Big test awaits Meath side

The long wait is over. Finally after an eight-year hiatus Navan will have an opportunity to participate in the play-offs for a place in the All-Ireland League when they welcome City of Derry to Balreask Old next Saturday, 2.30. The novelty of the encounter alone should ensure a big crowd and Navan RFC have requested the local people to come out in force and get behind the team. As well as the hard core of supporters who follow Navan on a regular basis the attendance should be boosted by those who want to see the local side taking on City of Derry who until recently were a senior club. It is certain that Navan will need all the support they can muster to win a three-team play-off that also includes Galway side Monivea and Cashel, the pride Tipperary. The top team will go straight into AIL Div 3, the second team will face another play-off with the team that finishes second last in the AIL Div 3 this season. The last time Navan participated in an All-Ireland play off was in 2001. They beat Lisburn, lost to Clonakilty and in the last game were defeated by Connemara with the last kick of the game. On many occasions since Navan have gone close to emerging from the province only to lose their way in vital games. This time around Navan have maintained an unbeaten run through the league campaign, displaying an impressive level of consistency. However, that consistency has come at a price with a number of players picking up a series of injuries in recent outings. Potentially the most damaging absentee from the Navan line-out over the coming weeks is Ryan Roberts. Throughout the campaign he had kicked with variety and purpose. Karl Manning had hinted in last week"s Provincial Towns" Cup defeat by Dundalk that he could fill the vacancy with Simon Donnelly also ready and able to step into the breach. Other players carrying injuries include Paul Feeney, Brad Harris and Simon Donnelly. Some good news for Navan is contained in the return of Ronan Conaty to the fold. He had gone to England to continue his studies and now his experience could prove very useful in the hectic next few weeks. City of Derry will arrive in Navan as favourites to win this game. Few teams in the Leinster League travel to play the Meath outfit these days harbouring realistic ambitions of returning home with a victory - the Ulster side are a different proposition. Some measure of their scoring prowess can be seen in the way they have registered 716 points, conceded 149 and bagged 14 bonus points in 17 league games this season. This is a big step up in standard for Brad Harris and his side as they are sure to confront finely-tuned opponents eager to make a return to the senior ranks. City of Derry have a fine tradition in the oval-ball game. The origins of the club goes back to 1881 and in recent times they were a regular feature in the All-Ireland League. They were involved in a controversy back in 2001 when they were fined £4,000 and deducted eight points for fielding an illegal player and they suffered relegation to Div 2. Their fortunes continued to dip and they were relegated from Div 3. They ran away with the Ulster title this season well before the programme of games was completed. There are other reasons why City of Derry want to make it to the senior ranks, as Navan PRO Colm Horton outlined. If they are three seasons out of the senior ranks they will lose up to 40 per cent of their international match ticket allocation. Tickets are a big source of revenue for clubs. It is a further reason why Navan should be wary as they get ready for another shot at earning a place in the All-Ireland League.