressure early for the first few minutes until they were eventually relieved with a knock on to end the Tullow phases on 4 minutes.

The ensuing scrum was then reversed for a crooked put in from Longford, something both sides were to learn was a bug bear for the referee throughout the game.  Further pressure from Tullow saw them camped on the Longford line to end with a try on 10 minutes.  As the conversion missed the score was 0-5 to the visitors.

Longford then made some good headway from the restart.  We had good link play between back and forwards with big carries from Bryce, Gorman, and Brady.  The pressure was rewarded with a penalty on 15 minutes, with a successful kick from the reliable boot of Ryan McHugh: 03-05. 

From there it was an end-to-end exchange of possession for next 10 mins as both sides probed into each other’s half.  Tullow were awarded a penalty bringing play to the 5 metre line. 

 Longford challenged strongly and with some excellent defending managed to get a clearance kick to bring play out to the 10 metre line.  

Tullow attempted to go forward from the  line out, but in doing so, committed a penalty infringement to allow Longford another kick for touch.  Longford infringed at the next lineout as the ref deemed us to be crossing, giving Tullow a penalty kick to touch just inside the 22. 

Longford made 2 changes at this point as Eoin O’Reilly came in for Liam Brady and Cormac Casey came in for David Connelly.

Longford managed to turn over possession and with good go forward ball for Gorman and Gilheany we earned a line-out just inside tullow 22.  In a well-executed maul towards the near touchline, Tullow defended and conceded another penalty, earning the No7 a yellow card.  

Off the next line out Longford again carried hard.  Bryce shipped the ball out to Gorman who put Diarmuid Masterson into space to cross for a fine try.  Ryan was unsuccessful with the conversion and thus the last play of the first half saw Longford go into the break leading 08-05. 

With all to play for, Longford started the brighter in the second half but Tullow took advantage of a knock on to clear their lines out of the 22.  Masterson then did well to chase the kick and secure possession for Longford.  

However, Tullow worked hard to win the ball back and again it's Longford’s turn to defend.  A Tullow miscommunication gave Longford a line-out in their own 22 only for our own cross messages gave Tullow possession and in for a try on 52 minutes to take the lead once again.  Longford 08-12 Tullow.

On 55 minutes, Longford kicked to touch to bring play just inside 22.  With another well-formed driving maul from the line-out, Tullow collapsed for a Longford penalty and ensuing line-out on the 5m line.  

Longford pressured the Tullow line.  Despite all the great work, with equally good defending Longford were pinged for holding on too long, allowing Tullow clear to just outside their 22.  Tullow managed to gain possession and exploit the near side to run play deep into Longford territory and on 65 minutes, Tullow crossed again to go 08-19 ahead. 

An excellent Ryan McHugh catch and carry from deep drove Longford back into Tullow territory.  The home side managed to get back to pressure the opposition line with several strong carries, however, with the aid of plenty of offside players, Tullow somehow managed to turn possession and once again rally down the pitch.

Tullow crossed for a try once again and on the failed conversion kick, brought a close to the game.

 For many, the result didn’t reflect the outstanding effort from the Longford lads..  With so many bodies on the extended injury list, particularly forwards, it was probably a tall order to get the required result on the day, however, those that took to the pitch left it all out there.

Longford again have a break in league action until March 15th when highly ranked Athy visit before a trip away to Dundalk. 

 Both Dundalk and Cill Dara claimed vital wins last weekend to push themselves closer to safety on the league table.  

Longford need full points in the final two fixtures and results elsewhere to go in their favour in the relegation battle. Never say never!

Upcoming Fixtures

19/03/23: Longford v Athy

26/03/23: Dundalk v Longford