In an intense battle for the Leinster North-East Area McGowan Cup Final, our Men's 2nd/J1 XV faced Dundalk on Friday evening in Skerries RFC. In a closely contested match, Navan experienced a stroke of bad luck, narrowly losing to Dundalk with a final score of 30-32. The game, which could have swung either way, unfortunately did not favor the Meath side, as they aimed to kick off 2024 with their first piece of silverware.

The 2nd/J1 XV delivered a gritty and determined performance in a game that truly could have gone either way. Tries were scored by Shane Faulkner, Gary Faulkner, and Harry Devlin. Cillian Farrell contributed with two conversions and three penalties, while Mark Farrell added a third conversion. Despite the narrow defeat, Navan showcased resilience and skill throughout the match.

They exhibited a gutsy performance, and the contest was decided by a narrow margin, with a kick of the ball determining the outcome. The team can be proud of their efforts, and this performance serves as motivation heading into the rest of the season.

While the disappointment of the cup final loss lingers, the team will regroup and return to competitive action in the League Metro Area Premier 2 League. They are scheduled for a home fixture against Naas on Sunday, 21st January. The experience gained from the cup final and the determination shown by the team bode well for the challenges that lie ahead in the league.

Despite the cup final loss, the 2nd/J1 XV can build on this experience and continue their pursuit of success in the upcoming league fixtures.

Navan Men's 2nd/J1 XV Squad:
Gary Faulkner, Anthony Martinez, Andrew Kiernan, Andrew Beggy, David Brady, Ciaran O'Reilly, Shane Faulkner, Jack Dixon, Cillian Farrell, Harry Devlin, Michael Brady, William McAleese, Brian Byrne, Cormac Horan, Alex McGoey, Ian Carolan, Craig Byrne, Harry Conlon, Stuart Byrne, Mark Farrell, Ronan Walsh.