Navan Senior Men's 1st team kicked off 2024 in Round Ten of the Energia All-Ireland League against MU Barnhall. The match, held at Balreask Old, Navan, witnessed a fierce battle between the two sides.
The visitors, MU Barnhall, asserted their dominance early on, securing the opening try within five minutes. Despite the missed conversion, they took the lead 5-0. Barnhall continued to apply pressure, but Navan fought back, with Jamie Kavanagh scoring a try in the 26th minute. Rory Gordon's conversion attempt was off target, leaving the score tied at 5-5. Navan surged ahead with a second try by Kyle Dixon, converted by Gordon, making it 12-5. However, Barnhall responded just before halftime, leveling the score at 12-12 with a converted try going into the half-time break.
Barnhall regained the lead in the 49th minute, scoring a converted try to make it 19-12. Tensions escalated in the 52nd minute, resulting in both teams playing with 14 players for ten minutes due to yellow cards. Navan equalized once again in the 66th minute, as Jamie Kavanagh secured his second try. Gordon's conversion attempt hit the right post, tying the game at 19-19. In the closing minutes, Barnhall clinched victory with their fourth try, winning 24-19.
Tensions ran high throughout the game, and both sides showed resilience. Navan expressed disappointment but acknowledged the competitiveness of the match.
A hard-fought contest resulted in a losing bonus point for Navan. The back-and-forth nature of the game showcased the teams' determination. Navan now sits in ninth place, preparing for a challenging encounter against UL Bohemians in round eleven of the Energia AIL Division 2B.
Navan Men's 1st's XV Squad (Sponsored by Hannon Travel):
1: Ryan Healy
2: Jamie Kavanagh
3: Jordan Finney
4: Conor Hand
5: Liam McAree
6: Robbie Lailvaux
7: Ben McEntagart
8: Shane Faulkner
9: Jakob Matthews
10: Colm O'Reilly
11: Peter McEntagart
12: Kyle Dixon
13: Sean McEntagart (Captain)
14: Paddy Fox
15: Rory Gordon
Replacements:
16: Gary Faulkner
17: Liam Carroll
18: Leon Akopian
19: Mark Farrell
20: Harry Devlin
