Shamrock Bowl Conference

Craigavon Cowboys vs. Carrickfergus Knights

Well, all of a sudden the playoff race has become a little bit interesting hasn’t it? With both these teams still in with a massive shout of reaching the post-season this should be an epic battle between two Northern rivals.

Meeting at Carrickfergus RFC just three weeks ago, the Knights ran out narrow 26-24 winners. Last year the teams shared the spoils, winning one game each in the two matches that they met. Could we see the same this year?

We are still awaiting to hear the decision about the called off game between the Knights and the West Dublin Rhinos, which was halted due to an ambulance having to leave and being unable to return. The Rhinos led 8-0 at the time and if that is called as a result the playoff picture changes dramatically, leaving Carrickfergus in a position where they could really do with a win in this one. [IAFA – further details on the result of this game will be released soon].

Both teams have experience, both teams have impressive youth set-ups to bleed youngsters into the senior team and both are strong, physical sides that do not give anything less than 100% throughout the entirety of their games. This one is going to be a cracker, and a difficult one to predict.

University of Limerick Vikings vs. North Kildare Reapers

The UL Vikings hit the field again, looking for their 5th straight victory, as they host the North Kildare Reapers, who they beat 0-49 in the reverse fixture just a few short weeks ago.

The Vikings have found their feet after a rocky start, with the offence, defence and special teams all firing on all cylinders, but they are still flying somewhat under the radar with the likes of Trinity, the Belfast Trojans and the Dublin Rebels all being touted as potential candidates to lift the Shamrock Bowl ahead of them. That won’t bother the team one bit, but the side does need to be respected in the same League as the three teams above them. Only two teams in the entire SBC have scored more points, whilst only one has conceded less.

Meanwhile the Reapers will be looking to guarantee at least a .500 season. Coming off back-to-back defeats, the team will want to turn their fortunes around and look to secure a playoff berth that looks increasingly unlikely after looking good a few weeks ago. The North Kildare team have taken steps forward this year following their IAFL-1 winning campaign in 2013, and at times have mixed it well with the big boys of the SBC. However, their three wins have come against fellow IAFL-1 graduates and if they truly want to succeed in the top tier they have to beat the other teams competing for post-season football.

This isn’t a knock. It’s the Reaper’s first SBC season and they’re one of the youngest clubs in the division. They have solid foundations to build on and, with patience and hard work, they’ll be a successful team for years to come, but maybe 2014 was a little premature for playoff aspirations.

IAFL-1

Cork Admirals vs. Drogheda Lightning

This IAFL-1 season has been another fantastic one! The unpredictability has made the division a pleasure to cover. Can we see another twist to it this weekend?

Cork have looked fantastic at home, but less so on their travels, succumbing to a 16-0 loss against the Mullingar Minotaurs last time out. So they’ll be happy to return to CIT and host the Drogheda Lightning who are still looking for their first win of the campaign.

With home field advantage, a high octane, pass-heavy offence and a defence that shut out Drogheda 0-6 last time these two met, back in May, it looks like the Admirals have the upper hand.

But the Lightning will not be rolling over. They’re a tough team that have gone through some rough times in the last two years, and look to come out on this side as a stronger unit. Adding to that, the team has some good talent too and it wouldn’t be too big of a shock to see another IAFL-1 upset here.

University College Dublin vs. Meath Bulldogs

The Bulldogs handed UCD their first defeat this year, holding out for a 2-0 win back in April, at a time when it looked like the students could grab hold of the division by the scruff of the neck and run undefeated.

Meath haven’t had it their own way though, since that victory. They’ve scored just 10 points in their 3 games and sit on a 1-2 record, struggling to put points on the board and grind games out as we came to expect of them from last year. Upheavals on the offensive side of the ball, on both coaching and playing rosters, has seen their production stutter at times, but the talent is still there. Can they put up some scores and do the double over UCD?

The home side have had no such issues with scoring, putting up a massive 166 points in their 6 games so far this year, with quarterback Dave Murphy leading both the passing and rushing scoring charts.

This one swings on the Meath defence. If they bring the fire and stop UCD’s high octane offence like they did last time then it could be a close game and potentially a Bulldog win. But if they cannot then it’s highly doubtful that the Meath offence will be able to keep up with UCD’s.

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.

On Friday 13^th June, the IAFA brought ‘Fun Football Fundamentals’ to St. Thomas Senior National School in Jobstown, Tallaght. Six groups, totalling over 100 children from 5^th and 6^th classes in the school participated during the day.

The fundamental topics were passing, catching and team work. Each session ended with a game of flag ‘ultimate’. Total inclusion and fun where the philosophies behind the day and all participants were presented with a certificate of participation.

 The IAFA would like to express its gratitude to the volunteer coaches who delivered the programme as well as the staff in St. Thomas SNS.

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Carrickfergus Knights vs. West Dublin Rhinos

The Carrickfergus Knights can get back to a .500 record with a win over the Rhinos, but it won’t be easy. The West Dublin side upset the North Kildare Reapers’ hopes of guaranteeing a .500 record in their rookie Shamrock Bowl Conference season last time out, and doing so again in this game could be catastrophic for the Knights’ hopes of hitting the playoffs in good form.

