'Giving away penalties can undo a lot of good stuff'

AIL PLAY-OFF REACTION Versatile Finney on what Navan must focus on ahead of final

At one stage in the second-half of Saturday's bruising encounter with Galwegians one of Navan's pack warriors, Jordan Finney, was called ashore.

He had taken a heavy hit and it was clearly felt he should be removed from the fray. No point in taking any chances. It wasn't clear at that stage if Navan would secure the victory they sought but they did win and now they face a season-defining clash with Dungannon in the Div 2A/2B promotion/relegation play-off final at Balreask Old this Saturday.

It was just as well there was no chances taken with Finney's fitness. Over the last three years or so the 24-year old man from the Wilkinstown area, close to Rathkenny, has become an integral part of the Navan first team.

His importance to the side is partly got to do with the fact that when he is on the field Finney gives it everything in the tight and loose.

It's also partly got to do with the fact that he brings to the table an invaluable level of versatility. He can play as a prop or a second-row. He has mostly played as a second row this season but in the last few games he has filled in as a prop. Two very different and distinctive roles.

He had fully recovered from the heavy hit by the time he got around to talking afterwards about how Navan had defeated Galwegians on Saturday to set up that clash with Dungannon.

He talked about how Galwegians had "big ball carriers" who were difficult to pin down. He spoke too about how the clash with the Connacht side on Saturday not only highlighted the tremendous spirit de corps and gritty belief in the Navan side but also the need to improve aspects of their game before the arrival of the men from the North for the play-off showdown.

"We did a lot of very good things against Galwegians today but our discipline cost us a few penalties, a high tackle or chatting to the referee, unforced errors that put pressure back on us. Giving away penalties like that can undo a lot of good stuff.

"We gave them penalties we didn't need to, we let them back. That's something we want to take out of the referee's hands for the play-off final."

Scrum-half Mark Farrell had a few weeks ago urged fans to come out and back the team in big numbers - and they did.

Finney says the fact that Navan are at home again against Dungannon can't be understated.

"Home advantage makes a big difference, even in your preparations, you can get up a bit later, it always helps to have friends and family on the sideline. You would play for them a bit more than if you had strangers standing there. You want to do them and ourselves justice. Having our supporters there certainly affects your energy levels going into the last few minutes."

It certainly did for Navan against Galwegians with late tries from Harry Waters and Shane Walshe seeing them over the line.

Part of Navan's strength on Saturday was their ability to finish the game in a strong manner. Fitness wasn't an issue. It certainly isn't either for Finney who works as a fitness instructor in a gym in Dublin. He started playing rugby 10 years ago and has taken to the game big time.

He put in another big shift on Saturday effectively holding the front-line in the scrums along with Liam Carroll and Anthony Martinez, while getting in some big tackles in the loose. When other warriors such as Leigh Jackson came on in the second-half they also played their part manfully in bolstering the battlements.

As the Navan supporters loudly cheered the players off the pitch following Saturday's victory, one man who has faithfully supported Navan over the years commented how the scenes reminded him of some of the "great Provincial Town Cup victories of the past."

The comparison was understandable. It was an joyful occasion in the end for the supporters who got behind the team and helped to carry them over the line. Now players - and fans - must hope and believe they can do it all again against Dungannon on Saturday.