Navan slump to another heavy defeat

Government Minster Noel Dempsey broke away from more pressing matters such as saving the country from financial meltdown to make an appearance at Balreask Old on Saturday. He was there to present the Navan 'young-player-of-the-year’ award he sponsors to James Kelly. These days government spokesmen - and women - love to go on about the green shoots of economic revival. For a while in this AIL Div 3 encounter Navan were displaying some green shoots of revival themselves. This was particularly the case in the second period of the opening half when the new-look home side launched a series of controlled moves that yielded a rich dividend - a try from their number eight Leigh Jackson. The score meant that for a couple of minutes, at least, Navan found themselves in front, 5-3. Could this recently constructed side, made up of players most of whom are completely new to this level, cause an upset? The answer came within two minutes of Jackson’s try when Sunday’s Well moved the ball downfield and won a penalty about 30 metres out and in front of the posts. Their out-half Danny O’Shea nailed it without much fuss. The more street-wise, weathered-hardened opponents were back in front - where they stayed. Once they lost that brief lead, the challenge presented by Navan’s young, inexperienced outfit steadily started to crumble away. By half-time they were trailing 5-6 and for almost all the second-half they were on the backfoot. Considering the amount of possession they enjoyed it was hardly surprising Sunday’s Well went on to score two touchdowns after the break. This was another harsh lesson for Navan who did at least recover from an uncertain start to put it up to “the Well” as the supporters from Cork could be heard shouting from time to time. Jackson’s try after 28 minutes was the highlight of the afternoon for Navan and came from a series of enterprising phases the home side put together. Ross O’Brien (pictured), Martin Coll, Mark Harrington, John Davis and Andrew Keating were all involved as Navan put a series of phases together which culminated in Jackson powering over in the right corner. It was a vibrant move that deserved something and was among the good things produced by Navan. While Navan competed well in the collisions and in the breakdown they all too often caused themselves problems by making unforced errors - and Sunday’s Well were happy to take full advantage. Early in the second-half full-back Maurice McCawley knocked-on when he had time and space. Sunday’s Well moved the ball wide from the scrum and their winger Chris Spearman skipped in to get a try, brushing aside a few tackles on the way. A few minutes later Navan had a chance to get back into the game when they were awarded a penalty, but O’Brien kicked wide from 25 metres. O’Brien is a young player who will improve with every game, but he will surely be disappointed with his kicking on this occasion. At least three efforts from kickable positions sailed wide. The game was up for Navan midway through the second-half when Sunday’s Well centre Dave Twohig sallied through a porous home defence to get his team’s second-try which was duly converted by O’Shea. After that it was all about damage limitation for the home side. All too often the Navan set-pieces, particularly the throw-ins, malfunctioned and good possession was conceded. The scrum looked to be under sever pressure early on however, the Navan tight five got to grips with their opponents and did well to resist some strong pressure. Navan’s defensive work was, at times, exemplary. One stage in the opening half Sunday’s Well laid siege to the home line. They moved the ball through phase after phase yet they couldn’t break through as players such as Paul Feeney, Davis and Keating got in the big hits. Eventually Navan got the turnover and the danger passed. There were other encouraging signs for Navan which included a scintillating move they put together just before the break. The ball was skilfully kept in hand as the backline got moving with Mark Harrington, Tom Boyle and Davis involved. Close to their own line Sunday’s Well, this time, executed a turnover and cleared. It took some heroic tackling from Navan players in the second-half to prevent the visitors from winning by a bigger margin. One tackle by Jackson prevented a certain try. The home cause wasn’t helped when Tom Boyle received a yellow card late on. Navan needed all hands on deck. There were occasional attacking forays put together by Navan in that second-half with Simon Hogan at one stage embarking on a jinking run. It was a brief reprieve from defensive duties and it didn’t lead to a breakthrough. Instead normal business was resumed with Sunday’s Well attacking once more. Their second try, again from Spearman, in the closing seconds, after an interception in their own half, killed the game. Not even a bonus point to console the home supporters. Navan - M McCawley; S Hogan, J Davis, M Harrington, D Geraghty, M Coll, R O’Brien; D Kernan, P Byrne, A Keating, J Duffy, P Feeney, T Boyle, T Clarke, L Jackson. Subs - R Reilly for Byrne, S Dawson for Harrington, C Joyce for O’Brien. Sunday’s Well - E McGrath; E French, W Devane, D Twohig, C Spearman, D O’Shea, R Geary, J Kidney; J Moynihan, F Whelan, J Bransfield, M O’Sullivan, S Murphy, J Mulcahy, S Walsh. Referee - S Gassakin.