The Knights only just sneaked past a determined Craigavon team last time out, winning 26-24, but they demolished the Dragons in the game before that after making an 0-3 start against the top teams in the League. Expect them to want to make a statement in this game, particularly at home.

However the Rhinos are no pushovers. Their defence may not have been as solid and unwavering as it has been in recent years but it is still strong, and they’ve shown they can score, putting points (although not many) on the board in their last four games. It’s going to be a difficult game for them, but they’ll be sure to take a game to the Knights and have the potential to cause an upset here.

Dublin Rebels vs. Belfast Trojans

The game that everybody has one eye on as soon as the fixtures come out, this is a repeat match up of the Shamrock Bowl game from last year.

The Trojans sit at 5-1, whilst the Rebels are 5-0. The winner will sit alone atop the SBC North and hold the bragging rights until the next match up between the two teams.

Trinity have shown that the Belfast side can be beaten but are the Rebels up to the same task? The highest tally the Dubliners have put on any opponent this year is 26 points, and they have just one shutout, with both of these stats coming against the IAFL-1 graduates, the Dublin Dragons. Belfast meanwhile have put up bigger numbers on offence and shut three teams out, making them on paper the clear favourites.

It’s been well documented that neither of these teams have hit their best form during games this year, and that is only judging them on their own really high standards, but both teams are still amongst the favourites to appear in the Bowl game come the end of the year.

The Rebels took on American opponents last time out, with some of the Trojans playing as special guests amongst their ranks that day, but now it’s time for these to face each other and let battle commence between two of the best football establishments in Ireland.

Waterford Wolves vs. Trinity College Dublin

The students head south to Waterford to take on a Wolves side that is still hunting its first SBC win. TCD on the other hand are flying high. They’ve not been beaten in 6 games now, and they’ve put up some superb offensive numbers whilst doing it, whilst also ending Belfast’s unbeaten streak to lengthen their own.

Waterford have scored just 18 points in their 5 games, never exceeding 6 points in an individual match, whilst Trinity put up a massive 52 points in their last outing, against the North Kildare Reapers, with running back Rob McDowell grabbing a highly impressive 5 touchdowns of his own.

With their defensive woes and Trinity’s offensive prowess, this could get very messy very quickly for Waterford. But how often have we seen teams that have been dwelling in mediocrity step up suddenly when they play a team that is flying high? How often have we seen teams cause an upset when they’re so heavily favoured to lose? Could the Wolves do that here and throw themselves an SBC lifeline?

Probably not. The talent that TCD possess far outweighs that of Waterford. The Wolves are still a newborn team compared to Trinity and they should be proud of how far they have come in a short space of time but this is one step too far too quickly for the team.

IAFL-2

Galway Warriors vs. Dundalk Mavericks

The Galway Warriors are the only team in the IAFL-2 yet to put any points on the board, so look for them to desperately want to change that in this weekend’s match up with Dundalk.

The Mavericks have a long journey as they head to the beautiful West coast of Ireland, so what will await them when they get there?

Well the Warriors are a big, physical side. Reports from previous opponents have spoken highly of Galway’s willingness to rough it in the trenches, to match up to physical play with their own and to play power football.

But the Mavericks aren’t a side that have let teams come and play football on them either. They beat the South Kildare Soldiers with speed and finesse on well-drilled special teams plays and stood up well to Tyrone despite the defeat. So this should be a great game yet again between two developing teams!

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.

As the Shamrock Bowl Conference enters its final weeks, attention will soon turn to the play-offs. The play-off race looks very close and may even be decided by tiebreakers. This year sees the introduction of a new rule whereby only the top two teams in each subconference automatically qualifies for the play-offs, with the final two spots being ‘at large’ across both. This means that a 4^th placed team could possibly qualify if it has a better record that the 3^rd placed team in the other subconference.

The graphic above sets out how the process works.

As with previous years, the winners of SBC North and SBC South will get a bye through to the semi-finals. The 2^nd placed teams in SBC North and SBC South will host the wildcard games. This is where it gets interesting. The two teams with the next best record will qualify as the away teams in the wildcard match-ups. Obviously this will include at least one 3^rd placed team. In the event that this is two 3^rd placed teams, then each of these teams will face the 2^nd placed team in their own subconference. If we get 3^rd and 4^th placed teams from the same subconference, the 3^rd placed team will face the 2^nd placed team in their own subconference and the 4^th placed team will play away to the 2^nd placed team in the other subconference. An easy way to remember this is that 3^rd placed team(s) play 2^nd in the same subconference. 4^th placed teams (if any) play 2^nd in the other subconference.

It is likely that some play-off places, or even seeding within the play-offs, will be determined by tie-breakers, which are as follows:

1. Least number of forfeits given.

2. Head to Head least number of forfeits given.

3. Head to Head won/loss %.

4. Head to Head points difference.

5. Points difference in all games.

(forfeits count as 30-0 or 30-30).

