Navan cull Dolphins as ladies end campaign with spirited display

CRAIG WILLIAMSON

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Navan24

Navan senior men's began their final block of fixtures in this season's Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A campaign with a trip south to Cork to play Dolphin in Musgrave Park.

The first 12 minutes play had mostly been in the Dolphin half but Navan made no real foray into the home sides 22m line.

On 14 mins Dolphin got the first score of the game when their inside-centre Craig O’Connell broke through a gap in the Navan defence in the middle of the pitch to touchdown under the posts on the home side's first visit into the Navan 22m line with outhalf Tomas Quinlan converting to give Dolphin an early lead.

Navan struck back four minutes later with a penalty for Navan in front of the posts from a scrum after the restart with Mark Farrell kicking through the posts.

The visitors then upped their workrate and looked to take the momentum and on 24 mins Sean McEntagart went in for Navan's first try breaking in the midfield inside Dolphins 22 metre line to give Navan the lead with Mark Farrell converting.

The Meathmen looked to push the advantage and the back-line were getting up the field on the left hand side of the pitch from the restart, Dolphin struggled under the pressure and their outhalf was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle on Navan wing Paddy Fox on 26 minutes.

From the resulting penalty, Navan kicked for lineout close to the Dolphin try line and in the resulting maul from lineout captain David Clarke got the touchdown with Farrell adding the conversion.

The home side's defence started to creak with further penalties conceded and Navan tried to apply more pressure.

On 35 minutes Dolphin conceded another penalty in their 22m for hands in ruck but the kick to try to get lineout ball went wrong side of corner flag and let Dolphin off with a dropout, the ball though on the restart was caught by Navan and spread quickly to outside-centre Leandro Ramirez who ran to get in the right corner for Navan's third try with Farrell converting successfully.

Coming up to half time the rain started to come down and look to make the ball handling on the 4G playing surface problematic, with a bit more forward play from Navan ended the half with the fourth try coming from flanker Leon Aktopian to secure a try bonus point just before half-time with the conversion attempt from Farrell this time unsuccessful by hitting the posts.

The second-half started with a resurgent Dolphin looking to be more competitive and their forwards looking to impose themselves into the game and within four minutes of the resumption, Dolphin hooker Cian Scott went over for the home side's second try from a lineout maul over in the left hand corner, conversation successful. With Navan then having to go down to 14 players after the referee handing out a yellow-card for infringing at the maul.

Dolphin made the temporary one man advantage count with another try this time unconverted scored by substitute prop Phillip Dowling also from a maul off a lineout to bring the gap to just ten points going into the last quarter.

Once back up to full-strength Navan pushed into the Dolphin half for the first time in the second half and got a reward when Mark Farrell was able to kick a penalty between the posts in the 62nd minute to push the gap out again.

The home side responded through two minutes later with winger Alex Pope going in for Dolphin's fourth try on the left-hand side on 65 minutes, the conversion went wide leaving the gap at eight points.

Dolphin had their tails up and were looking to press their momentum further in the last ten minutes but then on 67th minute, Navan wing Paddy Fox caught an interception on the Navan 10m line and ran it in under the posts with a successful Conversation from Farrell

The home side then went down to 14 players for the second time going into the last ten minutes with inside-centre Craig O’Connell being shown a yellow-card

Navan were able to press the advantage with their forwards pushing close to the line and forcing a knock-on from Dolphin close to their line, with the visitors looking to finish the game with dominance in the scrum, they got their reward two minutes from full-time with penalty try for Navan after Dolphin conceded three penalties in a row at the scrum on their 5m line and give the Balreask Old side a much needed win on the road.

Navan - Rory Gordon, Sean McEntagart, Leandro Ramirez, Ben McEntagart, Paddy Fox, Colm O'Reilly, Mark Farrell; Ryan Healy, David Clarke, Jordan Finney, Conor Hand, Leon Aktopian, Conor Farrell, Conor Ryan. Subs - Liam Carroll, Leigh Jackson, Hardus Van Eeden, Ben Stephens, Ray Maloney.

Senior Women's update

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Navan senior women played on Sunday in the first round of the Paul Cusack Plate at home to Clontarf.

As was anticipated, this game was a battle from start to finish with the visitors playing in the division above the home side. The opening half was a midfield battle with mistakes made by both sides causing possession to swap over a number of times.

Just coming up to half-time Navan were able to break the deadlock with wing Louise Crinion going over in the corner for an unconverted try.

In the second half, Clontarf came out strong, moving the ball through the phases, scoring a quick try, which was converted. The visitors then put Navan under defensive pressure in their half and Clontarf showed their strong running to grab another three tries adding two conversions to take a commanding lead.

Navan did not let the heads drop and came back fighting to score two tries, converting one. The first scored by full-back Cara Martin who got a great break in the middle of the field in the Clontarf half to run in under the posts.

Then after a period of pressure Louise Crinion got over for her second try in on the left-hand corner however time cought up and the conversion attempt was the last kick of the game.

Speaking after the game, Navan captain Ciara Kennedy said:

"As today’s game ends our season, this team has come from strength to strength after lots of hard knocks throughout the years. After the pandemic, our plan was to regroup in (Leinster) Division 5 and strive for success, this plan came to fruition and we won that league!

"Coming up to Division 4 this season, our goal was to be as competitive as possible. I feel this goal was met, having finished third and only a few points off the top spot. We also remained competitive in the first round of the cup and plate, with narrow enough defeats. All of this shows the great character of each and every one of the players on this team!

"It has been an absolute honour and privilege to be the captain of the Navan Senior Women's team this year.

"There’s an amalgamation of players with 10+ & 5+ years experience, players who only started this year or last year, players who came up from the u-18s last year and players that came up from Under 18's this year once they were eligible. Every one of these players played their part in making this team what it is today. I know I’m biased, but what an incredible team it is and what an amazing group of people also! I’m beyond proud of you all!," captained Kennedy added.

"One final time, I’d like to thank our supporters for their support throughout the season, from start to finish. We thanked them every week in every match report, and that’s because their support really spurred us on, week in week out!

"There needs to be a special mention for our coach, Paul Beggy. He has stuck with us over the last number of years through lots of trials and tribulations.

"We owe an awful lot to him and no thanks would ever be enough! All the same, thank you Paul!"

Navan - Cara Martin, Aisling Kelly, Ruth Moore, Geraldine Lynch, Louise Crinion, Leah Morris, Ciara Kennedy; Lauren Fitzpatrick, Roisin Watters, Nour Khairy, Victoria Quinn, Emma Looby, Shaunagh Keogan, Ava Galvin, Rosie Searle. Subs - Mary-Louise Bridgeman, Mairead Carty, Orlaith Daly, Thanuja Dharmasena, Chelsea McGroarty, Niamh Yourell.