Understrength Longford Rugby Club miss out on promotion as Mullingar win

Longford RFC travelled to the neutral venue of Tullamore RFC on Sunday last to take on local rivals Mullingar RFC in the promotion play-off.

Mullingar RFC . . . 17    Longford RFC . . . 8

Having completed what was a largely successful league campaign to date, culminating in the comprehensive 48-0 victory over regular season league leaders Coolmine RFC the previous weekend to secure their playoff place, it was all down to this single, winner takes all match.
They say “a week is a long time in politics” – well two weeks is even longer in rugby given that the same sides met only a fortnight earlier in the Towns Cup with Longford that day running out emphatic 35-20 winners over Mullingar.
Having played two hugely physical games in successive weeks, the build-up last week to this game was severely hampered with 6 of the squad that recently played Mullingar out injured with 2 further regular first team starters also side-lined.
8 important men down as the biggest game of the season approached was a cruel hand for the squad to absorb. But if this season has proved anything it is the resilience of the group and with adversity came opportunities for others to step forward and stake their claim for a place in the play-off shake up.
The players took to the field in perfect Spring conditions, with a slight wind favouring Longford in the first half. Mullingar looked focused and it was they who started better, immediately launching at Longford who should have managed the kick-off better.
After only 3 minutes of the contest, it was Mullingar who powered over to claim the games opening score and take a 5-0 lead. Longford simply hadn’t started and were behind early. To their credit however it was the Men in Black who responded next, getting some shape and momentum as they surged back at the Mullingar line.
Successive carries tight in were rewarded on 21 minutes when prop Dylan Quinn barrelled through to touch down and get Longford on the scoreboard. Scoreline was now 5-5 in what was proving to be a hugely physical showpiece.
Mullingar were in a determined mood however and it was they who struck next with a cross field kick that was gathered wide for their winger to get in at the corner on 31 minutes to retake the lead at 10-5.
Longford were unlucky shortly after when Andrew Farrell chased a long clearance kick that sailed deep into the Mullingar 22. At full pace, it looked like he got to the ball ahead of the last Mullingar defender and was impeded when a genuine try scoring opportunity was on. However, the match official somehow awarded a penalty to Mullingar that saw a critical in-game moment turned against Longford.
No matter what they tried, momentum was proving hard to come by and Mullingar exited. Longford were however awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time which Outhalf Jayden Boshoff converted to leave matters 10-8 in favour of Mullingar at the break.
The second half got underway and there were further frustrations building within the Longford camp with the decisions of the man in the middle. Longford could not get a break despite so gallantly competing with what was a bruising Mullingar side that were beginning to edge the physical battle.
It was they who got what proved to be the decisive score on 48 minutes after an intercept off Longford attack saw them gain big yardage into Longford territory and eventually bag a 3rd try which was converted.
Longford were 17-8 down and needed to get back on the scoreboard quickly. Later in the second half Longford began dominating at scrum time and were awarded two penalties under the Mullingar posts. The side will regret not taking the 3 points on offer, instead opting to reset in search of a free play penalty advantage.

Frustratingly the referee awarded Mullingar a reverse penalty on the third scrum and it was that decision that essentially killed off the Longford challenge. 3 points would have made it 17-11 and brought Longford back within a converted try but Mullingar again exited and after this scare saw out the game to retain their Leinster League 1B status and condemn Longford to another season in Division 2A.
Longford to a man competed gallantly throughout. Up front Ronan Collum, Dylan Quinn, Mark McHugh and Seamus McKeown in particular never stopped competing and tried everything to get the Men in Black on front foot.
Special mention must be made for Shane McGuigan, Longford’s Leinster & Ireland Under 18 Youths player, who made his senior Longford RFC debut out of position at Second Row given the injuries that shaped team selection.

He had an enormous game, competing fiercely in open play and also securing big possession at lineout. All at Longford RFC were immensely proud to see such a huge, homegrown talent make such an impressive first senior outing in Black.
In the backs, captain Ryan McHugh and Jayden Boshoff never stopped at half back and tried at every opportunity to get Longford moving. Andrew Farrell was as expected well marshalled by Mullingar after his recent exploits in the Towns Cup fixture, yet still managed several crucial impacts in the game and was unlucky not to be better rewarded for his efforts.
But it was young Longford winger, Conor Mulligan, who was the games standout performer giving a masterclass in fearless, counter attacking rugby while flawless under every high ball sent his way. He is a huge talent and very much a central part of Longford RFC’s future. He is a most deserving winner of this week’s Player of the Match Award.
Despite the huge disappointment of the result, the players to a man did everything they could on the day but were beaten by a Mullingar side who looked rested and in full health since the meeting only 2 weeks earlier. They did what they had to do on the day and got the job done and all at Longford RFC wish them the best of luck in next season’s league campaign. They were the better team on the day.

Longford must eliminate this result now and quickly focus on the Quarter-Final of the Towns Cup this Sunday away to Newbridge RFC. There will hopefully be some returning players from the Injury list to reinforce the squad.

A Towns Cup Semi-Final is at stake and no better way to bounce back than with a result in Co. Kildare. Another big challenge awaits – a great opportunity for the team to get back on track and return to their recent fine form.

Longford Squad v Mullingar RFC: 1 – P O’Farrell, 2 – R Collum, 3 – D Quinn, 4 – D Geelan, 5 – S McGuigan, 6 – B Sullivan, 7 – M McHugh, 8 – S McKeown, 9 – R McHugh, 10 – J Boshoff, 11 – C Mulligan, 12 – A Farrell 13, – J Byrne 14, – D Connolly, 15 – P Boyle.
16 – L Brady, 17 – D Ryan, 18 – D Mills, 19 – D Rogan.