04 Mar U14 Girls Show Great Spirit in Leinster Cup Battle
Leinster Girls Cup Under 14
Navan 0 Portdara 24
Saturday 28th February | Balreask Old
Navan RFC Under 14 Girls produced a determined and spirited performance on Saturday in the Leinster Girls Cup, despite falling to a 24–0 defeat against a strong PortDara side at Balreask Old.
It was a fiercely competitive opening half, with both teams displaying excellent defensive organisation and commitment at the breakdown. Neither side was able to find a way through as tackles flew in and territory was hard-earned.
At half-time, the scoreboard reflected the intensity of the battle 0–0, with everything still to play for.
PortDara broke the deadlock early in the second half with a well-worked converted try. They extended their lead to 10–0 after opting to take three points from a penalty, edging further ahead in what remained a hard-fought contest.
Navan refused to back down and continued to apply pressure, coming agonisingly close to a breakthrough score only to be held up over the line.
Two further converted tries from PortDara in the closing stages ultimately secured the 24–0 result, though the scoreline did not fully reflect the competitiveness of the encounter.
A major positive for Navan was the debut of Croí Dunne and Kate Finnegan, both playing their first-ever rugby match after only taking up the sport earlier this season. Their contributions were a credit to their commitment and to the encouraging team environment within the squad.
The effort, resilience, and teamwork shown throughout the match highlight the continued growth of this young Navan side.
Navan RFC Under 14 Girls Squad:
Michaela Spillane, Libbie Horan, Sophie Lee, Zoe Geraghty, Finley Clarke, Holly Owens, Chloe Goodwin, Alice Larkin, Cara Reynolds, Leah McLoughlin, Cadhla Wall, Fiadh Stafford, Rory Mai Daly, Fiadh Stafford, Róisín Regan, Abby Colwell Brady, Isabel Nixon, Croi Rubi Dunne, Alayna Gilleece, Kate Finnegan, Ella Vasselin.