All-Ireland medals for Navan u-18s

Ten months after the game was played the u-18 players from Navan finally received their medals following an extraordinary All-Ireland final that ended in confusing circumstances. 

The medals were presented at the pre-match lunch before Navan's AIL Div 1B at Balreask Old against Malone.  

The 2019 All-Ireland u-18 final was played last April when Navan took on Skibbereen at Mullingar RFC.

The game proved to be an engrossing, if low-scoring contest, and at the end the sides were level 10-10 apiece.

Navan's Gary Faulkner had powered over for the opening try of the game with Jeaic Timmons firing over from the conversion.
Timmons added a penalty for the Meath side, but Skibbereen drew level.    

For a brief few minutes after the final whistle confusion reigned.

Despite the scoreline Navan had thought that they would be declared winners because under rules applied in Leinster the team that scores the first try is declared the winner.

Navan had lost a u-17 final the previous year because of that rule.

No doubt recalling that game some of the Navan players raised their arms in triumph in Mullingar, thinking they had enough.

However, their joy was to be short-lived. 

It transpired that under a different IRFU interpretation that the first-try ruling did not apply - something Navan players and supporters were very disappointed to find out about.  

Because of player welfare it was decided that no extra-time - or a replay - would be scheduled.

Instead it was decided that the trophy would be shared with Skibbereen getting the chance to display it in their clubhouse first.

Then it was Navan's turn with the players finally receiving their medals before the Malone game.  

Under coaches Kyle Dixon and Peter Clarke and the management team of PJ Meegan (manager) and John Coen (management support) Navan u-18s enjoyed a tremendous run in the 2018/2019 season losing just one game.

The Navan u-18 squad against Skibbereen was:  Evan Gordon, Mark Coen, Jaeic Timmons, Jordan Finney, Conor Wall, Mick Brady, Evan Meegan, Tom Barron, Sam Fairbrother, Gary Faulkner, Ronan Walsh, Jack Dixon, Harry Devlin, Jack Castles, Jack Lynch, Dylan O'Dowd, Dan O'Connell, Ronan Garvey, Jake McEntaggert, Ben Farrell, Stephen Edosa, Sam O'Brien, Pauric Finegan.