Gallant Longford Rugby Club run Carlow close in cruel Towns Cup exit

Carlow RFC . . . 18    Longford RFC . . . 7 

Mark Quinn’s comprehensive match report

Longford Senior Men’s 1ST XV took to the road on Sunday last in pursuit of a major upset as they lined up the challenge of Carlow RFC in Round 2 of this season's Provincial Towns Cup at Oak Park. 

For context, although over the past decade these sides have largely competed in the same Leinster League Division 1B, last year saw real separation of the sides as Longford dropped down to 2A and Carlow won 1B to now sit in 1A – a 2 division gap.

 However, this Longford side travelled with the benefit of a key ingredient – momentum, having won every game since the start of December. The Men in Black were in a determined mood and had every confidence in their ability to cause a major Cup upset. In glorious South East sunshine, the sides took to the field ahead of what promised to be a thrilling encounter.

From the off, it was the hosts who set the early tempo and unleashed a flurry of direct and incisive phase plays that drove them deep into the Longford half. The visitors had to stem the tide of a relentless onslaught, both in open play and indeed set piece where Carlow targeted the Longford scrum. 

There was controversy however on 11 minutes when from an attacking scrum their scrumhalf blatantly knocked the ball on in open play and to the astonishment of all in attendance the referee for some reason waved play on. This was a crucial early call as from the resulting 2 phases Carlow swung the ball back left and crashed over at the clubhouse corner to open the scoring. They converted to give them a 7-0 lead after 13 minutes of play.

Longford responded well and started to dent the home defence with aggressive carries. It was Daire O’Brien who gave the visitors a major boost of game energy on 14 minutes with a typically aggressive carry into contact that made big yardage and cleared several Carlow defenders. From this phase Longford were awarded a penalty that sailed just left of the upright and denied a 3-point claw back. Not to be deterred, Longford kept on plugging and on 18 minutes it was Andrew Farrell who made the next big impact with a superb carry from centre. 

Collecting the ball in open play just inside the Carlow half, he took off on a trademark run direct at the Carlow defence. Breaking the first tackle, he continued at full speed before barrelling through the Carlow Full Back deep inside the hosts 22. Longford recycled and indeed it was Farrell who took it on a second time in the same phase only to be held up under the posts and Carlow managed a very relieving turnover to exit.

After this however it was all Carlow as they laid siege to the Longford line for the remainder of the first half, demanding the very best of Longford’s defensive system. Longford had to hang in and this they did superbly with every man laying their bodies on the line in a brave display of teamwork. 

Carlow were very impressive, and their positional kicking game was proving frustrating for the visitors who kept getting pinned back despite their best efforts to escape. Longford lost their inspirational captain Alan Crowe on 33 minutes and were dealt a further blow on the stroke of Half Time when Andrew Farrell was shown a yellow for a high tackle. Carlow missed the resulting penalty and the halftime whistle sounded. Longford regrouped to catch their breaths after a frantic opening 40 minutes. 7-0 to Carlow at the break.

The 2nd half started largely as the first had finished with Carlow keeping up the same high tempo and launching multiple attacking salvos hard at the Longford defence. It was the home side who made the first impression on the scoreboard after the break with a penalty on 45 minutes to stretch their lead to 10-0. It was now make or break for gallant Longford and they needed to try and hang in. Carlow looked for all the world like they were in on 49 minutes when their scrum half dummied the first pilar defender from Longford and accelerated through the gap with what looked like a certain try. However, as testament to the never say die attitude Longford were displaying it was Longford flanker Nigel Reilly who somehow scrambled back to catch the Carlow scrumhalf as he crossed the line. Ryan McHugh was also on hand and remarkably managed to twist the Carlow player away from the grass and hold up the ball as it was being grounded for a remarkable save and definitely a moment that kept Longford in the contest.

