Navan claim Leinster Hockey title
Navan have won the Leinster Men's Div 4 Hockey League today with a 3-0 win against Railway Union.
Navan produced a superb team display today at the Drogheda Grammar hockey to establish an unassailable lead at the top of table with one game remaining.
Naas can catch Navan on points but the Meath side has won more games than their Kildare rivals, putting the league title in Navan's hands.
Navan can reflect on a tough season with plenty of ups and downs.
The winning of the league lay in a solid core of players playing to their strengths and putting their bodies on the line.
After suffering a pummelling in the reverse fixture in January, Navan were worried that Railway might over run them again and certainly the Dublin side seemed up for the match as they also had a chance to win the league.
Philip Garry was wreaking his usual havoc on the right wing, but the first goal came from an unlikely source as substitute Damian Lynskey appeared in the circle to slap home from close range.
The subs bench has often been sparsely populated for Navan this season but today it was a key part of the victory,
Kyle Ramsey and Rory Nulty coming on throughout the match to freshen up the team, the youngsters causing plenty of trouble amongst the Railway defenders.
Navan held on to their lead despite a couple of short corners for Railway early in the second-half.
Stout defending across the back line proved vital from goalie Emmet O Mordha to Rob Bagnall, Rory Davis, Ciaran Kearns and Roger Warburton - stepping in to fill the void left by absent Bryan Harley.
Eamon Lynskey again pulled the strings at the base of midfield, throwing aerial balls and breaking up play.
Keith Howell's energetic, determined tackling and immense forward runs drove Navan forward while player/coach Ru Clarke and James McQuade played their parts in another solid midfield display.
The second goal came from an old reliable in Chris Booth, his deadly accurate shooting again proving too hot for Railway to handle.
Philip Garry wrapped things up with 10 minutes to go, embarking on another solo run and sweeping past the Railway 'keeper.
The subs rolled on and off with Sean Kearns and Damian Lynskey standing firm as Railway pushed to try and get back into the game.
Navan took the ball into the corner and won a few frees to suck the life out of the match as the seconds counted down, chalking up an 11th win of the season and a second consecutive clean sheet.
The final match of the season will be played on 13th April against Dublin North in Abbottstown.
PHOTO - NAVAN LEINSTER CHAMPIONS
The Navan panel (from left) back - Ruairi Clarke, Rory Nulty, Kyle Ramsey, Emmet O'Mordha, Keith Howell, Philip Garry, Rob Bagnall, Sean Kearns, James McQuade, John Dooley; front - Rory Davis, Damian Lynskey, Chris Booth, Eamon
Lynskey, Roger Warburton, Ciaran Kearns.