Another week of Irish football is upon us! How quick is this season rolling by?

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Craigavon Cowboys vs. Trinity College Dublin

It seems insane that the 3&0 Trinity side will be playing its fourth game in what has been a congested opening 5 weeks for the team. This will be their first game of 2014 away from their fortress home ground at Santry though, as they head North to face a Craigavon Cowboys side that has played just one game, a 28-0 loss to the Belfast Trojans.

It’s no secret that TCD are playing out of their skin right now. The offence is putting up points and the defence is breaking down teams. Can they keep it up?

The Cowboys are a tough team. They may have languished in mediocrity in terms of wins and position in the tables in recent years but the experience on the side will always mean they are dangerous to any side. With a coaching staff who have been in the Irish game for years and with athletic talent on the side look for the Cowboys to cause some upsets this year. But can they do it against Trinity?

Dublin Dragons vs. North Kildare Reapers

Another IAFL-1 graduate match-up! The Dragons and Reapers fought out a defensive battle of a game last year, which resulted in a 2-0 win for the North Kildare side that ultimately led the team to win the division in 2013 on the head-to-head tiebreaker. Look for a similarly close match-up in this one that could easily swing either way.

The Reapers have improved since their 2013 IAFL-1 title, picking up some of the former Tullamore Phoenix players as well as several linemen with SBC experience. This experience helped them overcome the Waterford Wolves 13-0 in their opening game.

The Dragons also beat the Wolves in their opener, a 6-12 win in Waterford. On paper this looks like the Reapers are the stronger side, beating the same team by more points whilst conceding less. However the Dragons had to travel to Waterford whilst the Reapers welcomed the Wolves to North Kildare. Furthermore NKR hosted the Wolves a week after the Dublin side had beat up on the Waterford side. This game will be a close battle.

The implications could be huge come the end of the season though. As the IAFL-1 graduates will now branch out and begin to face off against more experienced Shamrock Bowl Conference competition a win in this game could be massive. Whoever wins will go 2&0 and it’s doubtful that a team with two wins will be relegated come season’s end.

Dublin Rebels vs. Waterford Wolves

Experience vs. inexperience. The Wolves are in their debut Shamrock Bowl Conference season whilst the Dublin Rebels have been a mainstay of the League for years.

The Waterford side will no doubt give this game their all, as they always do, but it has the potential to get a little bit uncomfortable if the Rebels click the way we know they can. Led by quarterback Andrew Dennehy and dynamic running back Simon Mackey, the Rebels have combined the experience of players who have been to, and won, Shamrock Bowls in the past with the youth and athleticism of rookies to create a squad that is capable of anything in this League.

The Wolves meanwhile are struggling with squad depth, particularly after their season opener against the Dublin Dragons, which saw them lose a few players to injury including starting quarterback Eoin Reinhardt.

IAFL-1

Meath Bulldogs vs. UCD

UCD are enjoying a rich vein of form to start the season, scoring 79 points in their opening two fixtures and conceding none. Their defence, in particular their linebacker corps, is on a hot streak, racking up the tackles, the turnovers and the shut outs.

But the offence is clicking too. Usual target receiver Paul Geraghty has four touchdowns already whilst quarterback Dave Murphy has passed for six TDs and rushed for two more. They’re going to be hard to stop.

The Meath Bulldogs meanwhile will be itching to get going. They’re the last team to get their season underway in the IAFL-1 and will be dying to improve on last year’s record.

Led by the McMahon brothers, Pete and Eddie, the team had no problems in scoring points last year, but have they faced a defence of SBC-calibre like they’re about to this weekend? It will be Meath’s biggest challenge of their competitive lives as they face a UCD team that is not only in top form right now under Head Coach Eoin Cunningham but a team that was in the Shamrock Bowl Conference playoffs last year.

However this game is far from a forgone conclusion. This Bulldogs side doesn’t lie down for anybody and definitely have the potential to upset the UCD applecart.

This article has been syndicated from Double Coverage and any opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of IAFA. Any references to non-IAFA websites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those websites.

Sunday’s matchup was the first ever IAFL2 game as the South Kildare Soldiers and the Dundalk Mavericks made their debuts. Because of a flooded home pitch, the game took place in Edenderry, Co. Offaly (the original home of the 2007 Soldiers). Funnily enough it was on the very pitch where the Edenderry Soldiers were supposed to play their very first match but they to had to play elsewhere. But enough about history and onto how the IAFL’s newest league is shaping up!

The game started off slow with the Soldiers receiving possession. The offense looked rather shaky and a tad nervous, missed handoffs and a dominant D line led to a 3 and out as the kicking team took to the field for the first ever time. They didn’t look much more settled as Dundalk made all the right moves and Ruairi Mac Artain returned it for a touchdown, not the greatest of starts for South Kildare but the best for Dundalk.

A similar story followed with another 3 and out, but this time the host’s kicking team’s coverage held up well. The Mavericks’ offense moved the ball with a powerful running game but they failed to capitalise as the Soldiers’ defense stood strong when it mattered. The rest of the first half followed the trend with both defenses looking quite stingy as the teams continued to swap possession with no change in score. Penalties and turnovers spluttered offensive drives and neither offense could put any points on the board; the only other score in the first half was a safety from Dundalk’s immense defensive line, Conor Lennon credited with the score.

Looking for a spark the Soldiers started off the second half with an onside kick which they recovered, although to no avail as the offense could not make use of their luck.

