No solace for Navan as season winds down

At this stage the Navan players would probably prefer if the season was over and done with. Week after week of defeats are sure to have a very debilitating effect on even the most confident of players. And this latest AIL Div 3 setback at Balreask Old on Saturday had all the signs of a team short on self-belief. Table-toppers Seapoint came to Navan knowing a victory would be another step nearer the title and apart from the opening 15 minutes or so they always looked like achieving their objective. Only promoted from the Leinster League at the end of last season they are clearly a team on the up and up. They didn't have to be any more than efficient to win this encounter, but it was the manner of Navan's capitulation that must be causing club members concern. The defeat also underlined the enormous task ahead in getting the team back to where it was a season or two ago. New players and some out-of-the-box thinking will be required. "We're looking and talking at the moment," coach Leon Jordaan told the Meath Chronicle. "We hope to have one or two former players back, but we're also looking to bring young players up through the ranks. "It's a building process, we don't want to overdo the recruitment either. There's no point in parachuting players in and then they move on. "We're looking at the longer term," he added. The game was effectively over at the interval when the visitors led 15-3 and Seapoint resumed normal business within 30 seconds of the resumption cutting through the home defence with alarming ease. "We're playing well for spells then losing our concentration and against good sides you will be punished," added Jordaan. Only some ferocious tackling from the likes of John Duffy, Paul Feeney, Bernard Smyth, Thomas Clarke (pictured), Leigh Jackson and Johnny Baker prevented further damage. If there was one encouraging aspect for Navan from this encounter, it was their display in the opening 20 minutes or so. Navan also had a good closing 10 minutes when they did well to create an opening for Maurice McAuley to get a touchdown. Looking at times nervy and tentative, Seapoint struggled early on to get a grip on the game. The home team even had the temerity to take the lead when on five minutes Fergal Hennessy popped the ball between the posts from a penalty. And the full-back had two other excellent chances to add to the home team's account only to pull the ball wide on each occasion. Competing well at the breakdown and the set-pieces, the Navan supporters must have started to wonder if a big shock was on the cards. A measure of how the home side played in the opening 20 minutes and how they pressed forward could be gleaned from the fact that the penalty count was 4-1 in their favour. Gradually, as the game unfolded, some of the old difficulties experienced by Navan this season once more started to emerge. Seapoint started to take full advantage of turnover ball. On 19 minutes the visitors latched onto a poor clearance by Navan, moved the ball swiftly downfield and Johnny Walsh powered over. That score knocked the stuffing out of the home side who subsequently conceded territory and the initiative. Two further unconverted tries from Gary Foley and Declan Griffin left Seapoint 15-3 in front at the interval. Conor Byrne got in for an easy try within 30 seconds of the re-start and at that stage the home faithful must have feared a tanking for their side. Seapoint out-half Brian Keegan, who had earlier missed a few pots at the posts, converted Byrne's try and added a penalty goal soon after. There were some bright moments for Navan in the second-half including a couple of notable steals by Duffy while Smyth also made the hard yards against the odds. Navan displayed plenty of fight and spirit by the way they continued to work despite everything. And they were rewarded for their efforts in the closing stages. McAuley was twice almost through only to be held up short of the line. He eventually did reach his destination with time almost up. Navan moved the ball through a number of phases and were awarded a penalty which was quickly taken. The Seapoint defence, for once, was slow to react. Alan Hickey and Jackson were involved in getting the ball out wide and McAuley ran in at the corner. Hennessy converted from a difficult angle. It was some consolation for Navan, but there's a lot of work ahead in the coming months to avoid similar defeats against the top sides next season. Navan - F Hennessy, M McAuley, S Hogan, J Davis, A Hickey, R O'Brien; E Hanratty, J Baker, R Gleeson, J Duffy, L Jackson, P Feeney, T Clarke, B Smyth. Subs - D Dalton for Geraghty, M Coll for O'Brien, D McAteer for Gleeson, T Boyle for Clarke, R Riley for Baker. Seapoint - S Stephens, C DeChenu, G Foley, S Boucher, C Byrne, B Keegan, D Griffin; K Moes, S Verso, M O'Connor, J P Finlay, M Barrett, D Doyle, P Crown, J Walsh. Refeee - Jude Quinn.