What a wonderful win as Longford Rugby Club conquer Coolmine

Longford RFC . . . 30   Coolmine RFC . . . 27

Report: Mark Quinn at Longford RFC  

Longford Senior Men’s 1st XV welcomed up to then unbeaten table toppers, Coolmine RFC on Sunday last with a point to prove. Having built up serious momentum over recent weeks, the revitalised Men in Black had the opportunity to test themselves against the very best in the division and cause a major upset. 

For context, the visitors had gone 11 league games unbeaten, with the reverse fixture in November delivering an emphatic 36-3 win for the Dublin 15 outfit. They are a hugely accomplished side with the perfect mixture of speed, skill and brute force – a daunting prospect for any side to stand up to. But stand up this Longford side did, and what an epic followed for those lucky enough to have been in attendance at Longford Rugby Club on Sunday. This truly was a “Super Sunday”.

The game kicked off in unseasonably balmy conditions given the time of year and indeed the recent weeks of challenging conditions nationwide. Longford’s sun-soaked 4G pitch was about to host an “epic”. 

From the start it was Longford who set the tempo, an act in itself that has at times this season eluded this side who can start slowly. Longford thundered into Coolmine who were scrambling to deal with the intensity of the Longford onslaught.

 Only 2 minutes in, it was the home side who dealt the first blow after several waves of pressure through the Longford forwards. The ball was spun wide to Outhalf Jayden Boshoff who collected possession on the Coolmine 22. Selling a deft dummy to the 2-forward pillar in front of him, he brilliantly created enough of a gap to accelerate through and make it in under the posts for the game’s opening try. Ryan McHugh converted and Longford were 7-0 up. 

As to be expected, Coolmine responded and replied with big pressure that resulted in a penalty after 10 minutes which they landed to get on the scoreboard at 7-3. This was replied to by Longford on 24 minutes when Jayden Boshoff slotted a penalty to stretch Longford’s lead to 10-3.

 Both sides traded blow for blow all the way to half-time, with the immense Fred Davis twice creating huge line breaks that were just held up short despite big yardage on both carries. Both runs were reminiscent of his brilliant try earlier in the season at home to Clondalkin. When he gets going into space, he has a deceptive turn of pace and on both occasions it took multiple Coolmine defenders to haul him down, just shy of the whitewash. His example however energised the team and as the whistle blew for half time, it was Longford who were on the up. 10-3 to Longford at the break.

And so, the second act was set, and what drama followed. Longford again set a high tempo from the restart and established possession and territory deep into the Coolmine half. On 43 minutes, the ball was spun back to Outhalf, Jayden Boshoff who had instinctively dropped back into the pocket to slot a sublime drop goal and extend Longford’s lead to 13-3. 

The home side then really stepped up a gear on 52 minutes after a lineout on the Coolmine 5 metre line. Longford went through multiple phases through the forwards before spreading the ball wide. Winger Shane Farrell received the ball with still plenty to do, but his double sidestep inside against traffic wrongfooted to covering defence and he powered in across the line for Longford’s 2nd try of the contest which Boshoff converted. 20-3 in favour of Longford and up to this point worth every penny of that advantage.

This was the wake-up call Coolmine needed and they responded in brutal fashion. On 57 minutes they fashioned their opening try of the game through a driving maul close in which was converted to move them back into the game at 20-10. They repeated the trick on the 65th minute when after another series of close to the line pick n’ go’s they moved it wide for their backs to get in on the act and grab their 2nd try of the day, also converted. It was now 20-17 and anyone’s guess what would happen next. Thankfully for the Men in Black it was they who stemmed the flow and managed to turn the pressure back on Coolmine.

From a Longford lineout, the ball was fed to Kieran O’Gorman at the base who peeled off the side and took off on a typically aggressive carry that gained his side big yardage infield and crucially into the Coolmine 22. From here the Longford backs were ruthless, quickly feeding the ball wide to Joe McGowan who fixed the last defender before deftly popping the ball into space for Shane Farrell to burst into and jink his way through traffic to bag Longford’s crucial 3rd try, which Boshoff again converted. It was now 27-17 to Longford, with 11 minutes to go.

Coolmine were not done yet and they next responded with more evidence of why they are the side to beat this season. Running hard and direct at the Longford defensive line, they broke through from far out and were held up just shy of the Longford line only for the ball to be quickly recycled for their 3rd try of the contest, also converted to move matters 27-24 in Longford’s favour with only 6 minutes left on the clock. 

Longford were on the rack and Coolmine threw everything at them in an effort to protect their perfect season. Injuries and a yellow card were starting to tell on the home side, with second row Fred Davis even at one point having to move out into centre to fill the fast-evolving gaps. 

The pressure showed when in the final minute Coolmine were awarded a penalty in the Longford half. As evidence of their mindset at this stage and testament to the respect earned by Longford on the day, they elected for the safety of a draw instead of going for the jugular and slotted the penalty to swing the scoreboard even at 27-27. 

Remarkably however there was still time for a kick-off and for Longford to somehow regain possession as the clock would literally be in the red within seconds. Coolmine cleared to touch after collecting the kick-off, most likely thinking that would be that. 

But there was still time left, and Longford were awarded the lineout. The home side moved the ball inside through several phases of pick n’go phases in an attempt to inch forward and attain a central field position. 

This they did brilliantly and with the clock well into injury time, Robbie Shaw spun the ball arrow like to his awaiting Outhalf, Jayden Boshoff – who had moved deep into “the pocket”. Time next stood still and in a scene reminiscent of Ronan O’Gara’s 2009 Cardiff effort and Jonathan Sexton’s 2018 magical Paris moment – the Longford 10 calmly struck the sweetest of drop goals from 35 metres out that sailed straight through the Coolmine posts and hand brave Longford a most thrilling victory. 

To euphoric scenes the final whistle sounded to signal the end of one of the finest games hosted in Longford for many a year.

To a man, each Longford player contributed hugely to this performance as they extended their impressive unbeaten run. The standard was incredibly high and in any other week any number of Longford players would take Man of the Match honours. Daithi Connolly had a huge game both in attack and defence.

 Jayden Boshoff scored a try, a penalty, 2 conversions and 2 drop goals in literally a match winning performance. To beat either player this week would have to be something extra special.

 In Fred Davis, Longford had the player who set the tone and tempo for others to follow throughout. It was an incredible individual effort and one that saw him take this week’s award despite such competition from his teammates. And what a game to win it in!

Longford next take on Edenderry RFC at home on Sunday, 16th February in Round 13 of this season's Leinster League. All support is greatly welcomed and appreciated.

Longford Squad v Coolmine RFC:  1 – S McKeown 2 – R Collum  3 – L Brady 4 – A Beirne 5 – F Davis 6 – D O’Brien 7 – K O’Gorman 8 – A Crowe (c) 9 – R Shaw 10 – J Boshoff 11 – R Bleakley 12 – D Connolly 13 – S O’Boyle 14 – S Farrell 15 – R McHugh 16 – B Sullivan  17 –  C Craig 18 – G Mullarkey 19 – K Rodgers 20 – J McGowan.