The third quarter saw both offenses settle into the game as they moved the ball down the field but the relentless defenses seemed impervious. It was once again in special teams the Mavericks found success as miscommunication on a Soldier’s punt saw Guntis Vitolins scoop up the ball and run it home for a touchdown. Not to be disheartened though the Soldiers got the ball back deep in their own territory and on 2nd down(and on their own 2) QB Shane Farrell tossed a 25 yard pass to Sean Douglas who stepped two defenders on his way to the endzone. Refs confirmed the 98 yard TD was a new IAFA record!

The score was not enough to inspire a comeback as the South Kildare offense failed to repeat the feat. Dundalk’s offense flirted with the redzone a few more times but a domineering linebacker core kept the run game at bay. Nothing came easy in this game, but the Maverick’s special teams superiority was the decider. Both teams saw plenty of positives to build on, but naturally there’s a lot of hard work to be done ahead.

This article has been syndicated from Double Coverage and any opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of IAFA. Any references to non-IAFA websites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those websites.

Drogheda Lightning kicked off their 2014 IAFL-1 campaign, playing host to a Mullingar Minotaurs outfit looking to improve on a debut season that saw them prop up the table when the dust settled. And it was the visitors that had the best of the early exchanges at St. Oliver’s, taking advantage of a Lightning side that were slow to get into the game.

Concerted pressure with the running game wore at the Drogheda defence and the Minotaurs capitalised toward the end of the first quarter, putting up their first points of the 2014 campaign through running back Adam Corcoran. Again they exploited the hosts’ run defence on the PAT attempt as full back Niall Corcoran crossed the line for two additional points and take an 8-0 lead.

Drogheda failed to heed the early warning signs and found themselves further behind in the second quarter. Again the Minotaurs exploited the Lightning defence to push within sight of the goal-line. The hosts reacted too late to the drive and, in spite of some determined defensive pressure, the Minotaurs were able to force their way over the line with Dermot Corroon to increase their lead to 14-0. The determined Drogheda defence were able to stop the PAT to hold the Minotaurs to a two-score lead.

Indeed the whole Drogheda team seemed to find its rhythm as the half worn on and both sides of the ball began to find success. Fewer Mullingar plays were breaking through the Lightning defence while running backs Ross Neville and Craig McCormack harried the Minotaur defence with probing attacks for good gains.

Buoyed by their performance in the latter stages of the first half, Drogheda started the second on the front foot and finally got themselves on the scoreboard early in the third quarter. Taking the attack to the air, rookie quarterback Kevin Duffy found tight end Mick O’Shea in space and the Lightning captain brushed off several tackles to take the ball nearly sixty yards for a touchdown. After the initial PAT attempt was flagged for pass interference, Drogheda QB Duffy added the extra points to cut the lead to just six points – Minotaurs 14-8 Lightning.

With the game once again it the balance, complacency began to creep into the Lightning game yet again. Good field position was given up on offense through repeated infringements by the O-line while a tiring defence gave up a series of damaging first downs allowing the visitors to run down the clock and hold out for the victory.

In the end Mullingar were good for their win, and Drogheda will be left to think on what might have been. Improvement will certainly be needed if they hope to kick-start their season next time out as they face a tough trip to UCD on May 4th.

This article has been syndicated from Double Coverage and any opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of IAFA. Any references to non-IAFA websites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those websites.

Three tiers of Irish football saw action for the first time this week as the IAFL-2 debuted in a match-up between the South Kildare Soldiers and Dundalk Mavericks. So less of the intro and more of the action!

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Trinity College Dublin 27 – 18 Carrickfergus Knights

The Carrickfergus Knights headed South full of optimism as their improved side looked to take a W away from Santry and from the so-far undefeated Trinity side. But it wasn’t to be as the home side continued its fine start to the year.

David Lunn scored the first touchdown of the day, scampering in from 50 yards, allowing Trinity to take a 6-0 lead before German Velderrain forced a safety to take the score to 8-0.

The game threatened to get out of hand when impressive quarterback Dan Finnamore threw his 5th TD of the year, as Lunn reigned it in for his second score of the afternoon, but the Knights would bounce back. Paul McKillop found Chris Ireland in the end zone for the away side’s first 6 of the day.

Finnamore would add to his tally as he found Craig Marron right before half time, giving us a score of 21-6 after the successful PAT.

Ireland would once again score a touchdown to drag Carrickfergus back into the match-up, this time bringing in a Spencer McDowell pass, as he and regular quarterback McKillop rotated around the offensive unit.

Rob McDowell, a menace yet again all afternoon, returned the resulting kick off to the Knights’ 20 yard line, helping Finnamore throw for his 7th TD of the year and 3rd of the afternoon, this time to tight end Kyle Whalen.

Spencer McDowell would throw another touchdown, this time to Ryan Young, to keep the tie close but Carrickfergus could not get back into this one, the game ending 27-18 in favour of TCD

UL Vikings 22 – 7 West Dublin Rhinos

The UL Vikings notched up their first W of the year as they dominated the West Dublin Rhinos at home. The Rhinos themselves will be pleased that they scored offensive points, something that has been troubling for them in recent times.

The Dublin side actually took the lead, as quarterback Arun Mooney found Paul Hossford in the end zone for the 20 yard score before Hossford kicked a successful PAT.

