Navan young guns aiming for glory

Over the coming weeks the players involved with the Navan u-13 rugby team will be doing something they have been doing all season - and that's working hard on their game to ensure they will be ready to take on all-comers.

And built into their busy end-of-season schedule is the small matter of the Leinster Youth Premier League final. It's against hosts Portlaoise on Saturday 8th April and, despite having to make the long trip, the Balreask Old boys will go into the contest with real hopes of success.

The swashbuckling Navan side have conjured up plenty of confident, morale-boosting rugby this season already with team manager/coach Cyril Escobar believing this is a 'golden generation' of players for Navan. 

The rich talent undoubtedly in the side was no more evident than when they achieved a resounding 19-0 victory over Athy in the semi-final of the Leinster Youth Premier League at Balreask Old.

They had ensured that they would be in the semi-finals by finishing top of the league with six wins in a campaign that included all the top-seeded u-13 teams in Leinster.

Then against Athy they really stepped on the gas to leave their opponents trailing in their wake.

Earlier in the season Navan had defeated Athy 24-7, but they were taking nothing for granted when the sides were paired again in the u-13 semi-final.
On a fine, sunny day at Balreask Old Navan were well supported by a big contingent of parents and the players fed off that support to win well.  The impressive Peter McEntaggart broke the Athy defensive line to score the first try early on with John O'Regan narrowly missing the conversion.

Oisin Heffernan added another well-worked try just before half-time and this time O'Regan kicked a perfect conversion to leave it 12-0 at the break.
In the second-half Athy piled on the pressure but the well-organised Navan defence held firm.

Instead the home team launched an attack and McEntaggart used his strength and speed to go over for another try. Once again O'Regan kicked superbly to add the conversion and ensure victory for the home side.

The Leinster Youth Premier League final is not the only showdown the Balreaks Old Boys are in. They are also in a final against Skerries on Saturday 23rd April after they topped the North East League earlier this season.

And what a season it's turning out to be for the Navan u-13s as they go chasing glory on two fronts.

'We have played 20 games so far this season, we've lost only two, and drawn one,' explained team manager Escobar, a Frenchman who has made Navan his home. 

'Our head coach is Michael Brecknell and the other coaches involved in preparing the team have done well, but we like to think that 80 per cent of what we have achieved is down to the talent in the team. 'Every so often a group of players come along that are a golden generation and this is group of players is a golden generation for Navan.'

Navan u-13 squad is - Max Shivmangal, Matthew Clinton, Jack Donnelly, Ciaran O’Dea, Daire Cosgrove, Alex Hemeryck, Colm Wall, Shane O’Connor, Ewan Sheridan, Ben Cherry, James Foley, Peter McEntagart, Oisin Heffernan, Sean O’Hare, John O’Regan, Jack Escobar, Mark Jordan, Mark Russell, Alex Reynolds, Ben Kennedy, Harry Mallon, Sean Cope, Ryan Whelan, Ross O'Connor, Alex Hedges, William Rennick, McDara Power, Vinny Walsh, Conor Hyland, Conn McDermott, Lorcan O'Connor. Coaches - Michael Brecknell (head coach), Darren Cherry, Cyril Escobar, Fran Reynolds, Bryan Russell, David Jordan.