6. Number of touchdowns scored.

7. Seeding based on­ position in previous season’s standings (cross divisional as follows: SBC, IAFL-1, IAFL-2). For clarification, seedings will be based on the teams’ regular season record from the previous season(s).

8. Drawn out of hat.

Normally forfeits are not an issue for play-off contenders, so where the teams concerned have played each other, the head to head tie-breakers will probably apply. This years new league structure throws up the possibility of teams who haven’t played each other being tied. In these cases, points difference in all league games will be used.  

Play-off Schedule:

July 20^th – Wildcard games.

July 27^th – Semi-Finals – double header at neutral venue.

August 10^th – Shamrock Bowl, Tallaght Stadium

IAFL1 & IAFL2

 The Championship games for both of these divisions will be played as a double header on 17^th August. The top two teams in the divisional standings will qualify.

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Belfast Trojans 35 – 0 Dublin Dragons

The Trojans got back to winning ways, scoring in all three phases of the game and shutting out the Dublin Dragons. The home team struggled to find rhythm at times on offence, picking up a few penalties that halted their movement but in the end they got the ball moving, and finished drives clinically when they needed to.

The points began racking up on just the second Dragons’ offensive drive, as Trojan pressure forced a safety.

Then Neil Montgomery, the MVP of the last two Shamrock Bowls, pounded in a hat trick of touchdowns, one following a brilliant, mazing David Richardson return that was ruled down at the half-yard line.

A Chris Mikhael pick six and a Matt Armstrong kickoff return for points made sure the Trojans took home the win and a solid scoring performance in all parts of the game.

Trinity College Dublin 52 – 21 North Kildare Reapers

Welcome to the Rob McDowell Show! The running back has positively lit up the League this year, scoring points for fun. He added another five touchdowns against the Reapers this past weekend to put clear space between him and the other backs on the scoring charts.

Quarterback Dan Finnamore added another two touchdowns to his impressive tally too, finding Stephen Alexander and Daniel Murphy for scores, whilst kicker Conor McGinn had a perfect game, hitting all 7 PATs and a field goal.

The North Kildare Reapers put up a good show, scoring more points on Trinity than any other team this year. Their rushing game was impressive with Sean Leamy adding to his haul this year whilst quarterback Eoin Hallissey and Damien Gillisean also added a score each with the former adding a PAT and the latter scoring a 2-pt.

IAFL-1

Mullingar Minotaurs 16 – 0 Cork Admirals

Well yet again the IAFL-1 and the Minotaurs prove to be unpredictable. The Cork Admirals have struggled with injuries, with quarterback Stephen Hayes playing hurt and Nick Coffi missing time, but that’s taking nothing away from what is a solid Minotaurs win.

We lauded about how the Mullingar team has transformed from a passing team to a rushing team to great effect this year but the damage in this game was done by quarterback Conor Brennan through the air, scoring the team’s first and second passing touchdowns of the year.

Brennan hit wide receiver Shane Walsh for both scores before kicker Jay Bruton rounded off the scoring with one successful PAT and a field goal.

IAFL-2

South Kildare Soldiers 0 – 20 Tyrone Titans

A vintage defensive performance from the Titans ensured that they stayed undefeated in the IAFL-2 division, taking their record to 3-0.

Rushing scores from Steven Harkness, Lee McLaughlin and quarterback Daniel Mullan rounded up the scoring, whilst five sacks and two forced fumbles ensured the defence had a fine day at the office too.

A long break for both teams now as the Titans host the Dundalk Mavericks and the Soldiers host the Galway Warriors, both on the 13th July.

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

Belfast Trojans vs. Dublin Dragons

I’ve never had to write this whilst covering the Irish Leagues for Double Coverage, but the Belfast Trojans will be attempting to bounce back from a loss last time out. That loss to Trinity was the first loss for quite a few members of the Trojan outfit and they will be desperate to prove a point to the League in this match-up.

That could spell lots of trouble to the Dublin Dragons. The team haven’t been bad this year. They’ve only picked up a lone win but they have shown ability on offence and tenacity on defence. They have laid the foundations for a secure future in the division.

Look for the Belfast Trojans to lay down a statement here though. They will still be amongst the favourites to win the Shamrock Bowl and with a shutdown defence and an offence that can score points from almost anywhere, it is understandable why they are favourites.

Trinity College Dublin vs. North Kildare Reapers

Trinity remain undefeated this year and have put in some superb performances in all phases of the game. The 18-0 win over Belfast underlines their ability to go all the way this year.

Dan Finnamore and Rob McDowell have lit up the Scoring Charts this year and top the passing and rushing charts respectively, whilst the defence has conceded the third least points in the entire Shamrock Bowl Conference.

The North Kildare Reapers have had an excellent first year in the Shamrock Bowl Conference. They missed out on the chance to secure at least a .500 record last time out as they suffered a disappointing loss to the West Dublin Rhinos. But let’s remember that the Rhinos are steeped in experience and the Reapers are in their rookie SBC year. They still have a good shot at reaching the playoffs, and that would be some achievement! But they have a tough run in to end the regular season, starting with TCD.

