Rugby: Longford grind out hard earned win over North Kildare in bruising Leinster League battle

Longford RFC Senior Men’s 1st XV got 2025 underway on Sunday last with an important home league fixture against North Kildare RFC.

Leinster League: Longford 24 North Kildare 20 

Sitting a single place behind Longford in the league table, these sides are evenly matched with the Kildare men edging out Longford 28-25 in the reverse fixture back in October.

Longford have enjoyed a much-improved run of form over recent months and arrived in a determined mood to continue an upward trajectory in terms of league results.

With the 2nd XV having laid down an impressive marker with a 55-5 win immediately before the main event, the scene was set for the 1st XV to put in a performance worthy of the talented squad selected.

However, as can be an Achilles heel of the side, the start was not what was expected and it was North Kildare who brought the intensity early as the home side tried to get an early foothold in the game. Longford gave up an early penalty 5 yards out from which the visitors barrelled over to get the game's first score. 5-0 to North Kildare after 4 mins and Longford had not laid a glove.

Also read: Skilled young Longford fisherman lands an impressive catch

The Men in Black did reply and immediately laid siege to the visitors 22. After several waves of sharp, physical phase play they moved possession close to the North Kildare posts. Robbie Shaw spun the ball from a ruck for Daire O’Brien to bulldoze through under the posts for Longford’s opening try of the contest. Jayden Boshoff converted to swing the clock 7-5 in favour of Longford after 10 minutes.

Longford’s lead was negated however when North Kildare broke through some soft home defence on 17 minutes and ran in a try through their Centre after 17 minutes that gave the visitors back the lead at 10-7.

Longford were finding that they were in for a match and needed to respond. This they did on 24 minutes when they turned over possession on the halfway line and impressively moved the ball wide to Ronan Bleakley on the wing. From 45 metres out, he took off like lightning to make it all the way into the corner and bag the home side’s 2nd try of the contest. Outhalf Jayden Boshoff impressively converted and Longford regained the lead at 14-10.

Longford further punished North Kildare on 30 minutes when Bleakley was again released out wide, this time by Ryan McHugh at short range. He impressively jinked his way through aggressive defensive traffic to secure his 2nd try of the afternoon, which was also converted by Boshoff. Longford were now 21-10 in front and really starting to find their groove. Boshoff added another penalty on 34 minutes after the returning Kieran O’Gorman earned Longford the opportunity from a hard carry that forced North Kildare to infringe. Scoreline 24-10 after 34 minutes.

Also read: Two talented young Longford athletes claim national titles

This was where Longford really should have closed the game out, but frustratingly for the home side they let North Kildare back in on 39 minutes with a try for the visitors in similar fashion to their opening score. A pick n’go penalty from 5 metres out breached the Longford defence close to the posts and the Kildare men converted. Longford led 24-17 at the break and the contest was still very much alive.

Longford regrouped at half time and although there were many positives to build on, there were avoidable in-game concessions that at that point left the game in the balance.

The 2nd half was a dogged affair where both sides largely cancelled each other out. With no less intensity, there was a lack of quality and this is reflected in the fact that no further tries were scored in the contest.

Also read: Longford/Westmeath Racing News: Local jockey Movin And Groovin with her seventh win

Indeed, North Kildare were the only side to register 2nd half points with a penalty on 48 minutes to make matters 24-20 to Longford – a nervous and dangerous advantage given the hosts were within a 1 score margin of error. However, to their credit Longford saw out the contest and earned a hard-fought home victory against a physical and dangerous side. Final score 24-20 to Longford.

The Longford Senior Men’s division will be heartened by the performances shown in the earlier 2nd fixture and indeed the general health of the overall squad at what are ever increasingly competitive training sessions each week. The return of Club stalwarts Dylan Quinn and Kieran O’Gorman, both past Leinster Junior interpros, further sharpens the tools available to the coaching group and bodes well for the season to go and indeed further. A ruthless end to both League campaigns and a focused assault on the forthcoming Town’s Cup means there is still plenty to target for the overall playing group this season.

Best of the forwards on the day were Daire O’Brien, Fred Davis, Kevin Rodgers and Kieran O’Gorman. In the backs Ronan Bleakley, Shane Farrell, Ryan McHugh and Andrew Farell all showed up well but it was Outhalf Jayden Boshoff who stood out above the rest by putting in a fine all round performance in both attack, defence and from the boot. His overall play made the difference in what was a contest too close for comfort.

WATCH | Rugby legend Derick Turner inducted into Longford Leader Sports Awards Hall of Fame

Longford now take to the road for Round 11 of the Leinster League away against Roscrea RFC next Sunday, January 19. All traveling support is greatly welcomed and appreciated.

Longford: S McKeown, R Collum, D Quinn, F Davis, G Mullarkey, D O’Brien, N Reilly, A Crowe (capt), R Shaw, J Boshoff, R Bleakley, R McHugh, A Farrell, S O’Boyle, S Farrell, B Sullivan, P Kenny, K Rodgers, K O’Gorman, F McGowan