Men’s Firsts 19 – Navan 29

Galwegians Men’s 1sts season came to an end when they were beaten by hosts Navan in a cracking playoff semi-final to earn the right to play Division 2A next season. Although Navan were 10 point victors, the scoreline really doesn't do justice to this game, as Wegians really left the win behind them.

Wegians suffered a late injury blow as centre and placekicker Stevie Mannion was forced to withdraw just before kick-off, leading to a reshuffled backline with Eoghan Fahey called up from the bench to start. Navan came out of the blocks fired up by their home support and they took the lead in the fifth minute with a well taken try by prop Jordan Finney on the right. Winger Harry Watters converted to put them 7-0 ahead.

Galwegians’ response was swift and impressive. They immediately took the game to their opponents and four minutes later, following serious pressure inside the 22, full-back Darragh Kennedy sold a sweet dummy to cut inside two tacklers and dive over on the right for an excellent try. Out-half Ryan Roche was unlucky with the conversion attempt, leaving it 7-5 to the hosts.

The Blues would utterly dominate the rest of this half. They were more than a match for their opponents up front and looked more threatening in the backs. They deservedly took the lead in the 18th minute when captain Jack Winters finished off more pressure by barging over near the left corner. This time Roche split the posts perfectly to put his side 12-7 ahead.

It was all Wegians in the second quarter, however they were unable to add to their tally despite having a multitude of chances. On 35 minutes the hosts finally got some territory in a rare incursion in their opponents’ half, and when the Blues were penalised for offside, scrum-half Mark Farrell kicked a penalty in front of the posts to narrow the gap to 12-10. The defining moment of the game came on the stroke of half-time. With the Blues launching a move off a scrum on halfway, as the ball was going through the hands out wide, an overlap looked on but Watters intercepted for the hosts and sprinted home under the posts for a killer sucker punch score. Farrell converted and out of nowhere Navan found themselves five points up at the break.
The hosts were reduced the 14 men immediately at the start of the second half when lock Eoghan Noonan was binned for a foul straight from the restart. Wegians took the opportunity to set up camp in the opposition 22, however some dogged home defence and missed opportunities were costing them. They kept plugging away and when Watters was penalised for abusive language, they finally made the pressure pay in the 54th minute when Winters completed his brace, scoring a near identical try to his first half effort. Roche again landed an excellent conversion, and the Blues were back in front for the second time in the game, leading 19-17.

Wegians continued to dominate as the game entered the final quarter, however the common theme persisted of not being able to convert their opportunities and pull away. However Navan dug deep and with both sides ringing the changes from their enlarged benches of 8 subs, the hosts suddenly found a second wind. When a penalty near halfway was kicked deep to the corner, a line-out move was well executed, resulting in a 72nd minute try for winger Shane Walshe. Farrell converted from near the touchline to rub salt into Galwegians’ wounds and put this side five points clear with a few minutes remaining.

The Blues had to roll the dice, but they simply ran out of steam and it was Navan who would prevail when a late breakaway move led to Watters scoring his second try. This gave them an unassailable lead of ten points, and with that the game was done. It was definitely one that got away for the Blues and head coach Brendan Guilfoyle was a frustrated figure at full-time. However he was also able to reflect on a season of huge progress, as this marked the end of an odyssey and a truly engrossing and bizarre campaign, where they lost their first seven games yet made it into a promotion play-off.

Wegians can look forward to next season competing in Energia Division 2B with great confidence if they can build on this platform.