IAFL-1

Mullingar Minotaurs vs. Cork Admirals

This is an intriguing match-up. With the IAFL-1 proving itself to be as unpredictable as it was last year, there have been upsets all along the way.

Mullingar lost to UCD last time out, whereas the Admirals beat the same team in their last game. That tells a lot about where this game would go on paper, but as is repeatedly stated, the game is not played on paper.

The Minotaurs have a strong rushing game that could test the Cork outfit but the Admirals’ offence has talent and potential in abundance. Mullingar have a tendency to repeatedly stack the box on defence, and that could play straight into Cork’s hands.

IAFL-2

South Kildare Soldiers vs. Tyrone Titans

The Titans make the long journey south to face the Soldiers as the only undefeated team left in the IAFL-2.

The home team have scored just 8 points in their two games, whilst the away side have put up 56 in the same number of match-ups, signalling that the Tyrone outfit more than likely hold the upper hand in this game.

But the IAFL-2 is focussed squarely on the development of these teams and the result does not matter so much as the experience the players and coaches will gain from this. Both clubs have strong foundations to build on and a solid future in the sport if they continue to do so.

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

Carrickfergus Knights 26-24 Craigavon Cowboys

A fine battle of a game that saw the winning team change throughout saw the Carrickfergus team come up with a close win.

It would be the Cowboys that opened the scoring though, with running back John Murray scampering in for the score, before quarterback Peter Loughran hit his receiver Luis Alberto for the 2-pt.

The Cowboys’ defence then took centre stage with a couple of picks, from James Trouton and Loughran respectively, to close out the first quarter. The Knights offence would not be halted forever though, as Eoin Heatley scampered 90 yards for the score. Marty Caskey made light work of the PAT. The score remained 7-8 Cowboys at the half.

The Knights would take a 14-8 lead early in the 2nd half though, as quarterback Paul McKillop hit John Wayland for a short TD. But the lead wouldn’t last long as Cowboys’ all-rounder Loughran would run in a score, followed by a successful Mark Hill 2-pt rush.

Gareth Millar would retake the lead for the Carrickfergus team, though, and continue his fine year with another touchdown. This time the Knights went for the 2-pt but failed so led 20-16. That lead was then stretched as McKillop hit Caskey for a 33 yard catch and run.

The ‘Boys would ensure a tight finish though as Hill pounded in a score, followed by a Murray 2-pt, with a minute to go but the score would remain 26-24.

The match was marred by a few injuries, with Cowboys’ running back John Murray suffering what looked like a serious leg injury resulting in an ambulance run to hospital. All at Double Coverage wish John the speediest of recoveries.

North Kildare Reapers 9 – 12 West Dublin Rhinos

Well, we didn’t expect that. The West Dublin Rhinos come away from the on-form North Kildare Reapers with their first win of the season after hitting a successful PAT with less than a minute on the clock.

The West Dublin side would get the scoring started in the first quarter as quarterback Arun Mooney kept the ball himself for six points before Paul Hossford kicked the successful PAT.

A defensive battle ensued, and wouldn’t be broken until the 3rd quarter when North Kildare’s Sean Leamy continued his scoring streak by breaking into the end zone. The chance to tie the game was missed though, and the PAT was blocked and then returned by Rhino’s linebacker Adam Skelly, resulting in a 6-9 scoreline in favour of West Dublin.

Ciaran Heneghan did tie the score up with his next chance though, kicking a successful field goal.

Then began a cagey 4th quarter where defences would reign. However, with 21 seconds remaining on the clock, the Rhinos would go for the field goal, which Hossford slotted in for the 3 points and the 9-12 win.

UL Vikings 35-6 Waterford Wolves

The Vikings posted up another win as their run continues, whilst the Wolves suffered yet another defeat in the SBC.

It was the home team’s impressive defence that got the ball rolling as they scored on the first two Wolves’ offensive drives. Firstly, defensive tackle John Mullen caught a punt, which was blocked by Eoin Whelan, and returned the ball for six before Craig Switzer forced a fumble, scooped it and returned it 60 yards for another score. Adrian Garvey slotted both PATs away successfully.

The defence continued it’s fine form as defensive end Whelan would dive on another fumble, on Waterford’s 6 yard line. Veteran quarterback Marc Ashworth scuttled across the line himself for the touchdown before catching the 2-pt attempt thrown by Garvey.

Garvey would then scamper in for a score himself in the second quarter, but would miss the PAT. Ashworth would then hit receiver Alvaro Martinez, who had a fine game on offence and defence, for a huge gain before the quarterback again ran the ball in for 6. Garvey would round the score off for UL with a successful PAT.

The home team’s defence was the real star of the show though, with the D-Line particularly impressive, as Darren Gleeson picked up 2 sacks whilst game MVP Ian Cahill picked up a further 3, including one that would knock starting Wolves’ quarterback Eoin Reinhardt out of the game, in what was a brutal day for the Wolves’ offensive line.

There was one bright moment for the away side though, as backup quarterback Ryan Byrne found space and shot off for a 70-yard rushing score but the Vikings come away with a comfortable win.

