Navan Town hat-trick for fine season

Navan Town completed a North Eastern Counties' Schoolboys' League treble at the MDL, Navan on Thursday night when they added the u-17 Shield to to the league title and challenge cup with a merited victory over local rivals Parkvilla. The u-17 Shield was introduced for the 1994/95 season and the inaugural competition also featured a treble when Shamrock Celtic from Dundalk achieved that feat. Meath team Agher Park (now Park Celtic Summerhill) finished in the runner-up position on each occasion. Another fine achievement that season by Shamrock Celtic was that they enjoyed a great run in the FAI u-17 Cup and were beaten in the decider. Last Wednesday night Navan Town were always in the ascendancy as they dictated the early exchanges and were two goals ahead at the break. The signs were ominous for Parkvilla as Dan Vermuellen tested Jack Walsh with a fine shot as early as the sixth minute. Parkvilla defended well subsequently and kept the scoreboard blank until Rian Wogan broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute with a fine goal. Ben McDermott added a second goal for Navan Town close to the interval and Cathal Smith made it three 10 minutes after the resumption. That should have ended the game as a contest, but Parkvilla showed great battling qualities and slowly played their way back into contention. Jamie Blake reduced the deficit midway through the second-half when he punished a complacent Navan Town rearguard. That gave Parkvilla something to build on and they raided consistently without any reward until substitute Gary Power got a touch to a well-struck free in the 85th minute. With only a goal between the sides, the Navan Town penalty area was bombarded with high and low balls for the remainder, but the closest Parkviklla got to an equaliser was when Blake weaved his way past a couple of challenges before shooting narrowly wide into the side netting. Navan Town were the better team on the night and were worthy champions to the delight of manager Robbie Wogan, but they had to work hard in the second-half to keep their treble ambitions intact in what was a competitive and entertaining game of football. An indirect boost for Parkvilla was the fact that eight of Navan Town's players came through the under-age structure at Claremont Stadium. Navan Town - D Peppard; T Cox, A Kalifa, L Dixon, B Milligan, P O'Neill, D Vermeulen, C Finnegan, B McDermott, C Smith, R Wogan. Subs - G Keogh, S McDonnell, M O'Brien, B McEvoy, D Callan. Parkvilla - J Walsh; J McGarry, S Trappe, C Kennedy, C Hand, M Hand, C Fahy, D Fogarty, I O'Brien, J Blake, J Boland. Subs - G Power, M Gardner, M Arowolo, R Barrett.