But the Vikings would not be stopped and rallied, with their play revolving around Adrian Garvey. The dynamic back, who often plays in multiple positions, utilised great offensive line work to pound in the Vikings’ first score before kicking the PAT himself.

Brutal play for the home side’s defensive line was the key to this game as they continuously hurried the quarterback, with Ian Cahill getting two sacks, with one forcing a fumble, on the day.

The second half would start with a bang as Sean Goldrick utilised his pace to take the kick off straight back to the house for 6, with Garvey hitting Killian Vigna for the successful 2-pt conversion. Full back Shane Gleeson would round off the scoring with a 40 yard run that showed that this UL offence can rack up points from anywhere.

This article has been syndicated from Double Coverage and any opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of IAFA. Any references to non-IAFA websites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those websites.

This Sunday we have four fixtures taking place, including the first ever game of the IAFL2 division.  Check out previews of all four games below:

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Trinity College Dublin vs. Carrickfergus Knights
What a game this promises to be. Trinity College are enjoying a fine start to the year, being 2-0 after drubbing the UL Vikings and shutting out the West Dublin Rhinos, whilst Carrickfergus will be lifted by their opening day performance against the Belfast Trojans, despite the narrow loss.

The offence of Trinity looks just as dynamic as its defence looks menacing this year and it’s proving to be so as they continue to rack up the points as well as stop teams scoring on them, conceding just 9 points whilst scoring 61 in their opening two match ups. Irish international quarterback Dan Finnamore is a standout, having taken the role after his move from the Drogheda Lightning, whilst running back Rob McDowell is back to punishing teams after last year’s injury woes.

Carrickfergus meanwhile look as if they have strengthened since last year, despite the loss of some key players. Pushing the Belfast Trojans all the way (they were within a point until the end of the third quarter against the champions), the Knights have recruited heavily as well as nurtured talent from their junior squad. They’ll feel the dividends of that in the coming years for sure.

University of Limerick Vikings vs. West Dublin Rhinos
This Viking side is ready to burst on to the scene. After a disappointing opener they suffered another defeat last week, in the final seconds, to last year’s Shamrock Bowl finalists, the Dublin Rebels. Going down 14-13, conceding a 2pt attempt in the final seconds, is a tough way to lose a game that they had controlled for long periods. However the display was a strong one and they showed that the talent is still there and that they’re here to compete in 2014.

With Marc Ashworth back at quarterback and players such as Adrian Garvey and Sean Goldrick around him, as well as some new talent such as Jake Kelly at tight end, who had a standout game last week, the Vikings are always going to be able to score. Watch for that as they take on the Rhinos and then the three IAFL-1 promotion teams through the rest of the year.

The Rhinos are struggling. Their defence is strong. They may have conceded 27 points against Trinity but that’s a TCD side that is balling right now. They won’t ship that many points against everybody. However their offence is a worry. With injuries exacerbating what has always been a problem with low points scoring, it makes you wonder where the all important touchdowns will come from. But after just one game we may be being slightly harsh on the team, can they prove us wrong against UL?

IAFL1

Drogheda Lightning vs. Mullingar Minotaurs
These two teams didn’t have the best of times last year. The Minotaurs were the complete rookies of the division and gave it their all in every game, but ultimately finished bottom of the division, whilst the Lightning were blighted by injuries and a loss of players to the Dundalk Mavericks.

However this will prove to be a great match up. The Lightning have recruited and their head coach, Russell Kerley, is highly experienced. Losing Dan Finnamore was a blow but last year’s stand in quarterback, Oisin Dowling, was a fine replacement. Look for the Lightning to air the ball out this year.

The Minotaurs suffered a rough defeat as they faced off against a tough UCD side on opening day. They’ll want to immediately bounce back and no doubt the coach will be rocking all the way to St. Oliver’s.

IAFL2

South Kildare Soldiers vs. Dundalk Mavericks
The IAFL-2 begins! A little later than its two bigger brothers, the new division opens up with a fantastic match up on paper. The Soldiers have experience throughout the team. Having led a nomadic existence for several years the squad settled in South Kildare, under the leadership of Coach Farrell. Several of their players headed to the European Flag Championships last summer to represent Ireland and the techniques picked up in that discipline will serve them well as they take on the full kitted variety of the sport.

Meanwhile the Mavericks set up as several Drogheda Lightning players saw an opportunity, and the audience, to serve a team closer to home. Led by Sarah Matthews, the team will be hoping to get their competitive life off to a winning start against the Soldiers.

This article has been syndicated from Double Coverage and any opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of IAFA. Any references to non-IAFA websites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those websites.

Please note that due to bad flooding on the South Kildare Soldiers’ usual pitch in Kildare Town, this weekend’s fixture between the South Kildare Soldiers and the Dundalk Mavericks is being moved to Oaklands Community College, Sister Senan Ave, Edenderry, Co. Offaly. Please see this Google Maps link for details of the new location.

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Craigavon Cowboys 0 – 28 Belfast Trojans

The Belfast Trojans rolled into Craigavon as favourites in their match up against the Cowboys and they duly delivered another win, stacking up on top of their already incredible undefeated run.

The Cowboys didn’t allow the Trojans to have it all their own way, but a solid defensive effort from the reigning champions, especially from the defensive line, yielded a shut out and allowed the offence and a couple of stunning special teams plays to make the difference.

David Colvin, returning after missing the season opener against Carrickfergus and coming off the back of a 2013 campaign that won him the inaugural DC Shamrock Bowl Conference MVP Award, ran in the first touchdown of the day from 50 yards out.