IAFL-1

UCD 20-0 Mullingar Minotaurs

UCD went into the game with a banged up team of players that had to play both offence and defence but came away with another solid win.

The Minotaurs had trouble moving the ball the entire game and struggled to contain UCD quarterback Dave Murphy on defence. Murphy came into the game with an injured elbow but managed to break out a rushing touchdown, a rushing 2-pt, a passing score to Michael Sykes and a pick six when he was playing on defence, to continue what has been a stellar year for him.

Mullingar’s powerful run game stuttered, whilst their defence’s tendency to repeatedly stack the box was picked on by UCD today. They’ve had a decent year thus far and cannot allow this defeat to bog them down and stop them picking up more wins.

UCD meanwhile solidify their status at the top of the IAFL-1 and continue to fend off the challenge from Cork.

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.

The in-form UL Vikings took to the field against fellow South Conference challengers the Waterford Wolves on Sunday as they looked to cement their place in this years playoffs. The Vikings came off the back of a dominant performance against IAFL-1 graduates the North Kildare Reapers whilst the Wolves were still on the hunt for their first victory in the Shamrock Bowl Conference.

It wasn’t a great start by the Wolves as they went 14-0 behind in the early stages of the game. Failing on 3rd down, the Wolves opted to punt, only for it to be blocked and taken to the house by defensive tackle John Mullen. Early nerves began to settle in the ‘Wolfpack’ camp as on the next drive, Craig Switzer stripped the quarterback on a run play as he sprinted to the endzone to compound a poor start for the Wolves offence. Adrian Garvey converted both PAT’s as the Vikings took an early advantage.

Despite the offences struggles, Waterford’s defence was standing firm. The Vikings were beginning to work their way through the gears on offence, but the Wolves were able to deal with anything that was thrown at them. However, problems on offence caught up with the Wolves once again, as they lost possession on another fumble recovery, this time scooped by Eoin Whelan, deep in their own territory. Marc Ashworth sprinted in from 6 yards out, before receiving the 2pt conversion himself off a Garvey pass to extend the Vikings lead. Garvey also added a further score before the break as he finished off a strong rushing drive, to make the score 28-0 to Limerick after the failed PAT.

The Wolves entered the second period with the aim of improving upon their first half performance. However, their misfortunes continued as Quarterback, Eoin Reidhardt had to leave the field through injury, which will be a huge loss for the Waterford side. Despite this, stand in quarterback Ryan Byrne took the reigns and helped the Wolves get on the board as he ran from 80 yards to give them their only score of the game.

As the game entered the final quarter, the Wolves worked hard to keep the Vikings offence at bay, with the hope of giving their own offence a chance to get back into the game. Michael O’Coinn had a standout performance on defence, coming up with important stops time and time again. However, their efforts were duly undone as familiar mishaps on offence began to creep back in. After another fumble recovery inside the Wolves 20, the Vikings stretched their lead further as Ashworth ran in from 2 yards to complete his scoring for the day, with Garvey again converting the PAT, to give the Vikings a deserved 35-6 victory.

Since their opening season defeats, the Vikings have been dismantling teams with ease. They have strength across the team with all phases getting on the score sheet in this game and must be well fancied to finish the regular season with a (6-2) record based on current form. Their defence is solid, and put in another superb shift today with Darren Gleeson and Ian Cahill racking up 5 sacks between them, with the latter scoring the game-day MVP as awarded by the commentary crew.

Meanwhile, the Wolves tenure in the top flight is becoming increasingly threatened. Their fixture list has been challenging, but they have performed admirably thus far. However, their last game against the West Dublin Rhino’s could well be the relegation decider, and if quarterback, Eoin Reidhardt remains sidelined; their fight for survival could become a lot more difficult.

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.

US College team, the Centre College Colonels from Kentucy played IAFL team, Dublin Rebels in Seapoint Rugby Club earlier today. The Colonels won by a score of 90-0. The game was well supported by both IAFL fans and the large contingent who travelled from the USA. The game was organised to launch the Rebels permanent move to Seapoint RFC.

FULL REPORT TO FOLLOW SOON,

A bumper weekend of Irish ball this week! We have three Shamrock Bowl Conference games, an IAFL-1 match-up and the International Challenge Match between the Dublin Rebels and the Centre College Colonels from Kentucky, USA. So let’s get to it!

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Carrickfergus Knights vs. Craigavon Cowboys

This is a highly interesting match-up. The two teams actually met in a preseason match-up, with the Cowboys coming out on top, but the Knights have one of the largest squads in the Irish Leagues this year with thanks to a very proactive offseason recruiting and nurturing their youth squad. With the experience those new pick-ups will have acquired in the baptism of fire that has been Carrickfergus’ opening three games, this will be a very different side to the one that Craigavon faced before the year.

However the Cowboys will have adapted too, having had somewhat of a baptism of fire of their own. Their schedule has been tough, with four of their five games being against the top 3 teams in the SBC, with their fifth match being a comfortable win against the West Dublin Rhinos. The Cowboys’ youth set-up is probably the only one that can match the Knights’s youth development team, something that will set these two sides in good stead for years to come. And looking at some of the young talent now available in the senior side it is easy to see why.

