Dundalk 3xv travelled to Navan on Friday night and despite the weather throughout that day, the rain pretty much held off for the game. Dundalk kicked the game off and immediately applied the pressure forcing a knock on resulting in a
scrum for the travelling team. From there Dundalk attacked but were just unable to get across the gain line.

Some great attacking ball from the backs saw Gerry Lawless come close a number of times but the Navan defence held out. After about ten minutes Navan had a line out on the Dundalk 22 and pulled off a well executed move to score under the posts, which they converted!

Dundalk didn’t give up and as Navan applied the pressure, Dundalks defence held up. On the fifteen minute mark a big hit by second row Bryan Crosbie was deemed dangerous by the referee and he was shown a red card, reducing the Dundalk men to 14. Navan converted the penalty leaving them 10-0 after 15 minutes.

Dundalk showed tremendous character and even when outhalf Brian Tansey went off due to injury they kept attacking the Navan line but just couldn’t score that elusive try. Dermot Laide came on at loose head for the injured Brian Igoe and kept the pressure on the Navan scrum!

As the second half started Dundalk started to once again put Navan on the back foot with some great attacking by Aaron Mulligan and Chris McGeady in the back line and by Laide and French student Vincent in the forwards.With a few minutes to go Chris Brady came on for Mike Doyle and with some amazing carries which annoyed the Navan defence and he looked to have scored Dundalk’s first try but it was held up!

This was the story of Dundalk’s night so close but yet so far for the Louth men, as the game finished up 10-0 to Navan. Dundalk can hold their heads high as they were able to keep the score so low with 14 men. Their training is starting to show along with the spirit in the squad, it’s only a matter of time before they return to winning ways!

1: john Kerr. 2:Brian Igoe, 3: Steven Smyth, 4: Bryan Crosbie, 5: Thomas Thornton, 6: Daniel McGovern, 7: Vincent, 8: Gavin Mullen, 9: cathal myles(c) 10: Brian Tansey, 11: Gerry lawless, 12: Mike Doyle, 13: Chris Mcgeady, 14:Richard Mcguinness, 15: Grattan O’Hagan, 16: Dermot Laide,17:John Smith, 18:Chris Duffy, 19: Chris Brady, 20: Niall Kerley, 21: Aaron Mulligan, 22:Barry Callan, 23: Alan Bryne.