Men’s Firsts 24 – Navan 3

Galwegians maintained their perfect start to the season in the Energia All-Ireland League when they overcame the challenge of Navan, winning 24–3 on Saturday at Balreask. The game was played in atrocious conditions, with incessant rain and a howling wind making handling extremely difficult for both sides. To their credit, both teams still attempted to play expansive rugby, but the Blues looked the more dangerous outfit with ball in hand.

They took the lead after ten minutes with their first meaningful foray into opposition territory. A clever switch of play by scrum-half Albert Lindner to the blindside created space for winger Derek Kennedy, who ignored the overlap and dived over near the right-hand corner for the game’s opening try. The unconverted score gave Galwegians a 5–0 advantage, and they would go on to dominate the remainder of the half.

Navan enjoyed periods of possession, but despite their best intentions they were unable to make any real dent in the resolute Wegians defence. The visitors dominated the set-piece, with hooker Ryan Smith consistently finding second rows Rob Holian and Dave Walsh to give half-backs Lindner and Conor O’Shaughnessy the platform to dictate play.

Just after the half-hour mark, Galwegians doubled their lead. A penalty kicked to the corner set up another attacking opportunity; fullback Cian Brady was held up just short of the line, but Lindner reacted quickest, feigning to move the ball left before sniping through a gap to score the second try. O’Shaughnessy added the conversion for a 12–0 lead.

The Blues could easily have added to their tally before the break, with Brady knocking on with the line at his mercy, but they went into half-time firmly in control.

Navan were handed a lifeline shortly after the restart when Wegians No. 8 Jarrad Butler was shown a yellow card for a high tackle. The hosts took the three points on offer through the boot of Harrison Astley, and with the extra man they dominated the next ten minutes. A try looked inevitable as they piled on the pressure, but Galwegians produced outstanding defensive resilience to keep their line intact.

Once Butler returned, the visitors immediately struck what proved to be the decisive blow. From a scrum near halfway, Galwegians moved the ball from coast to coast, with Lindner providing quick service to stretch the Navan defence. A perfectly timed pass from centre Stevie Mannion sent the powerful Walsh charging through a midfield gap from almost thirty metres to score an excellent try under the posts. O’Shaughnessy’s conversion extended the lead and left the hosts with a mountain to climb.

The bonus point was secured on the hour mark. A dominant Galwegians scrum yielded repeated penalties, and another kick to the corner allowed for a perfectly executed lineout maul, with replacement Eoin Ferry touching down for the fourth try.

Galwegians managed the final quarter comfortably to record an excellent 24–3 win. The result puts them an incredible 13 points clear at the top of the table, with just one game remaining before the halfway point of the season.

They now return to Crowley Park this Saturday to host Skerries, as they aim to preserve their perfect record and strengthen their push for automatic promotion to Division 2A.