The Trojans then showed the importance of special teams, with two kick returns from two rookies adding up the points, firstly Alan Crawford and then Matt Armstrong running to the house. Successful 2-pts from Neil Montgomery and a James McKelvey pass to David Richardson

McKelvey managed a touchdown pass to Andy Wright before the final whistle to round off the scoring.

The Cowboys have improved this year, that much is clear. Holding the Trojans to 28 points is a good start to a year where they are sure to mix it up in the Shamrock Bowl Conference North. The Trojans meanwhile are continuing their fine form and dispatching teams with precision. They’re odds on favourites for the Bowl again.

Dublin Rebels 14 – 13 UL Vikings

Wow. Just wow. We thought this one would be close but the Rebels took this one out of the hands of the Vikings with just seven seconds left on the clock, scoring the touchdown and then having the guts to go for 2 and complete it to win.

The Vikings have vastly improved upon their performance against Trinity a couple of weeks ago. They more than matched the Dublin side in this game and were defeated in the cruelest of circumstances.

The Vikings looked good in a close game, dominating for periods during the match. Their scores were put on the board by a trio of old boys as Adrian Garvey notched a rushing score and kicked the following PAT before returning quarterback Marc Ashworth hit receiver Sean Goldrick for a deep score. The Rebels blocked the PAT.

The Rebels looked to running back Simon Mackey, who impressed last year, to pound the rock, and the link up between quarterback Andrew Dennehy and tight end Paul Grogan to get the ball moving. It was Mackey that put the Rebels’ points on the board, rushing in two scores, the second with just seconds remaining, before Dennehy found the tight end for the risky, but ultimately winning, 2-pt conversion.

The Vikings host the West Dublin Rhinos this weekend and will be confident of taking a win after a resurgent display where the offence clicked behind Ashworth’s direction and utilising his link with Goldrick and tight end Jake Kelly, who made two catches to bring up a first down on third and long situations. Their D looked stronger too, with defensive end Eoin Whelan and cornerback Joe Corcorran putting in particularly strong displays to keep what is a fine Rebels side to two scores.

The Rebels welcome the Waterford Wolves to Seapoint RFC in a fortnight and will certainly be looking to go 2&0, but in more comfortable circumstances than this.

North Kildare Reapers 13 – 0 Waterford Wolves

The IAFL-1 rivalry reborn in the Shamrock Bowl Conference started as a cagey, defensive battle with neither team wanting to give up points first.

The Wolves were struggling though. Injuries picked up in their opener against the Dublin Dragons were starting to tell and several players were on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Ryan Byrne who was filling in for the injured Eoin Reinhardt. It seemed only a matter of time until the Reapers took advantage.

It was. Strong running from Conor Hendrick put them in position, allowing quarterback Luke Bailey to hit receiver Michael O’Reilly in the back corner of the end zone for 6. The PAT hit the upright and bounced out.

The Wolves had their moments, and with a full squad perhaps this game would have yielded a different ending but the North Kildare outfit pushed their lead in the fourth quarter, with Bailey linking up with Sean Leamy for another score. Jordy Willemse kicked a successful PAT to bring up the final 13-0 scoreline.

The Wolves will be hurting from an 0-2 record in what will be considered to be their “easiest” (read: there are no easy games in SBC) portion of the year. They need to rest up and then hit the training field hard before their next game in Dublin against the Rebels.

The Reapers meanwhile will enjoy their first win of the year but also need to build if they’re to challenge the upper echelons of the SBC in their debut year. It may have been too much of a leap for these promoted teams this year but they’re giving it their all regardless and you can’t ask more than that.

IAFL1

UCD 53 – 0 Cork Admirals

UCD continued their fine start to the IAFL-1 year with a drubbing of the returning Admirals side. The UCD side tore Cork apart, with quarterback Dave Murphy having another great game, passing for three touchdowns and rushing for another himself. He found receivers Paul Geraghty, Samuel Holohan and Steve Culligan for the scores.

But it wasn’t all through the air as running backs Eoin Feely and Conor Hanrahan also found the end zone for scores, and went over 120 yards rushing between them, whilst credit must also be given to UCD’s O-Line, who have still yet to give up a sack on the year.

Safety Michael Ring showed that the defence has got the ability to score two, taking back not one but two picks to the house. Linebackers Larry Doyle, Colin Harper and Darragh Coughlan all asserted themselves on the game, finishing with over 20 tackles between them, with D Captain Doyle racking up 11 of those.

Hanrahan added the first successful PAT in UCD’s history and added four more throughout the game.

Cork gave a great account of themselves but lacked depth. An injury or two in the game, including to their starting quarterback, hurt their chances in this one but if they can regroup and work hard they can still shock this division. It’s not over for them after one game against an SBC-calibre side.

This article has been syndicated from Double Coverage and any opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of IAFA. Any references to non-IAFA websites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those websites.

This article has been syndicated from Double Coverage and any opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of IAFA. Any references to non-IAFA websites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those websites.

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Craigavon Cowboys vs. Belfast Trojans

The reigning champions retake the field after their winning start away to Carrickfergus Knights last weekend. Many expected a much greater win than their 13-28 triumph but nothing can be taken away from a solid Knights performance.

The Cowboys welcome their Northern Irish neighbours to Portadown with the hopes of putting in a performance of their own and upsetting the Belfast outfit. Could it be Craigavon, the last team to beat the Trojans way back in 2011, that is the squad to end the unbeaten run?

