Men’s Firsts 50 – Navan 15

The fixture was in doubt right up to kick-off following an overnight deluge, but tremendous work by the ground staff and volunteers ensured referee Mitchell Enderby passed the pitch as playable. Once underway, the Blues wasted little time asserting their authority.

Galwegians struck early in the fifth minute after winning a scrum against the head on Navan’s five-metre line. The powerful home pack turned the screw, allowing captain for the day Andrew Sherlock to dart over near the posts, with Conor O’Shaughnessy converting for a 7–0 lead. Navan briefly responded with a penalty from centre Tom Gavigan, but it proved short-lived.

Sustained forward pressure continued to tell, and on 15 minutes Stevie Mannion used his strength to finish out wide for the second try, although injury forced his early departure, with Eoin Fahey introduced off the bench early. Another strong surge from the pack soon followed, and prop Jack Winters crossed for the third score following a series of pick and go's. The bonus point was secured on the half-hour mark as quick ball out wide allowed AIL top scorer Rob Deacy to cut through for his 12th try of the season, giving Galwegians a 22–3 advantage at the break.

Any hopes of a Navan comeback were quickly extinguished after the restart. A lovely switch pass from hooker Ryan Smith off a lineout move fed left-winger Oisín McKey who continued his impressive recent form with a well-taken try, excellently converted by full-back Tiernan Neville. Shortly afterwards they put the game out of reach when a mammoth punt forward by back-row Eanna McCarthy from his own 22 saw the ball carry forward near the visitors' try-line. Sherlock sealed a memorable day for him when he outpaced the cover to win the race and dot down near the corner right corner, with Neville adding the extras again to make it 36-3.

Navan showed commendable spirit and were rewarded on the hour mark when Gavigan intercepted and raced in under the posts, converting his own try, before winger Mark Coen added another well-worked score five minutes later. However, any notions of sealing a late bonus point were snuffed out as Galwegians’ clinical edge was evident once again. Right-wing Darragh Kennedy finished a slick backline move on 66 minutes for another converted try, and in the final play, substitute Albert Lindner bagged try number eight following a fine break from Jarrad Butler, with O’Shaughnessy adding the conversion this time to bring up the half-century.

The result maintains Galwegians’ 15-point lead at the top of the table. This weekend, the Blues travel to County Wexford to face Enniscorthy, aiming to make it a perfect 12 from 12 in their relentless pursuit of promotion to Energia AIL Division 2B.