Longford Rugby Club crush Coolmine to confirm promotion play-off

Longford RFC hosted the unbeaten Leinster League Division 2A champions Coolmine RFC at Precision Health Park on Sunday last, knowing a win was essential to secure a place in the promotion/relegation play-off.

Longford RFC . . . 48   Coolmine RFC . . . 0

Coolmine had taken the spoils in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, running in late tries to seal victory. This time, however, Longford were ready for the challenge. What followed was a dominant 80-minute performance as the midlanders ran in eight tries to emphatically defeat the Dublin side. 

Longford started the game with real intensity and were rewarded after just eight minutes when centre Andrew Farrell powered through several defenders to score the opening try. Jayden Boshoff added the conversion to make it 7–0.

The home side continued to build pressure through powerful scrummaging and excellent lineout work, even stealing several Coolmine throws. On 17 minutes, tighthead prop Dylan Quinn crashed over under a pile of bodies following sustained pressure to extend the lead to 12–0.

Just five minutes later, Longford’s dominance up front paid off again. After another strong scrum and a series of hard carries, loosehead prop Liam Brady burst through the Coolmine defence to score under the posts. Boshoff added the simple conversion to make it 19–0 after 22 minutes.

Boshoff thought he had added a fourth try shortly afterwards, but the touch judge had his flag raised as the ball had gone out of play. Play returned for a Coolmine lineout, but Longford stole possession once more.

Quick hands from backs and forwards moved the ball across the field before Quinn produced a superb offload to No.8 Seamus McKeon, who finished in the corner for Longford’s bonus-point try just before half-time. Longford went into the break leading 24–0.

Coolmine needed a strong response after the break but Longford struck again just three minutes into the second half. Winger Shane Farrell broke clear down the left wing to score Longford’s fifth try, with Boshoff converting once more to push the lead to 31–0 after 43 minutes.

Coolmine briefly enjoyed their best spell of the game around the hour mark, and Longford were reduced to 13 players following yellow cards for Padraig O’Farrell and Barry Sullivan within minutes of each other. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Longford continued to defend strongly and refused to yield.

Remarkably, it was Longford who struck next. With two players still in the sin bin, Shane Farrell sprinted down the wing, beating two defenders with a brilliant sidestep to score his second try of the game and make it 36–0 after 63 minutes.

The Longford pack dominated throughout, with the front row of Brady, Collum, Quinn and O’Farrell outstanding at scrum time. In the second row, Andrew Beirne and Fred Davis came on early to replace the injured John Geelan — we wish John a speedy and steady recovery. 

In the back row, Mark McHugh, Seamus McKeon and Barry Sullivan worked tirelessly, with Sullivan stepping in following the absence of new father Alan Crowe. Congratulations to the Crowe family.

Longford continued to attack late into the game, and on 73 minutes Daithi Connolly crossed in the corner for try number seven to bring the score to 41–0.

The final try came after several phases of sustained pressure, with Dylan Quinn powering over for his second of the match. Jayden Boshoff stepped up to take the conversion, but when the ball fell off the tee he reacted instantly to drop-kick the conversion, completing a superb 48–0 victory for Longford.

Captain and Man of the Match Ryan McHugh was outstanding, covering every blade of grass throughout the contest. The backline also impressed, with tries from wingers Daithi Connolly and Shane Farrell, while the centres had excellent games with Paddy Duggan running hard lines and Andrew Farrell adding his name to the scoresheet. Fullback Padraig Boyle also delivered a very solid performance.

A dominant team performance that will be pleasing for coaches Glenn and Ronan, with contributions from players 1 to 20 in black, keeps Longford’s play-off hopes alive and sends a strong message heading into the closing stages of the season.

Longford RFC Team: Liam Brady, Ronan Collum, Dylan Quinn, Andrew Beirne, John Geelan, Barry Sullivan, Mark McHugh, Seamus McKeon, Ryan McHugh (captain), Jayden Boshoff, Shane Farrell, Paddy Duggan, Andrew Farrell, Daithi Connolly, Padraig Boyle. 

Replacements: Padraig Farrell, Fred Davis,  David Geelan, Dean Rogan, Jamie Byrne.