Indeed, it was Nigel Reilly who saved the day again only 2 minutes later, this time in tandem with Scott O’Boyle as Longford scrambled to hold out another Carlow attack wide out. The 2 combined to make a thundering combined hit as the Carlow attacker made his way over the try line – thwarting a certain try and literally keeping Longford in the contest. Longford needed to change momentum and it was Ronan Bleakley who on 53 minutes managed to kick a loose ball deep into the Carlow half before giving chase. Carlow scrambled but Longford had gained crucial territory and finally had a foothold in the Carlow half. Indeed, it was from this point onwards that Longford showed remarkable character and started to hammer into the Carlow defence. The visitors were unlucky on 58 minutes not to get over the whitewash after several phases of forward pressure. Carlow jackaled and won a turnover to relieve the pressure. But Longford were not done and came back again with several more phases of forward attrition at the coalface. The ball was worked back on 64 minutes for Robbie Shaw to find Joe McGowan in the line who jinked his way through to touch down a very well-deserved opening try for Longford. Jayden Boshoff converted, and it was 10-7 to Carlow with 15 minutes to go.

And so, the stage was set for what proved to be a thrilling final act in what was a compelling contest to this point. It was Longford who were energised and laid siege to the Carlow defensive line, time and time again making big gains in what was the game defining part of the game. Longford lost their talisman Daire O’Brien to injury on 73 minutes and had to readjust quickly. A rare foray into the Longford half resulted in a turnover penalty to the visitors. However, the clearance kick failed to make touch and Carlow countered into open space. Andrew Beirne was unlucky as he made his hit to be deemed too high and out of nowhere Carlow had a penalty. They made no mistake and with only 5 minutes to go stretched their lead to 13-7.

From the restart, Carlow cleared long only to find Ryan McHugh who countered aggressively back into traffic – breaking several tackles and making big yardage right when it was needed. Longford cleared the resulting ruck, and it was thundering Ger Mullarkey who had the vision to pick n’go from just inside the Carlow half. The Longford 2nd row took off at full steam into open space and looked like he might have made it but to be caught at the Carlow 5 metre line. Longford swarmed forward and moved the ball central in front of the posts to set up the final assault. Longford threw everything at Carlow for the next 3 minutes – the prize at stake being the latest of victories if they could get over the whitewash and make it 14-13 in the final plays of the game. To Carlow’s great credit however, they somehow managed to keep a rampant Longford out with the visitors coming up only inches shy of their 2nd try of the game on several occasions. Alas, there was one carry too many and Carlow managed their own great escape with another crucial jackal on their own line to turn over possession and end Longford’s brave effort to take the game.

Carlow had weathered the Longford storm and indeed in the minute that was left on the clock managed to twist the knife on a gallant Longford effort. Having won a penalty from the restart, they secured lineout possession deep in the Longford half. From the set piece, they spread the ball wide and bagged a try with the last play of the game to cruelly deny Longford who were out on their feet after their previous efforts. What could have been a remarkable 14-13 victory to Longford only a minute beforehand swung to an 18-7 victory for Carlow who emphatically closed out the contest and take the hardest of earned Cup victories. The final score was not a reflection on how close this contest really was, but credit to Carlow for closing out the game and not giving up themselves until the final whistle.

Longford can take huge pride from this performance and could easily have caused a major upset against what are a superbly drilled Carlow side. Up front, there were big performances from Ronan Collum, Liam Brady, Fred Davis and Nigel Reilly. Ger Mullarkey had an immense game from 2nd row and set the example for others to follow at the coalface. In the backs, Robbie Shaw had a superb game as did Jayden Boshoff at Outhalf who is getting better with every game in black. Ryan McHugh had a big influence from centre as did ever dependable Andrew Farrell who had another stormer on his return from injury. But overall, for the sheer amount of carries into contact, yardage gained and overall defensive shift when the side most needed it - this week’s Man of the Match award goes to Longford flanker Daire O’Brien who gave everything in a powerful display of “all on the line” rugby.

So this year’s Cup run finishes with frustration.  Longford now enter the Towns Plate competition and will target this as a chance to still bring silverware to the Club after what has been an overall positive season so far. The side is still on an upward trajectory overall and will be aiming to finish out the season on a high via the Plate competition.

Longford next take on New Ross RFC away on Sunday, 16th March in the 14th and final Round of this season's Leinster League to decide who will finish 3rd or 4th place in the table. All travelling support greatly welcomed and appreciated.

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