Navan……………………………………..13
Greystones ………………………………15
Balreask Old, Navan (Half-Time: 8-5)
Men’s 1st XV Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 2A – Round Eighteen
(Saturday 5th April)
It was tough defeat at the death for Navan Men’s 1st XV as a last-play converted try gave visitors Greystones a narrow victory in the final round of the Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A. With survival on the line, Navan knew a win coupled with a Ballymena loss, would be enough to secure eighth place and avoid the dreaded promotion/relegation play-offs.
The match opened with Greystones crossing for an early unconverted try in the corner after just four minutes. Navan replied on 12 minutes when Mark Farrell slotted a penalty to get the home side on the board. Just before the break, Harry Waters dotted down out wide to send
Navan into halftime ahead, 8-5.
In the second half, Navan extended their lead with a superbly worked try finished by Michael Brady, pushing the score out to 13-5. But Greystones stayed in the fight, narrowing the gap with a long-range penalty on 65 minutes. Despite fierce Navan defending with Navan’s Tom Ciot putting in a player of the match performance with relentless ball-carrying and physical presence at the breakdown.
Greystones rallied in the final phase, breaking through for a converted try to snatch the win 15-13 and the final play-off spot. A cruel blow to send Navan into the play-offs. Navan, left stunned, now prepare for a Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Semi-Final against Galwegians at Balreask Old on Saturday, 19th April. With home advantage, the Meath men will be determined to bounce back and retain their Division 2A status.
Player of the Match “Sponsored by The Central”: Tom Ciot.
Navan Men’s 1st XV Squad “Sponsored by Hannon Travel”: Rory Gordon; Harry Waters, Sean McEntagart, Kyle Dixon, Shane Walshe; Evan Dixon (capt), Mark Farrell; Liam Carroll, Anthony Martinez, Jordan Finney, Eoghan Noonan, Conor Hand, Michael Brady, Ben
McEntagart, Tom Ciot. Replacements: Gary Faulkner, Leigh Jackson, Conor Ryan, Tom Gavigan, Mathijs de Wit.
Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 2A – Round 18 Results: (Sat 5th April)
Cashel 69 Old Crescent 21, Spafield, Cashel.
Galway Corinthians 19 Ballymena 12, Corinthian Park, Galway.
Instonians 92 Buccaneers 21, Shaws Bridge, Belfast.
MU Barnhall 57 Banbridge 22, Parsonstown, Leixlip.
Navan 13 Greystones 15, Balreask Old, Navan.
Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 2A Final League Table:
# Team P W D L F A +/- Bp Pts
1 Instonians 18 15 0 3 676 410 266 16 76
2 Cashel 18 14 0 4 576 383 193 14 70
3 MU Barnhall 18 13 0 5 623 451 172 17 69
4 Greystones 18 12 0 6 517 348 169 13 61
5 Corinthians 18 13 0 5 495 336 159 9 61
6 Banbridge 18 8 0 10 403 418 -15 13 45
7 Old Crescent 18 6 1 11 403 477 -74 9 35
8 Ballymena 18 4 0 14 358 475 -117 14 30
9 Navan 18 4 1 13 348 444 -96 9 27
10 Buccaneers 18 0 0 18 247 904 -657 2 2
Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 2A/2B – Promotion/Relegation Play-Off
Semi-Finals
(Saturday 19th April – TBC)
Navan (9th – Div 2A) V’s Galwegians (4th – Div 2B), Balreask Old, Navan.
Dungannon (2nd – Div 2B) V’s Clogher Valley (3rd – Div 2B), Stevenson Park, Dungannon.
