Late try denies Balreask Old boys bonus point

Like a dagger to the heart Navan conceded a late try in the AIL Div 1B and were defeated 28-36 by St Mary's at Balreask Old today - narrowly missing out on a precious losing bonus point.

Last week against Old Belvedere they put up a spirited, if disjointed display and lost out but earned a losing bonus point.

This week they were much better yet missed out on a losing bonus point in a hugely entertaining encounter.

Not that it was all disappointment and pain for the Balreask Old side as they did earn a bonus point for scoring four tries in this full-on clash that kept the spectators enthralled right up to the end.

Sean McEntagart, Hardus van Eeden and Jack Nelson scored first-half tries for the home side with Ben Daly adding a brilliant effort late on. Mark Farrell also fired over a number of quality converstions.

St Mary's ran in for six tries with their captain Richie Halpin and Myles Carey both getting two of them. Conor Dean and Ryan O'Loughlin also scooted over for touchdowns with out-half Conor Dean tagging on three conversions.

This was a gutsy display for Navan who now have two weeks without a game in the AIL.

Navan - Ben Daly, Rory Gordon, Sean McEntagart, Evan Dixon, Ben McEntagart, Colm O'Reilly, Mark Farrell; Niall Farrelly, Jack Nelson, Liam Carroll, Eoghan Noonan, Conor Hand, Conor Ryan, Conor Farrell, Hardus van Eeden. Subs - David Clarke, Liam Carroll, Andrew Doyle, Shane Faulkner, Paddy Fox, Keith Kavanagh.

St Mary's - David Fanagan, Matt Timmons, Myles Carey, Mick O'Gara, Craig Kennedy, Conor Dean, Adam McEvoy; Daniel Lyons, Richard Halpin, Padraig Dundon, Peter Starrett, Liam Corcoran, David Aspil, Niall Hurley, Ronan Watters. Subs - Niall McEniff, Thomas O'Reilly, Conor Corcoran, Daniel Leane, Ryan O'Loughlin, Mark Fogarty.

Photographs from game, match report, analysis in next issue of the Meath Chronicle