Two things you can always guarantee with the Cowboys is that they will travel in good numbers and they will be physical throughout the entire game. They don’t know how to give up and that is something Carrickfergus will have to contend with on Sunday.

However the Knights proved in their last game, a 34-7 whupping of the Dublin Dragons, that they also continue firing right until the end of the game. So one thing is certain, these two will battle to the final whistle.

North Kildare Reapers vs. West Dublin Rhinos

The Reapers have had a fantastic season no doubt. A win here and they will guarantee at least a .500 record, which is impressive alone in a debut Shamrock Bowl Conference year, but factor in that it will more than likely see them head to the playoffs and it is an outstanding effort by all those involved at the club.

They’re coming off the back of that 68-0 destruction of the Waterford Wolves, where receiver Michael O’Reilly retired from the team in style, reigning in four touchdowns to finish his Reapers career at the top of the SBC Receiving Scoring Charts. The team still has an array of weapons including Ciaran Heneghan and Sean Leamy, who both also profited from a leaky Waterford defence last time out, and a quarterback in Eoin Hallissey who has the arm to get the job done.

The North Kildare team has one of the strongest coaching set ups in the entire League, and this combined with the team’s close-knit bond has seen them reap (sorry, had to be done) the rewards on the gridiron.

The West Dublin Rhinos are at the other end of the spectrum. They are a well organised side and well coached too, but they remain winless so far this year. Their offence has been low scoring for a number of years now but their defence has regularly been solid, often keeping teams to a score or two, and thus they have picked up wins in past seasons. In 2014 however they have struggled to score or defend, putting up just 5 points per game and conceding 23.5 on average.

They look to be relegation candidates along with the Waterford Wolves, and the two sides meet on the final game of the year in what could be the decider of who goes down. A drop in division may not be the worst thing for either of these sides, but talk of that is premature when there is still football to be played. The Rhinos will not give up for sure and will make the Reapers work hard for any spoils they are to take from this game.

UL Vikings vs. Waterford Wolves

The Wolves are another team that have limped through 2014. Injuries have piled up and left the squad down to the bare bones. So a travel to Limerick to face the red-hot Vikings is probably not going to help matters.

The Vikes have hit some form, and their rookies will have developed well because of it. Their two losses, against Trinity and the Dublin Rebels, probably came at the right time for team, in terms of getting them out of the way early in the year before hitting a streak of wins heading into the playoffs. They’re a team that will cause waves, and could quite easily mount a challenge for the Bowl.

With Marc Ashworth, Adrian Garvey and Sean Goldrick having been here and done it all before and a fine set of rookies such as tight end Jake Kelly, who has provided Ashworth with a reliable target in tough spots at times this year, the Vikings’ offence is in an excellent state.

But the defence has defined the team for a number of years now, and it’s been solid again with two shut outs in the last two games.

So what can the Wolves do to stop the Vikings?

Well keep quarterback Eoin Reinhardt upright. He’s been knocked out of a couple of games already this year and, like everybody, can not repeatedly sustain injuries. And then tackle hard but fair! Close the Vikings down quickly, which is easier said than done, and bring them to the floor the first time, something the Wolves struggled with against the Reapers.

IAFL-1

UCD vs. Mullingar Minotaurs

It’s been a good few weeks now since that impressive 8-0 win over the Meath Bulldogs for Mullingar so they’ve had time to prepare for a UCD side that lost to Cork last time out.

The Minotaurs have gone through somewhat of a transformation this year, going to a run heavy offence that is working wonders for the side. They are 2-1, which is already an improvement on last year and that is despite them not putting many points up on the board, showing that their defence is getting the job done when required to.

The only blip for the Minotaurs was the 26-0 shutout they suffered at the hands of this weekend’s opponents, UCD. The home side’s quarterback, Dave Murphy, managed to pick holes in the defence at will that day, and they’ll be keen to correct that this weekend.

UCD looked like they would rip the league apart in early season, with the 26-0 win before a 53-0 win against Cork, but a 2-0 defeat against Meath and the 8-6 loss against Cork has them at 3-2. However, their scoring says it all. They’ve put up 146 points in those five games and conceded just 10. Ridiculous numbers!

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Belfast Trojans 0 – 18 Trinity College Dublin

Wow.

Lots will be made around the League about the end of the Trojans’ 26-game unbeaten streak and yes, it’s a big deal, particularly that it was ended in Belfast. But let’s not forget, this Trinity side has become a powerhouse of its own, and they were fully deserving of the win. For now it’s TCD that stays undefeated in the League.

A vintage defensive performance by the away team saw Dylan Campbell and George Walsh, both playing their first games for the club, cause chaos from the line, whilst Conor Foley put in a stellar shift at corner back on his final game for the team.

However it would be League-leading rushing scorer, Rob McDowell who would steal the show with three breakaway scores, utilising his speed to find the end zone to increase his lead in the scoring charts and to ensure his team stayed without a loss.

