Longford RFC score a crucial away win against Cill Dara

Longford Senior Men’s 1st XV took to the road on Sunday last with a trip to Cill Dara RFC in a crucial Round 10 fixture that would have a big impact on this years’ play-off fight. 

The hosts started the contest just 2 points behind Longford who went into the contest still retaining 2nd place in the league and the all-important shot at promotion via the play-off route.

Cill Dara RFC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11    Longford RFC . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

 In bitterly cold and gale-force conditions, the players took to the pitch knowing that this was going to be a real challenge – both from the opposition and indeed the weather.

It was Cill Dara who got off to the perfect start after  only 2 minutes when they struck a very tricky penalty to take a 3-0 lead. Longford hadn’t even got started and somehow found themselves behind on the scoreboard. 

From the restart a real war of attrition played out, with both sides essentially cancelling each other out – this was not going to be a day for free flowing and expansive rugby with even the shortest of passes subject to the whims of the prevailing gusts. 

Both sides tried hard to get momentum, but an error strewn run of phases made for a hard spectacle. Longford did make the next impact however when Out half Jayden Boshoff nailed a penalty on 26 minutes, but Cill Dara were dogged and replied with another of their own on 31 minutes to bring back the lead to 6-3 in their favour. 

Longford were the more dominant team however in the closing stages and had upped the ante. These efforts were rewarded on 40 minutes when this season's unlikely try machine, loosehead prop Padraig O’Farrell barged over the whitewash after a phase of forward pressure to get Longford’s opening try and establish an important 8-6 lead to the visitors at the break.

Longford continued their momentum in the second half and a real change in gear saw them take control. Longford were awarded a scrum in the Cill Dara 22 from which No.8 Seamus McKeown fed scrum half Ryan McHugh from the base. 

A deft ball into space was devoured by centre Andrew Farrell who at full pace smashed his way through the Cill Dara defence to score Longford’s second try of the day and stretch the visitor’s advantage to 13-6. 

It was now a full assault from the Men in Black, with wave after wave of physical rugby that had Cill Dara at full stretch. These efforts were rewarded on 67 minutes when centre Paddy Duggan brilliantly jinked his way through for Longford’s 3rd try of the day which Boshoff converted – giving Longford a 20-6 lead with 13 minutes still to play.

Credit to Cill Dara however who dug in and showed why they are such a competitive league side themselves this season. They pinned Longford back deep in their own territory and got in for a try themselves on 75 minutes to move the scoreboard to 20-11. 

In the final minutes Longford launched a final, prolonged assault back at the Cill Dara try line in search of a 4 Try Bonus Point but frustratingly to no avail. Cill Dara just kept the visitors out, who threw everything at them but just ran out of time.

This was a really important win and a reverse result would have seen Longford exchange places with Cill Dara and fall out of the play-off place. It was a job well done by a side that knows what it takes to get the job done. 

The forwards were superb as a unit, with big shifts especially from Padraig O’Farrell, Ronan Collum & Dylan Quinn. David Geelan and Andrew Beirne never gave an inch either as the front five gave the rest of the team the platform needed to get the job done.

 Liam Brady, Fred Davis, Nigel Reilly, Fergal McGlade & Ciaran Shannon all made big impacts from the bench later in the game. The backrow axis of Crowe/McHugh/McKeown continued their recent fine form and as a unit are a very formidable loose forward trio. 

In the backs, Ryan McHugh had another superb performance from 9 with Outhalf Jayden Boshoff also showing up well despite the challenging conditions. The Duggan/Farrell partnership at centre continued its upward trajectory and is developing into a very dynamic unit.

 The back three were superb throughout with Shane Farrell, Oisin Pierson and Padraig Boyle each covering and counter attacking with real intent in very difficult conditions.

But it was Longford’s “Joker in the Pack” Mark McHugh who took this week’s Player of the Match honours with a power display of brilliant rugby that saw him cover big yardage on defence and contribute with multiple crucial carries that consistently broke the gain line. This kept Longford on the front foot at important stages of what was a difficult challenge against a determined Cill Dara side. He was the standout player for Longford and deserved recognition for what was a big game individual display.

Longford go again next weekend in Round 11 when they host New Ross RFC at Precision Health Park, Longford. All are welcome and encouraged to come along and enjoy what will be another cracking contest and to support a side that is giving it their all every week proudly representing Longford. Kick off 2:30pm, Sunday 18th January.

Longford Squad v Cill Dara RFC: 1 – P O’Farrell 2 – R Collum 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 – O Pearson 12 – A Farrell 13 – P Duggan 14 – S Farrell 15 – P Boyle.

Replacements – L Brady, N Reilly, F Davis, C Shannon, F McGlade.