Tullamore pip Longford in Midland Rugby League Final thriller

Longford RFC . . . 20     Tullamore RFC . . . 22 

Longford Senior Men’s 1st XV got the 2026 calendar year underway with a mouth-watering Midland League Final opportunity against Tullamore RFC on Saturday last. 

Tullamore are a formidable side who sit 2 divisions above Longford, sitting 3rd place in Leinster League Division 1A and over recent seasons competing at senior level in the All-Ireland League. 

On paper they arrived as firm favourites for this year’s Midland League honours, but this Longford side had a different agenda and arrived in a determined mood to cause an upset.

For context, the Midland League is a regional competition that sits separate to the main Leinster League. Other provincial clubs that take part each season are Mullingar RFC, Edenderry RFC, Roscrea RFC, Birr RFC, Midland Warriors and West Offaly Lions. 

To the winner the spoils of more local nature and an opportunity to bag some silverware which is always a welcome achievement in the highly competitive junior rugby community. Longford last secured the Midland League during the 2022/23 season.

Back to last weekend, the game was set in perfect conditions – cold but dry with barely a breeze as both sides took to the pitch.

 Longford from the off set down an immediate marker as they hammered into Tullamore and let them know early that they were there to do business. 

Early efforts were rewarded with a penalty on 3 minutes which Outhalf Jayden Boshoff coolly slotted to get the scoreboard ticking and the Men in Black into an early lead. Longford continued the high tempo and for the next 10 minutes continued to attack what was a rattled Tullamore. 

On 14 minutes, Longford cleverly worked the ball infield through several phases before landing on the Tullamore 22 metre line. Scrumhalf Ryan McHugh brilliantly changed the direction of play with a reverse chip into space that was caught by openside flanker and younger brother Mark McHugh who still had plenty to do but managed to jink his way in at the corner to get Longford’s first try of the day. 

It was a top class try. Jayden Boshoff nailed the touchline conversion and Longford were deservedly 10-0 up after 14 minutes.

This woke Tullamore up and they laid siege to the Longford defensive line for the next 10 minutes, showing why they are as highly regarded a side as they are.

 Wave after wave of incisive attack was only just held out by a brave Longford defence – however, it was only a matter of time and on 25 minutes their Loose Head Prop got through off a ruck to get the visitors opening try which was converted. 10-7 to Longford with 25 minutes played.

The 2 sides then exchanged blows for the next 10 mins, with ferocious hits going in by both teams. The Longford scrum was again rock solid, an especially impressive feat given the size and strength of the Tullamore pack.

 The next big impact was on 37 mins when Paddy Duggan carried hard at centre, fixing 2 defenders and cleverly releasing his partner in crime Andrew Farrell who was on his shoulder and burst into space from 40 metres out. 

With the Tullamore fullback still to beat, he swerved cleverly after a deft change of acceleration to leave Tullamore’s last man flat footed and raced in for Longford’s deserved 2nd try of the game. Jayden Boshoff again converted, and Longford were 17-7 up with only minutes to go in a pulsating first half.

Tullamore responded immediately however and disappointingly for Longford got in for their 2nd try through their forwards on 40 minutes which they also converted to the sound of the half time whistle. The players and huge crowd in attendance finally got to draw their breath.

The second half was a tale of attrition and physicality, with both sides throwing everything at each other in a relentless battle. From a scoreboard perspective, things moved late but there were some big impacts.

 On 57 minutes, Ronan Collum relieved big Tullamore pressure with an opportunistic pick from ruck inside the Longford 22’  before setting off into space and bringing that ball all the way to just shy of the half way line in a super piece of individual play. 

On 65 minutes Ryan McHugh made a big gain from the back off a scrum on the Tullamore 10 metre line with a clever kick into the Tullamore 5 metre gap that forced their defender to carry into touch and give Longford priceless possession and territory. 

Andrew Farrell then made a thumping cover tackle shortly after at the clubhouse end on 73 minutes to deny Tullamore a certain try.

But Tullamore were dogged, and never stopped working their way back with clinical phases that kept them in the game. 

With only 4 minutes left on the clock and with Longford looking comfortable in possession, Tullamore struck back with an opportunist intercept from inside their own half.

 Their winger took off and ran the remainder of the pitch to bag Tullamore’s 3rd try which went unconverted but crucially gave the visitors the lead for the first time in the contest. 17-19 to Tullamore with only 3 minutes left on the clock. 

Could Longford respond and did they have the time to? What followed was a classic example of the drama in many ways only sport can deliver. 

Longford went for broke and swarmed forward off the restart, knowing that possession was non-negotiable if they had any chance of reclaiming the lead they had held for 73 minutes of the contest. 

Remarkably they did just that and were awarded a penalty from 40 metres out. With regular place kicker Jayden Boshoff on the sideline after an injury, it was Scrum Half Ryan McHugh who took control of the ball and signalled to the posts for what all in attendance thought surely would be the last act of the game. 

To his immense credit and under huge pressure, McHugh nailed what was a very difficult kick to send it clean through the posts and remarkably give the Men in Black back the lead at 20-19. All in attendance thought that was surely it, but Tullamore showed that it's not over until it’s over and got ready for the restart. 

To their immense credit, the visitors attacked the restart with laser like precision and managed to take possession.

Longford were scrambling to defend a frantic last Tullamore push and it was the visitors who were awarded a penalty of their own on 80 minutes to the despair of the home supporters. They nailed the 3 points and to the sound of the final whistle also secured the Midland League title with the very last play of what was a pulsating classic.

Longford gave everything and nobody in attendance could argue that they did not deserve to win this Final, but full credit to Tullamore who showed why they are the formidable side they are.

The scoreboard does not lie and although cruel on gallant Longford who led for the vast majority of the contest, it was Tullamore who came out on top 20-22.

Longford had huge individual performances from every player who took part. Up front Andrew Beirne and David Geelan put in massive shifts at the coalface with the back row of McHugh, Crowe and McKeown everywhere both in attack and defence. 

Ryan McHugh had another fine outing from Scrum Half with his half back partner Jayden Boshoff pulling the strings cleverly throughout. 

Andrew Farrell and Paddy Duggan again showed how dynamic their centre partnership can be and it is developing into a very important ingredient in Longford’s fast improving back play. 

In what was as close a contest for Player of the Match in recent memory, this week’s accolade deservedly goes to Andrew Farrell at inside centre who put in a trojan performance with big carries and hits in equal measure. It was a massive shift from the Newtowncashel man.

Longford get back to Leinster League duties next Sunday 11th January when they take the road to Cill Dara RFC.

 This is a crucial fixture as Cill Dara sit only 2 points behind Longford in the battle for 2nd place and a play-off position come the end of the league calendar. All travelling support greatly appreciated.

Longford Squad v Tullamore RFC: 1 – J Murray 2 –  B Hanley 3 – D Quinn 4 – A Beirne 5 – D Geelan 6 – A Crowe (c) 7 – M McHugh 8 – S McKeown 9 – R McHugh 10 – J Boshoff 11 – S Farrell 12 – A Farrell 13 – P Duggan 14 – D Connolly 15 – O Pearson. 

Replacements – R Collum, L Brady, M McCallum, N Reilly, P Boyle, J Mimnagh, F Hartin, S O’Rourke, J O’Rourke, B Sullivan, J Byrne, P Kenny, M Bissett, O McGowan.