The Trojans are not the type of team to go and sulk about this loss. They will take it on the chin, accept that they were beaten by the better side on the day and come back stronger and better because of it. Expect a backlash, and expect them still to go far in the playoffs. Every team has to suffer loss, it’s the way they bounce back that tells you how strong they are, and this Belfast side has an excellent attitude.

But what about Trinity? Can they go all the way? With exams out of the way and the squad still looking strong, of course they can, if they manage to keep everybody fit and playing beyond the end of the university term.

UL Vikings 37 – 0 Dublin Dragons

The UL Vikings continue their fine form with another shutout and a decent amount of points put on the board, but it could have been more had it not been for the amount of penalties the team gave up. Again the home side proved their defensive capabilities, keeping the Dragons without a first down until deep into the game, and repeatedly turning the ball over, with four interceptions on the day. Stand out performances from Blake Farber, Alex Indjeyan and Alvaro Carvajal Martinez (who took a pick to the house) ensured the Vikings held the Dragons pointless.

On offence penalties kept UL pegged back, in one instance bringing up a 1st and 47, but the Vikings continued to roll, with quarterback Marc Ashworth hitting Martinez for a 50-yard gain. The quarterback then finished the drive himself, with a 6-yard rush for a touchdown.

Ashworth, who had another fine game for the team, then found receiver Gavan Duffy for a 40-yard score before utility man Adrian Garvey found rookie tight end Jake Kelly for the successful 2-pt.

Veteran Vikes player Glen Carr then passed to Ashworth for the final touchdown of the day, the 30 yard completion catching the Dragons off guard.

A Dublin mistake led to them conceding a safety, whilst Garvey’s three successful PATs rounded off the scoring and increased the player’s lead at the top of the SBC Kicking Charts.

This UL Vikings team is flying somewhat under the radar due to the form of Trinity in the division. When the two sides met at the beginning of the year, the Vikes had a number of untested rookies, whilst the team was unlucky to lose in the dying seconds against the Dublin Rebels. The form they have been in since could spell that the side is ready for another excursion deep into the playoffs, and maybe even a Bowl appearance.

IAFL-1

Cork Admirals 8 – 6 UCD

Talk about a turnaround. When the Admirals started the year with a 53-0 loss to UCD, many feared the worst in the League. Will they be able to complete the season?

So when they beat Meath soundly, and followed it up with a win against Drogheda, people began to take note. They had a strong defence and the offence has serious talent, but surely a 53 point turnaround would be too much to ask in just a few weeks?

Granted UCD were coming in to the game weaker, missing 6 starters on defence and 3 offensive linemen, but they managed to get on the board first, with quarterback Dave Murphy running in for the score to add to his impressive tally this year.

But Cork managed to turn it around, with quarterback Stephen Hayes hitting receiver John Madden for the score, continuing their pass-heavy offence, before Hayes then found Josh Neil for the 2-pt.

The Admirals showed their prowess on defence too, with four picks in total. Ben Jenkins took his picks to 4 for the season, adding another 2 against UCD, whilst Brian Leonard and John Madden also got one each.

The Dublin Rebels have publically announced a prestigious International Challenge game against U.S. opposition to take place in Dublin next month. NCAA college football team, the Centre College Colonels, will visit Dublin in late May and play the Rebels at Seapoint Rugby Club on Saturday 31^st May.

 The Colonels, who hail from Kentucy, posted a 7-3 record in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) last season. They are coached by Andy Frye, and have an impressive 15-6 record over the past two seasons. Four members of the team were 1^st team All-Conference in the SAA. Ex-Colonels player, Jordan Gay was with the Carolina Panthers of the NFL in 2013 and recently signed with the New York Giants.

 The Rebels have been one of the elite teams in the IAFL over the past decade. They were Shamrock Bowl finalists in 2013 and have won the Championship six times since 2003. Led by veteran quarterback Andy Dennehy and featuring RB Simon Mackey and TE Paul Grogan, they are an unbeaten 2-0 in the SBC this season. The Rebels have very recently signed an agreement with Seapoint Rugby Club in Killiney for use of the facilities and this game will be used to publicise the Rebels permanent new home.

 A spokesman for the IAFA said, “The Rebels should be applauded for attracting this high profile game to Ireland. The victory by the IAFL U20 selection in last years Gathering Challenge has shown that Irish teams can compete with equivalent North American teams. Also, the success of The Gathering Bowl has clearly shown that domestic football can stage this type of event to a much higher standard than some of the external organisations who previously operated in this space. There is a lot of local interest in this type of fixture and we hope that this will be the first of many such events to take place in Ireland over the coming years.”

 The event, which is supported by HSS Hire and Harrys on the Green, will kick-off at 3pm on the 31^st May and admission is free of charge.

The Drogheda Lightning @ Meath Bulldogs game due to take place next Sunday is being rescheduled for later in the season. The new time/date will be be communicated shortly. Apologies for  any inconvenience.

