Longford RFC conquer Clondalkin to secure Division 1B status

 Longford RFC . . . 27     Clondalkin RFC . . . 16 

For context, after 6 rounds of the 14 round competition format, the team sat shell shocked at the bottom of the table with no wins on the board. 

With 8 rounds remaining, the team had to plot a course to survival that would require a minimum of 5 wins as well as a mix of bonus points to pull off the comeback of comebacks. 

Events in Dundalk the previous week completed the above “Houdini act”, with Longford moving off the foot of the table for the first time all season in the 3rd minute of injury time on the final day of the regular season. 

However, the reward was not automatic safety but a place in a play-off v the 2nd placed team in Division 2A – Clondalkin RFC. This was now essentially a Winner Takes All Final.

On Sunday last, the final episode of what has been an epic script played out. The team arrived at the neutral North Kildare venue, focused and determined to deliver the win required to retain their place among the highly competitive Division 1B. A large crowd was in attendance and the scene was set. 

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In balmy Spring conditions, the match got underway to a ferocious early intensity. Both sides showed clear early intent that this was going to be a hard-won match and whoever was to take the spoils would need to earn it.

It was Longford who landed the first blow on 4 minutes after a superb break from Kieran O’Gorman was initially continued by his back-row partner in crime Tom Gilheany to launch Longford deep into the Clondalkin 22. The referee signalled a penalty to Longford from the ensuing breakdown which Ryan McHugh sent straight between the posts. 3-0 to Longford and an ideal start. 

However, Clondalkin showed immediately from the restart that they intended to take the game back to Longford and displayed some silky phases to keep the men in black honest. 

Indeed, it was Clondalkin whose efforts were next rewarded via converted penalties on the 8th and 14th minutes to swing the scoreboard 3-6 in their favour. Longford knew they were in for a battle.

To their credit, Longford immediately upped the tempo and delivered some excellent rugby in equal measure through both the forwards and backs. On 18 minutes it was Longford centre, George McDermott, who took matters into his own hands to cross the Clondalkin whitewash for a crucial opening try under the posts. Ryan McHugh converted to return the scoreboard 10-6 in Longford’s favour.

Longford had to defend bravely for the following 20 minutes as Clondalkin launched wave after wave of attack in their effort to get back into the game. Rioch Farrell and Diarmuid Masterson both landed thundering hits in this period to negate the Clondalkin momentum. 

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Both sides displayed a ferocious commitment at the point of contact, with the ball swinging from one side of the pitch to the other in a terrific high tempo. Up front it was Podge Farrell, Mark McHugh and Liam Brady who set the foundation in the set piece with David Geelan and Benny McManus leading the Longford effort in close contact open play. Packie Molloy pulled the strings at No.8 as the forwards began to dominate their opponents.

As half-time approached, Colm Glynn earned a penalty for Longford after a brilliant jackal at the breakdown. Ryan McHugh converted the resulting penalty to further increase the Longford lead to 13-6. A minute later in first half injury time the Longford lead was further enhanced after a superb finish from flying winger Rioch Farrell who was put through after some blistering play from his teammates. Ryan McHugh converted to give Longford an 18-6 lead at the break.

The second half opened to an erratic pattern for Longford as despite their healthy and deserved lead, the ball was not sticking with several unforced errors leading to frustration among the Men in Black. This gave Clondalkin renewed belief that they could get back into the game and to their credit they never stopped in their efforts to erode the gap built up by Longford. 

However, after a sustained period of pressure it was Longford who dealt the next blow on 57 minutes as they surged up field to attack the Clondalkin line. After a number of intensive phases by the forwards, it was Robbie Shaw who launched the crucial and ultimately game winning attack as the ball was swung wide through the backs. 

The hugely talented Bran Harte smartly fixed the last covering Clondalkin defenders before releasing Player of the Match, Rioch Farrell clear on the wing for his 2nd try of the afternoon. Ryan McHugh landed a superb conversion from the touchline to further enhance Longford lead to 27-6.

Longford had to absorb a difficult last 23 minutes from Clondalkin who threw everything they had at Longford with nothing to lose. Matters were not helped during this period by 2 yellow cards that stretched the Longford line when really the game should have been seen out. 

To their full credit, Clondalkin landed 2 late tries of their own to improve the score line to 27-16. Indeed, this is how it finished as the referee finally blew his whistle to the relief of all in attendance.

And so the “Great Escape” was completed. The Players, Coaches and Management deserve huge credit for their dedication and commitment to the cause this season. They never gave up and have proven many wrong this season.

 After a hugely character-building campaign, this squad will ultimately benefit from this journey. New players have been blooded, the overall game plan has been developed and ultimately a very unique bond has been created among this group. 

Roll on next September when they will do it all again – proudly in Leinster Division 1B.

LONGFORD: 1 – L Brady, 2 – M McHugh, 3 –  P Farrell, 4 – D Geelan, 5 – B McManus, 6 – K O’Gorman, 7 – T Gilheany, 8 – P Molloy, 9 – R Shaw, 10 – R McHugh, 11 – D Masterson, 12 – C Glynn, 13 – G McDermott, 14 – R Farrell, 15 – B Harte.               16 – B Hanley, 17 – S McKeown, 19 – A McCormack, 20 – H Bryce, 21 – C Casey.