Longford completed a full Lazarus like recovery in securing nine points out of a possible 10 from their final two league games of the season.
Bonus point wins over Mullingar and Cill Dara, to move out of the relegation play-off position and eventually finished the league in a respectable fifth place after overtaking both Tullow and Mullingar on the last day.
It was very much touch and go whether the match versus Cill Dara would go ahead at all, as a consequence of the repeated storms recently battering Ireland.
However, after a pitch inspection and hard work from Cill Dara, the match was given the go ahead.
Longford knew that they had to try and rack up a substantial score as the wind advantage would mean they were going to be virtually pinned in their own for the second-half and that they did with aplomb.
Longford logged three tries in the first half from Packie Molloy, Joe McGowan and Finbarr McGowan, with a penalty from Ryan McHugh to bring a 20 point lead into the second-half.
Cill Dara then used the wind to come back hard at Longford. Longford hussled hard in defence but were under a lot of pressure.
The key score of the second-half was a great break out try finished off by George McDermott to leave Longford’s final points total at 27 and importantly secure a four try bonus point.
Cill Dara crossed the whitewash three times in the second half to bring their total to 17 points. However, after what felt like the longest second half of all time, Longford held on to secure a 10 point bonus point win and secure their place in Division 1B for another season.
For a squad that have had everything run against them all season, the heart and determination shown in the last two games has made everyone in Longford RFC exceptionally proud and augers very well for the future.
Longford Squad: P O’Farrell, H Connolly (C), D Quinn, B McManus, D Geelan, J Geelan, M McHugh, P Molloy, F McGowan, A Wynne, J McGowan, D McHugh, G McDermott, C Hughes, R McHugh, L Brady, P Dardis, F Davis, R Shaw and D Connolly.
Longford 2nd XV
Longford 2nd XV warmed up for their 1st round Cup clash versus Boyne on Saturday with a good work out versus the UCD Veterinary College team going down 30-20.
There were many good performances from Longford players with some excellent rugby being played, which augers well for Saturday.