Doubtful. The Cowboys side have leaped forward this offseason, recruiting hard, developing their youth side and working on and off the field, but it’s just too early for the men in orange to take down their green counterparts.

The Cowboys have had a few guys leave for the Tyrone Titans, including impressive receiver Ryan Brolly, but plenty of talent remains. The Trojans will want to keep close tabs on young quarterback Conor Fearon and the multi-skilled, multi-positioned Peter Loughran, who can damage any team at any time.

Belfast will have the usual names lining up and should have enough in the locker to put plenty of points on the board. They’ll want to show the League that last week was just first game rustiness.

Dublin Rebels vs. UL Vikings

Last year’s Shamrock Bowl finalist Rebels take the field for the first time in 2014 to face off against old rivals, the UL Vikings.

The Vikes themselves will want to shake off a nightmare start as they stuttered to a 34-9 loss to Trinity College on opening day. They’re a new look side but have the vein of experience through the team to help them get over that speed bump and get their season back on the road.

They’re more than capable of taking the game to the Dublin side but the Rebels will be wanting to get off to a perfect start, to show the rest of the League that they’re here to win this year.

With a quarterback like Andrew Dennehy, who has been there and done it all before, a young receiving corps and the highly impressive Simon Mackey, who scored 13 touchdowns in 2013, lining up in the backfield, the Rebels will always be able to put points on the board.

But the Vikings have that capability too. This game could be a cracker if the Vikings bounce back as we know they can.

North Kildare Reapers vs. Waterford Wolves

Another rematch of a rivalry formed in the IAFL-1 last year. The teams both won a match each in the two fixtures they contested in 2013 so this one could go either way.

The Reapers have notably strengthened this year, adding several of the old Tullamore Phoenix players as well as recruiting hard.

Furthermore they have a strong coaching set up, with a lot of Irish League experience in the forms of HC Brendan McAleese and Special Teams Coordinator Kevin Sharkey whilst Coach Kees Groeneveld brings wealth of experience from years as a player in the Netherlands.

Waterford have strengthened too though, and pushed the Dublin Dragons hard last week, but ultimately succumbing to a 6-12 defeat. The Wolfpack will want to get their offence clicking in this game and get some points up. Quarterback Eoin Reinhardt did not finish the match last weekend, coming out with a knock, and it will be critical to get him back to fitness if they’re going to have success moving the ball this year.

This game will be an interesting one, which should show us some indication as to how these two IAFL-1 graduates will fare in the big boy Shamrock Bowl Conference season to come.

IAFL1

UCD vs. Cork Admirals

UCD got off to a flying start last weekend, dominating the Mullingar Minotaurs, and shutting them out, with a 26-0 victory. They’ll be looking to repeat that form in front of their own fans at Belfield against a Cork side that is somewhat of a mystery.

Reforming out of the ashes of the Admirals side that collapsed after one game last year, the Cork team have been quiet in their preseason preparations and online presence. This is eerily similar to last year, we just hope it’s with different results and they manage to solidify and complete the year.

UCD are coming off the back of stellar performances from quarterback David Murphy (3 passing TDs, one rushing TD), wide receiver Paul Geraghty (3 receiving TDs) and linebacker Colin Harper (double digit tackles, 2 sacks and a fumble recovery). But outside of individual stats, it was a solid team performance against the Minotaurs that the team will be looking to repeat again and again in 2014.

Please note, the time of this Sunday’s SBC fixture of the UL Vikings at the Dublin Rebels has been changed to 2pm.

This article has been syndicated from Double Coverage and any opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of IAFA. Any references to non-IAFA websites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those websites.

Last Sunday saw three games take place in the SBC and the opening fixture of the IAFL1 division.

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Carrickfergus Knights 13 – 28 Belfast Trojans

This wasn’t the blowout some people were expecting. In our article previewing the Belfast Trojans’ season, chairman Barry Keil predicted that the Knights opener was going to be tough and require a lot of work to get the win, and he was right!

The Carrickfergus team has clearly been proactive in its offseason, recruiting hard and getting a good number of new players, and the hard work paid off early. At the end of the first quarter the home team led 7-6, as Aaron McNaughton picked off a James McKelvey pass and took it to the house, counteracting an Alex Newton rushing score for the Trojans.

Shamrock Bowl MVP Neil Montgomery would help the Trojans regain the lead, running in a TD in the 2nd quarter before McKelvey linked up with receiver David Richardson for the 2-pt to take a 7-14 lead, but the Knights would hit back almost immediately. Paul McKillop, taking over from Head Coach Adam Devenney at quarterback, found wide-out Chris Ireland deep for the score. The PAT was blocked by Belfast.

The game was still tight late into the 3rd quarter with just a point in it, before McKelvey used his experience, and his offensive line, to rush one in. Alex Newton followed up with the 2-pt before McKelvey added another quarterback sneak for a score late in the game, giving the Trojans a 13-28 victory.

Trinity College Dublin 27 – 0 West Dublin Rhinos

The issues with putting points on the board are still seemingly haunting the Rhinos in what was a closer game than the scoreline suggests.

The Rhinos looked strong on defence for long periods, as we’ve come to expect of them, but in the end this dynamic Trinity side stretched the game, and the scoreline.

