Defeat puts a dampener on Navan's Conor Ryan's major milestone

The Meath Chronicle spoke to Navan's Conor Ryan after their 21-31 defeat to Blackrock College in the AIL Div 2A on Saturday.

Saturday was a "proud day" for Conor Ryan. Disappointing but proud. After all the fixture against Blackrock College wasn't just any old game, another nondescript day at the office. At least not for him. It was his 100th AIL appearance.

Some weeks ago one of Ryan's colleagues Conor Hand reached the same milestone. The fact that an increasing number of Navan players are getting to that stage is an indication of just how long the club is now involved in the senior rugby scene.

The team playing week in, week out against opponents with a long and rich tradition in the oval ball game. Teams such as Old Crescent, Dolphin and, on Saturday, Blackrock College where legends of the game such as Fergus Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald played back in the day.

Balreask Old must seem like a second home to Ryan who is now 29.

He played under-age for the club, moving up through the ranks, learning the game, the pitfalls, the way to overcome difficulties.

In time it was his turn to make a step up to the first team which he did. He evolved into a fine back-row player, where he needed to be able to help out in the scrum, yet also be alert and alive to the possibilities in open play. He loved the cut and thrust of the game in the trenches. Still does.

There were the seasons when victories were hard to come by, defeat often Navan's fate. Those years were mingled with campaigns that bore rich dividends. Over the years he saw many players arrive at Balreask Old before moving on. He remains one of the constants.

"Navan were in AIL 2C when I started playing with the seniors," he recalled after Saturday's defeat.

"We struggled at that level for a couple of years. Then we enjoyed three great years, three promotions in quick succession, went up from 2C to 2A and then 1B. We're now back in 2A and that's probably our level right now.

"We are going through a rebuilding phase but the team have great faith in what the coaches are doing here. It's about bringing young lads through and hopefully they'll go on to win 100 caps themselves."

An ever present at Navan games is Conor's dad, the well-known publican Mick Ryan, who has a rich sporting pedigree himself. Mick played senior football for Meath between 1972 and '81. A highly accomplished player in his own right Mick was unfortunate in that he played for the Royal County at a time when they were very much under the shadow of Dublin then managed by Kevin Heffernan.

Mick was part of the Meath team that won the NFL in 1975 but he also suffered setbacks against the Dubs in a number of Leinster finals during the 1970s.

Big championship victories might have been scarce for Meath but Mick outlined on Saturday how they were great days too when he made "wonderful" lasting friendships. Friends for life.

That theme of friendship and collegiality was also touched on by Conor after Saturday's defeat. How he grow up wearing the Navan colours at various levels, forming rock-like friendships along the way. Like his father, Conor played Gaelic football and like his father he turned out in the blue of Skryne but rugby became his number one sport.

"I played rugby from a young age and I suppose my physique meant I was more suited to rugby than Gaelic. I play in the back-row mostly but in games like today, when it's so open and fluid you could be anywhere, it's part of the modern game," he admitted.

"There's such a social aspect to rugby, you make great friends, from under-age up, everyone knows everyone. Players come to play for the club, then bring their kids and it goes on from there.

"The limelight might be on the senior team but the club puts a huge focus on developing the under-age players. The under-age setup is very strong. It's one of the reasons why Navan have prospered over the years."

Conor has endured his share of injuries over the years too but he has always returned, driven by the desire to be back among the fray again. Back in the trenches with his pals.

He pointed to Navan's "excellent coaches" Ray Moloney and Jason Harris Wright and the spirit in the team but some days things can so easily go wrong, when the best-laid plans can unravel. He knows that. Days like Saturday when a certain "lack of concentration" in the final furlong allowed Blackrock to scoot in for two late tries that ransacked his team's hopes of taking anything from a bruising encounter.

Yet if there is one lesson that Conor Ryan has learned from rugby over the years it is that while you might have a bad day at the office there is always the next time, as long as you keep believing and keep working.

"You have to pick yourself up and go again, we'll have better days. We go up to Queens next and we owe them one, onwards and upwards."

Then it was time for Conor go return to the dressing room and his colleagues. His friends.