Sensational recovery

Updated: Wednesday, 24th February, 2010 5:00pm

Navan 25, Barnhall 24

Navan's Paul Feeney finds the going tough against Barnhall in the AIL Div 3 clash at Balreask Old on Saturday.

They don't come much more dramatic than this. Navan came from nowhere to steal the All-Ireland League Div 3 points with a sensational victory over Barnhall at Balreask Old on Saturday.

There appeared to be no way back for Navan as they trailed by 8-24 with just six of the 80 minutes remaining. However, the hosts never gave up and were rewarded when Ryan Roberts held his nerve in the eighth minute of injury-time to successfully convert Mark Harrington's try.

The winning kick epitomised the excellence of Roberts throughout, and it also underlined the never-say-die spirit of a Navan side that had looked totally out of sorts for long periods and were fortunate to get back into contention against a tiring Barnhall side.

Leading by 16 points late in the game, Barnhall were confident of going back to Kildare with the victory, but it was clear their fast pace and high tempo style was starting to take its toll and in the closing stages they allowed Navan dominate and attempted to waste time with many players lying down.

That tactic backfired as referee Richard Kerr correctly added sufficient time. Navan took full advantage with their vastly superior pack constantly pounding the weary Barnhall defence.

Despite dominating the closing stages, a Navan victory still looked unlikely. Even when lock forward Johnny Duffy was credited with a try, after a mauling drive, which Roberts converted, it still seemed like a long way back for Navan.

When incessant pressure failed to yield a try in the following five minutes Roberts opted to close the gap to 18-24 from a penalty after Barnhall had strayed offside. That score looked like bagging a consolation bonus point for losing by less than seven.

However, Navan were not finished and the final eight minutes of the contest were some the most pulsating witnessed at Balreask Old.

On several occasions in injury-time Navan looked like breaking the line only to lose the ball forward.

Indiscipline also appeared as if it would be costly with penalties needlessly conceded, but Navan kept piling forward and got their reward.

Soon-to-depart player-coach Brad Harris stole possession from a Barnhall line-out and as Navan tried to pick the locked Barnhall defence they sprayed the ball back and forth across the field. Eventually the ball was worked towards the clubhouse with front row forwards David King and James McCaghy combining to set up Harrington for his try.

All the hard work wasn't done yet and Roberts was faced with a difficult conversion attempt from close to the sideline. However, the position suited a left-footed kicker and Roberts held his nerve to spark wild celebrations amongst the Navan players and supporters.

Had Navan come away with just a bonus point for a less than seven point defeat, they couldn't have complained because this performance was well below par. Indiscipline was also a major issue with decent possession and field position conceded with needless late tackles and off-the-ball incidents.

Leigh Jackson and Simon Hogan were both sin-binned for separate incidents and it was during Jackson's time in the bin that Barnhall established their supremacy.

The visitors had already looked the better side when a decent set move off a scrum saw Phil Caldwell set up the excellent Jerry Bidou for the opening try. Kieran Mattson's great break from a line-out set up Roberts to close the gap from a penalty after Barnhall were penalised for coming into a ruck from the side.

Navan thought they had taken the lead when Jackson touched down, but he was ruled to have had a foot in touch and two minutes later the giant number eight was sent to the bin for an off-the-ball tackle. Roberts was wide with a penalty, but before Jackson could return the Kildare side stretched their advantage.

Navan were penalised for an accidental offside and from the scrum Barnhall worked the ball to Eamonn Daly who sprinted clear for a try, which Leo Quinn converted to make it 12-3 at half-time.

Navan started the second-half brightly with their best spell, but again they were let down by poor discipline.

Great field position was surrendered when King was pulled up for an infringement, but two minutes later Navan stole the ball from a ruck, Roberts produced a great kick which allowed David Geraghty steal in for a try. The conversion was missed, but the gap was down to 8-12.

Then the game shifted back in Barnhall's favour with two tries in five minutes from the brilliant Daly giving the visitors their 24-8 advantage.

Navan looked down and out, but they showed their was plenty of life left as they recovered superbly despite the late binning of Hogan.

Navan - S Hogan, M Harrington, A Hickey, J Davis, D Geraghty, R Roberts, K Mattson; E King, J McCaghy, D King, B Harris, J Duffy, P Feeney, T Clarke, L Jackson. Subs - R Riley, E Hanratty, S Dawson, D Crinion, T Geraghty, D Delahunt, M McAuley.

Barnhall - J Bidou, P Burke, E Daly, D Jameson, D Stewart, L Quinn, P Caldwell; P Courtney, G Murray, R Dufficy, L Zaglio, M Doyle, B Hennebry, B Dunne, T McKeown. Subs - C Dufficy, B Harrison, J Lark, D Furlong, M Kenny.

Referee - Richard Kerr.