Running back Rob McDowell notched up his third and fourth touchdown of the season, with two rushing scores before Dan Finnamore continued his fine start to his Shamrock Bowl Conference career by finding receiver David Lunn for six points.

The Trinity defence got some glory too as Alex Gurnee scooped up a fumble for a score before a mix up on the Rhinos’ offence led to a safety, sealing the win for TCD.

The West Dublin side will want to bounce back from this loss as they head to Limerick to face the Vikings in a fortnight’s time but they must put points on the board to do so.

Meanwhile Trinity are really banging on the door of the top two teams in our Power Rankings with this victory. They’re proving early that they’re here to win, and impress doing so.

Waterford Wolves 6 – 12 Dublin Dragons

A rematch of the IAFL-1 fixture last year brought the same defensive battle we’ve come to expect from that division. The two sides cancelled each other out for long spells during this game but the Dragons made experience tell in the second quarter as running back Dave Edwards broke loose for the first score of the game.

And it would be defence that added the next score as Eoghan Whelan, Dragons’ cornerback, picked off the Wolves and took the ball to the house for another six.

The Waterford side would hit back almost immediately in front of their home fans as Ryan Byrne returned a kickoff all the way for a touchdown.

IAFL1

Mullingar Minotaurs 0 – 26 UCD

UCD made a flying start to their IAFL-1 campaign as they shutout the Mullingar Minotaurs at Harbour Fields.

Quarterback Colin O’Meara was a notable absentee, and work commitments could see him miss a lot of time this year, but his replacement Dave Murphy had a game to remember.

Linking up with receiver Paul Geraghty for three touchdowns and passing for 230 yards as well as running in a score and a 2-pt conversion himself, the quarterback set an early benchmark for the division to keep up with.

But the team looked more than solid on defence as well as linebacker Colin Harper had a standout game. With double digit tackles, a pair of sacks and a huge fumble recovery, the UCD man will be looking to repeat this form throughout the year.

The Minotaurs should again take heart from this win. UCD are off the back of an impressive year in the Shamrock Bowl Conference where they pushed UL all the way in the playoff Wildcards. They have the experience compared to Mullingar’s lone year of competitive football. But the team in purple will want to step up and get points on the board sooner rather than later this year. Look for a backlash as they head to Drogheda to face the Lightning in a fortnight’s time.

This article has been syndicated from Double Coverage and any opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of IAFA. Any references to non-IAFA websites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those websites.

Two weeks have almost passed since the curtain rose on the 2014 Irish American football season and it almost feels like we’ve had another off season! But now the year properly starts with four games for us to mull over. Without further ado-

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Belfast Trojans vs. Carrickfergus Knights

Well the reigning Champions get underway, heading to Carrickfergus to take on the Knights, and they’ll be giving the home side a difficult game.

The Belfast side haven’t suffered defeat in over two years now, and they won’t be keen to lose any time soon either. Head Coach Drew Mikhael will have his team ready for this game and they’ll no doubt be itching to rack up the points and shutouts once again.

The Knights are underdogs on paper. They suffered a preseason defeat to the Craigavon Cowboys, who finished below them in the division last year and feature below the Knights on our Power Rankings.

But as we all know these games aren’t played on paper. The Knights are a team that have been building year on year, forming the future in the hope of finding the success of years gone by. The strong youth set up the team has will aid them too in the future. The Carrickfergus team will be prepped and raring to go for this game and looking to prove what they can do. Whether it will be enough to stop the Trojans is another matter though.

Trinity College Dublin vs. West Dublin Rhinos

To say Trinity got off to a flying start would be an understatement as they knocked off the old SBC South dominant team, the UL Vikings, 34-9 at Santry just under a fortnight ago.

And now the 1&0 side host their city rivals, the West Dublin Rhinos. The strong defence of the Rhinos was tested last year, as the team endured a tough season and showed a lack of ability to put points on the board. But as the year went on the young offence grew stronger, with quarterback Jonny Northcutt growing in stature. The highlight of their year was no doubt the massive 7-6 upset of the Shamrock Bowl-bound Dublin Rebels and they’ll be looking to repeat those kind of feats several times this year.

This should be a great game. The likes of Dan Finnamore, Rob McDowell and the receiving corps of Trinity that managed to put 34 points on a tough defence of UL against a defence that can shut out any team on its day. That’s an exciting prospect on paper.

Waterford Wolves vs. Dublin Dragons

The two former IAFL-1 teams will battle it out in the hope of starting 2014 with a win. The Dragons came out on top in the only match up between the sides last year, winning 14-2, in a tight defensive battle of a game.

The Wolves will want revenge for that. Will the new American influence of Coach Robert Wills help the Wolves turn around the defeat?

The strong defence and run-heavy offence behind quarterback Aaron Walsh will have to be on the top of its game to topple the strength and experience on the Dublin side.

The Dragons have been prepping hard this offseason, including a worthwhile scrimmage with the Meath Bulldogs. They have a healthy mix of experience and youth and are building well on and off the field for the future. Their recruitment campaign and social events look to get people involved with the Lucan club.

This will no doubt be another low scoring, defensive game but a match that will be a good tell of where these teams are and what they can do in 2014.

IAFL-1

Mullingar Minotaurs vs. UCD

UCD make the drop after they forfeited a game in the Shamrock Bowl Conference last year, an unlucky ruling considering how close they pushed the UL Vikings in the playoffs and how much they have developed under the eye of Head Coach Eoin Cunningham.

