Navan RFC players will be focused on one more game this Saturday. PHOTO: AUSTIN MCPARTLIN

Check out the Blue Dragons as Navan prepare to host AIL Div 2A promotion final

Published: Thu 25 Apr 2019, 4:12 PM

Last updated: Thu 25 Apr 2019, 5:13 PM

Navan RFC supporters will be hoping for a repeat of last year's AIL Div 2B play-off victory when they tackle Queen's in the 2019 AIL Div 2A final play-off next Saturday.

And on Sunday the club will host a huge crowd for the televised Provincial Towns' Cup final at Balreask Old between Wicklow and Enniscorthy.

CHECK OUT THE BLUE DRAGONS

Shay Casserley produced this video to show what the Navan RFC Blue Dragons Inclusive Tag rugby team is all about

Two big games and a win on Saturday would really put the Navan club on the map in terms of achievements in making the transition from junior to one of the top grades in in senior club rugby in the space of a decade.

Twelve months ago, on Saturday 28th April 2018, in what was the last game in charge for Alan Kingsley, club stalwart Willie Staunton scored the vital points to push Navan into the AIL Div 2A with a great win against Rainey Old Boys.

Kingsley signed off on his term at Balreask Old as the Meath club clinched promotion to the AIL Div 2A

Navan made that journey to Magherafelt to tackle Rainey Old Boys in the promotion Play-off final and duly won by 16-14 in an exciting game.

The teams were level 6-6 at half-time, but Navan pulled out enough in the second-half to take the victory and achieve promotion for the second successive season after winning the AIL Div 2C in 2016 / 2017 season.

Navan trailed 9-14 with 10 minutes remaining, but a late try and conversion secured a sensational victory.

Navan had defeated Rainey Old Boys 15-6 in Magherafelt, but the Ulster side travelled to Balreask Old and chalked up a 20-13 victory.

Last week a sizeable contingent of Navan supporters made the trip to Cashel, but now with home advantage in the final, the club will be hoping for a bumper crowd at Balreask Old.

"A huge thank you to everybody who made the trip to Cashel to support the Navan senior team. Thanks to all the supporters on Twitter and the WhatsApp groups for keeping those who couldn’t make it, up to speed with developments on the pitch," stated club president David Cullivan.

"Well done to the parents, coaches and managers of the under-11s and under-12s who organised themselves to attend.

"There is no doubt that seeing so many Navan jerseys around the pitch contributed to the success on the field," he added.

The message from the club is - if you haven't watched your local rugby team up to now, this Saturday would be a great way to start.

All the extra support will be a huge boost to the players as they bid to take the Navan club into one of the top two divisions in Irish club rugby for the first time.