Cashel rugby end AIL season on winning note over Navan

All Ireland League - Division 2A - Round 18

Cashel RFC 31

Navan RFC 21

In the final All Ireland League game of the season played at Spafield, Cashel on Saturday last, Cashel took on Navan in what was described as a dead rubber as the result would not change the league position of either team. Navan had beaten Cashel by a point in the first game of the season with a try in injury time. 

With nothing at stake but pride one would have expected a dour affair. In fact it was a most competitive game with Cashel coming out on top by scoring five tries to Navans three. The referee described it afterwards as a Barbarians game with both teams running from every angle.

Cashel started well but conceded two penalties which gave Navan field position with the aid of a strong wind. It took twelve minutes for the deadlock to be broken and it was Navan who scored first with a fine individual try by their centre who broke from inside his own half to score under the posts. 

The Navan backs were swift and only good defence kept them at bay. As the game entered the second quarter Cashel were camped inside the Navan twenty two. A penalty was kicked to the corner, the lineout maul was set up and James Ryan scored to put Cashel on the scoresheet. Eight minutes later two Cashel mauls were held up short of the line. Navan were awarded a scrum and when Cashel drove them off their own ball Josh Pickering reacted quickly, picked and dived over for a try. 

As the game progressed Cashel became more dominant in the scrum. In thirty five minutes they were almost caught when Navan intercepted on half way. Paudie Leamy saved the day with an excellent tackle. As half time approached Cashel attacked. The ball went from side to side in a sweeping movement which Richard Kingston finished with a try. Ryan O'Sullivan converted to leave Cashel ahead 17 points to 7 at half time.

Cashel went on the attack straight from the kickoff. Navan were penalised three times from infringing at the breakdown. On the fourth occasion the referee lost patience and awarded Cashel a penalty try. With a lead of 24 points to 7 and a bonus point in the bag, Cashel looked comfortable. However Barnhall had other ideas as they dominated the third quarter. On fifty minutes they scored an excellent converted try and ten minutes later were almost in again but were stopped by a Richard Kingston tackle. 

The hectic pace lasted to the end of the game and it was clear that if Barnhall got another try they could go on and win the game. With ten minutes left Cashel closed it out. Once again it was the lineout maul that did the business as Niall Fitzgerald touched down. Ryan O'Sullivan converted. 

It was fitting that hooker Niall Fitzgerald scored as he has played more All Ireland League games than any other Cashel player in the most difficult position on the team. Barnhall had the last word with a converted try at the finish. Final score Cashel 31 Barnhall 21.

So ended Cashels campaign in fifth position. They missed out on a playoff position by two points. They won nine games, drew two and lost seven. In each of the lost games they got a losing bonus point and two of the games they lost by a point. 

There were many fine individual performances during the year but a special word for captain Conor Cashman who is a fine player and led his troops from the front. The players deserve credit for the effort they put in to play All Ireland League rugby. 

There was a nice moment in the clubhouse after the game as referee Richard Kerr from Armagh had just refereed his final game in the All Ireland League after twenty years service. Cashel president, Pat O'Domoghue,  presented him with a Cashel tie.

At the top of the table Queens University, as predicted, won the league. Blackrock College will host Nenagh in a playoff semi final and Barnhall will travel to Banbridge for the other semi final. At the bottom of the table Dolphin were relegated and UL/Bohemians went into a promotion/relegation playoff.

Cashel team (1-20): C Ryan, N Fitzgerald, B Ryan, I Rqibi, B O'Connor, F O'Donoghue, J Ryan, C Ryan, J Pickering, A McDonald, R O'Sullivan, C Cashman, B Murray, P Leamy, A Bergada, K Murphy, C O'Donnell, A O'Connor, M Hickey, R Kingston.