Photo by Ash O’Flanagan – http://www.ashoflanagan.tumblr.com
That development will make them favourites for the IAFL-1 trophy this year, and they are number one in our Power Rankings as of now.

However it won’t be a walkover for the team. The IAFL-1 showed last year how competitive and close-run it could be, with every game a battle.

The Minotaurs were thick amongst those battles, pushing every team and scoring on everybody they played in their debut season.

With quarterback Conor Brennan, who was the joint top passing scorer in the IAFL-1 last year (an achievement that led him to the European Championships with the Irish flag team), the Minotaurs have a dangerous passing game.

But with the likes of quarterback Colin O’Meara and receiver Paul Geraghty, so too do UCD. They’ll be missing Tom Donovan for this game but they should be able to get by without him.

Double Coverage Predicts – The Minotaurs came on leaps and bounds last year and they’ll no doubt cause waves in a competitive division this year but this one has to go to UCD.

Three Shamrock Bowl Conference teams have moved home ground for the 2014 as each seeks to upgrade its home match facilities for the 2014 season.

• Shamrock Bowl Champions, Belfast Trojans have moved to Harlequins RFC in Belfast, which has previously hosted a Shamrock Bowl.
• Dublin Rebels have moved back to their southeast Dublin heartland and are playing their games at Seapoint Rugby Club.
• Craigavon Cowboys have moved to Chambers Park, home of Portadown Rugby Club.

Visiting fans and teams should ensure that they are familiar with transport links to these venues.

This article has been syndicated from Double Coverage and any opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of IAFA. Any references to non-IAFA websites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those websites.

Trinity College Dublin overcame the University of Limerick Vikings 34-9 in the Shamrock Bowl Conference opener at Santry.

In what was predicted to be a close game, the Vikings batch of young and inexperienced players could not match up to the strength of Trinity. The home side was good value for the win but the nerves and rust expected at the birth of a new season were on show for all to see.

Quarterback Dan Finnamore, making his competitive debut for the Dublin side, had a scorching game and set an early benchmark in the scoring charts, passing for three touchdowns in the match, more passing touchdowns than Trinity had in the whole of the 2013 campaign.

Two of those touchdowns went to wide receiver Daniel Murphy, who will no doubt now have his eye on more scores to help Trinity this year, whilst tight end Alex Gurnee reigned in the other.

But the game wasn’t all about the air game. Rob McDowell, making his return from the ACL injury he suffered last year, pounded in a score along the ground as well as scoring a sensational kick off return TD to start the second half. The running back will be looking to stay injury free this year and grab a few more scores before 2014 is done.

Trinity didn’t have it all their own way though. The first half ended 13-0 to the home side but UL threatened a comeback with a 20 yard rushing score from running back Gavin Duffy before Adrian Garvey forced a safety by the away defence.

But Trinity wouldn’t be denied and stretched the game, coming out 34-9 victors. The Dublin side take early control of the SBC South but it’s very, very early days and this Viking side should not be counted out. They have suffered upheaval but they have a strong core in the squad and a lot of young players to blood with experience. They’ll have a say in this division before year’s end for sure.

This article has been syndicated from Double Coverage and any opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of IAFA. Any references to non-IAFA websites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those websites.

To kick off our partnership with Double Coverage, we’re looking at the opening fixture of the Shamrock Bowl Conference this weekend to commence a Summer filled with three Leagues of Irish football and with it comes the increased coverage we’ve been promising from DC.  Going along with tradition, the first game of the Shamrock Bowl Conference is a university match up between the University of Limerick Vikings and Trinity College Dublin, taking place TCD Sports Ground this Sunday.

This should be a firecracker of an opening game. These sides met three times last year, with Trinity winning the battle 2-1. Victories of 0-20 and 22-10 surrounded a heartbreaking 13-12 loss for the Dublin side that went on to win the SBC South and head to the play-off semi-finals and compete in the Atlantic Cup.  And they have to be favourites for this game too. As well as playing at home they have strengthened the roster that finished last year with less than 20 players. Their main force has returned too, to add experience to the side. Rob McDowell is back from his ACL injury and the running back will be sure to be a key figure not only in the team but the League. In comes impressive young quarterback Dan Finnamore from the Drogheda Lightning whilst last year’s stand-in QB, Alex Gurnee, heads back to his original tight end position to add more weapons for Finnamore to use.  The highly impressive Andrew Redmond will be looking to command the defence and continue his streak of turnovers from the safety position.

But this isn’t going to be a walkover. With an offence that boasts Sean Goldrick, Paul Keane, Sean Sheehy, an impressive O-Line and Adrian Garvey, when he’s not terrorizing opposing offences from the defensive end position, the Vikings can score on any team.  Keane takes up the quarterback position left vacant by Marc Ashworth, and, whilst they’re big shoes to fill, the former wide receiver has plenty of weapons to help him out. Garvey will revert back to his running back position after a year on the defensive side of the ball and Goldrick, whilst he will play both ways, will always be a dangerous receiver.

Double Coverage currently ranks Trinity higher than the UL Vikings in our Power Rankings, but can the Limerick team change all that come this weekend? We could see an early shift in those rankings next week.  Will the UL side be able to bounce back from what will have been a disappointing season by their own high standards? Will they be able to get some kind of revenge on the Trinity team?  We’ll find out Sunday.

