HOCKEY FOCUS - Busy weekend for Navan

Navan juveniles showed their hockey skilles with a fine 6-0 victory last Saturday against Boyne with goals from Alice Nicholson (three), Grace Bellew, Lara Pollock and Juliette Carroll-O'Brien.

The Navan side showed great spirit of character stepping onto the pitch with no goalie and no subs, but Nicholson claimed a hat-trick.

The defensive display was outstanding with Clodagh McGauren shining through as centre-back while Abigail O'Connell and Anna Nolan were pillars of strength in the back line holding their positions and sending the ball up to the mids to generate many attack plays.

Nicholson, Bellew and Pollock were formidable in midfield and were the driving force in creating the goals.

Juliette Carroll-O'Brien worked tirelessly in the forward line and deserved her goal while Eve O'Connell was the other playmaker in the forward line and positioned herself wonderfully throughout the game.

Navan - Abigail O'Connell, Clodagh McGauren, Anna Nolan, Lara Pollock, Eve O'Connell, Alice Nicholson, Grace Bellew, Juliette Carroll-O'Brien

MEN

Navan seconds went into their first Leinster Hockey League away game with a depleted side and lost out to Dublin North who won well by 6-2.

Rory Davis was the man chosen to stand between the posts and he didn't let his side down with a fine string of saves that kept the game a contest throughout.

Ciaran Kearns played well in his new position at centre back supported by Sean Kearns and James Ellis while Kallum Boles, on his second appearance for Navan, gave them the perfect start with his first goal for the club.

Philip Garry also hit the target for Navan, but they trailed 2-4 at the interval. Dublin North dictated after the resumption and added two more goals for a convincing victory.

NEXT UP 

SATURDAY 13th OCTOBER
First team - Corinthians v Navan, Leinster League Div 4.

LADIES

Navan ladies also lost out in the Leinster Hockey League when North Kildare took the points home with a 2-0 victory on Saturday.

Navan dominated the first half and went close when Bronagh Markey gathered a breaking ball and out-sprinted the chasing defenders to find herself one on one with the 'keeper who was quick to block but illegally trapped the ball beneath her, earning Navan a short corner which was not converted.

The Navan defence worked hard and Rhona Murphy and Grainne Hussey were exceptional in their clearances. Christine Canavan was seen as the threat and found herself under pressure in the mids by some tight marking and this left Aisha Oladapo and Carla Mae Banks with twice the workload.

North Kildare managed to breakdown the Navan defensive line to earn the opening goal, but their second was a controversial decision.

There was a scrappy piece of play on the goal line which may have awarded North Kildare a penalty flick, however the umpire decided that the ball had gone over the line. 

The second team had a much improved performance on the previous weekend although they also lost (2-6) to a strong Avoca side.

Bronagh Markey scored both Navan goals and they had good displays from Aoife Heaney, Jane O'Brien, Jennifer McCormack and Sinead Dixon.

NEXT UP

SATURDAY 13th OCTOBER
First team - Loreto v Navan.
Second team - Navan v Malahide - Fingal.