We are delighted to announce that for our 2014 season we are partnering with Double Coverage, the UK’s premier independent American football website, to provide weekly game reports for this season’s fixtures. Double Coverage started reporting on the 2013 IAFA season and built up a strong team of Irish writers and many dedicated followers. We’re really looking forward to working with Nathan and the Double Coverage team and to providing you with better coverage of the fixtures from our 19 teams around the country. You can find Double Coverage on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dblcoverage and on Twitter @dbl_coverage.

We are delighted to announce that American Sports Ireland (ASI) will be supplying the Irish American Football Association (IAFA) with the Wilson GST football as our game ball for the 2014 season. From today, these footballs can also be purchased at a reduced rate by IAFA teams for use in training; teams wishing to avail of this offer can contact ASI directly at +44-754-7292749. IAFA would like to welcome ASI on board and thanks them for their support in our upcoming season.

Fans and members of the public can also purchase these footballs directly from ASI at the details above.

IAFA members occupying certain positions, as follows, are now required to undergo Garda or PSNI vetting every 5 years:

• All coaches.
• All club committee members.
• All IAFA Board members.
• All persons with access to children.

All people in any of the above positions should apply to be vetted by 31st January next.

Any future appointees to positions which require vetting should apply to be vetted on appointment.

Michael Smith, is the IAFA Vetting Facility Contact Person. He can be contacted at vetting

Procedure for those living in the Garda area (Ireland, Republic of):

The IAFA is participating in the Federation of Irish Sport Access Garda Vetting Faciltiy scheme, which is endorsed by the Irish Sports Council. The FIS liaises with the Garda Central Vetting Unit on behalf of the IAFA.

After reading the guidelines  (link below), complete the Garda Vetting form (link also below) and submit it to the IAFA Vetting Facility Contact Person via your club. The original hardcopy of the form must be submitted – photocopies or electronic versions will not suffice. Cost is €10 per form (payable to Federation of Irish Sport).

Please note that you must be vetted specifically for American football as vetting applications are considered in terms of the specific role you occupy. Any existing vetting for any other reason e.g. your employment, will not suffice.

FIS_Garda_Vetting_Form

Guidelines for completing form

Procedure for those living in PSNI area (Northern Ireland):

In Northern Ireland, the AccessNI scheme applies.

Persons liable for vetting should, after liaising with their clubs Child Protection/Code of Ethics Officer, apply for a Basic Check by AccessNI – details on the following link:

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/accessni-criminal-record-checks

Your Disclosure Certificate should be forwarded to the IAFA Vetting Facility Contact Person via your clubs Child Protection/Code of Ethics Officer.

Be part of one if Ireland’s great sporting success stories.

We are now in 2014, which means that the new season is fast approaching. Before the end of this month, the majority of teams will be in pre-season training. 2013 fades into memory and teams become optimistic about their prospects for 2014.

The audit/application process has produced a record 19 teams who want to play competitive football in 2014. Dundalk, Galway, South Kildare and Tyrone will all be making their IAFL debuts alongside a reconstituted Cork Admirals. The only omission from 2013 is Tullamore, giving a net increase of 3 teams.

The divisional line-ups and schedules will be determined over the next couple of weeks following a Board meeting this weekend and league workshop on 11^th January. 2013 saw the introduction of two tiers of league football – the Shamrock Bowl Conference and IAFL-1. The introduction of a third tier – IAFL-2 is currently under consideration for 2014.

One of the great success stories of Irish sport and, indeed American football worldwide, has been the expansion of the sport in Ireland from 4 teams in the 2002 league season to the 18 we have today. No other competitive sport in Ireland has seen such phenomenal growth in such a short period of time.

For any young athlete wanting to take up the sport for the first time or any veteran eyeing a return to the gridiron, now is the perfect time to join your local team. You’ll get the benefit of a full pre-season of training, which should see you being able to take the field when your team kicks off it’s season in c. 3 months time. All teams welcome newcomers.

2014 Team Line-up and contact details:

Belfast Trojans:   trojans@americanfootball.ie

Carrickfergus Knights:  knights@americanfootball.ie

Cork Admirals: admirals@americanfootball.ie

Craigavon Cowboys:  cowboys@americanfootball.ie

Drogheda Lightning:  lightning@americanfootball.ie

Dublin Dragons:  dragons@americanfootball.ie

Dublin Rebels:  rebels@americanfootball.ie

Dundalk Mavericks: mavericks@americanfootball.ie

Galway Warriors:  warriors@americanfootball.ie

Meath Bulldogs:  bulldogs@americanfootball.ie

North Kildare Reapers:  reapers@americanfootball.ie

Mullingar Minotaurs:  minotaurs@americanfootball.ie

South Kildare Soldiers:  soldiers@americanfootball.ie

Trinity College Dublin:  trinity@americanfootball.ie

Tyrone Titans:  titans@americanfootball.ie

University College Dublin:  ucd@americanfootball.ie

UL Vikings:  vikings@americanfootball.ie

Waterford Wolves:  wolves@americanfootball.ie

West Dublin Rhinos:  rhinos@americanfootball.ie

The Irish American Football Association AGM took place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry yesterday. The AGM included elections at which three new Board members were appointed – Ciaran O’Sullivan, John Judge (re-elected) and Declan McNally.

The Board now consists of the following people:

Michael Smith (President).

Cillian Smith

Alan Orr

Matt Craig

Ciaran O’Sullivan

John Judge

Declan McNally

There are two remaining vacancies to fill – one external and another to be co-opted by the Board.