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Craigavon Cowboys 6 – 18 Dublin Rebels

FULL GAME REPORT HERE

Waterford Wolves 0 – 68 North Kildare Reapers

Talk about a statement! We knew the Wolves were banged up, we knew they were going to struggle for the rest of the year but that’s taking nothing away from what is a stunning North Kildare performance in all phases of the game. If they were going to rally from the 49-0 loss against UL and prove to both themselves and the rest of the League that they are ready to play with the big boys in the SBC then this is the result they needed, and they got it with emphatic style.

Running back Sean Leamy started what would be a great day for him with a 29 yard rushing score, before quarterback Eoin Hallissey added one himself from a yard out.

Leamy would score his second and North Kildare’s third touchdown just before half time. Hallissey would then open up through the air, hitting wide receiver Ciaran Heneghan, who also kicked 4 PATs on the day, for a 45 yard score.

The running back Leamy would be at it again, running in from 30 yards out, before Michael O’Reilly scored his first of three on the day. Leamy grabbed his fourth and final rushing score of the day before Heneghan reigned in his second. O’Reilly would then round the day up with two receiving touchdowns from Hallissey for a combined 95 yards.

The Reapers’ offensive efforts in this game have proved that they can turn up the heat when they need to. They are going to cause some waves before the season is out and can, and probably will, have a big say in the playoff picture.

IAFL-1

Drogheda Lightning 0 – 6 Cork Admirals

FULL GAME REPORT HERE

IAFL-2

Galway Warriors 0 – 2 South Kildare Soldiers

A cagey, defensive battle of a game played in difficult conditions saw the South Kildare Soldiers walk away with the W, with a safety the only score of the match up. That moves the away side to 1-1 in the IAFL-2 whilst the Galway Warriors are still looking for both their first win and their first points of the year.

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.

It was a very damp and wet day at Portadown Rugby Club; perfect conditions for a hard-hitting football match as the Craigavon Cowboys (1-3) hosted the Dublin Rebels (4-0) in what would prove to be a close contest. This was a battle from start to finish, and one that could have gone either way.

The opening exchanges were dominated by heavy run plays by both oppositions, with the passing game succumbing to the typical Irish weather. The first half saw each team grind to make yards, but with both offences struggling, the ball was turned over on multiple occasions as fumbles and penalties began to halt any forward momentum.

With the constant turnover of possession, it was going to take a moment of skill to break the deadlock; up step Simon Mackey. One of the leading rushers so far this year, once Mackey came into the game the Rebels offence suddenly looked much more threatening. In the 2nd quarter, Rebels converted on 4th down to set up 1st and goal, which led to Mackey rushing in the first of his three touchdowns of the day, however they failed with the 2pt conversion. This only sparked the Cowboys into life however and as the first half drew to a close, Craigavon were unlucky not to convert themselves when they pinned the Rebels back within their own 10 yard line, but the Dubliners defence stood firm. Rebels led 6-0 at the interval.

The second half began very much like the first, with penalties once again damaging any effort from an offensive perspective. It was beginning to get cagey, both defences doing an excellent job in preventing any forward progression and it looked as if it would come down to whose defensive grip broke first. However, as we entered the 4th quarter, a huge drive by the Rebels gave them excellent field position inside the Cowboys 20, and after some strong patience by the offence, Mackey once again ran in from a yard out to grab his 2nd touchdown of the game. The Rebels extended their lead to 12-0 after the failed 2pt conversion.

It would be easy to say that this was a game of inches, as not to be outdone, the Cowboys fought back and their efforts were rewarded as Quarterback, Conor Fearon scrambled in from the goal line to close the gap to within 6 points. Although they failed with the extra points attempt, it was game on again! The Cowboys battled hard to find the breakthrough they needed to tie the game, but their efforts were duly undone as Mackey rounded off the scoring by rushing in his third of the day from 22 yards out. Again, the 2pt conversion failed as the score finished 18-6 to the Dubliners.

Despite not playing their best football, The Rebels continue to win. They are able to grind out victories and their positive results see them sit top of the North Conference momentarily, having played an extra game over the Trojans. Meanwhile, the Cowboys now go to (1-4) for the season, as their good form in big games is yet to reward them. However, the season could still end positively for the ‘Boys’ as with games against the Knights and Dragons still to come, there is still an outside chance the Cowboys could steal the last Wildcard spot.

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.

Cork Admirals took the long road north Sunday to take on Drogheda Lightning for the first time. Coming off the back of a good winning performance against Meath last time out Cork were in a buoyant mood. Drogheda were coming off a tough loss to UCD. However so far the league this season has been a case of any given Sunday.

Drogheda won the toss and elected to receive. At kickoff a light drizzle was falling but with light winds conditions were ok. Ads D started strong and held the Drogheda offense reasonable well. On the ensuing punt Nick Coffi made a great return to set up good starting field position. Two quick fire strikes to Coffi and Cullinan from QB Steve Hayes got the Ads into the redzone. However Ads became their own worst enemies with two false starts on offence. On two repeat third downs Admirals dropped balls in the end zone and going for it on 4th down hit the fingertips of Nick Coffi in corner of endzone but he could not haul it in.

Admirals defence held strong on next series and again pieced together a drive mostly through the air although one long carry by Coffi got Admirals into the endzone. Steve Hayes found Cullinan in the right corner to score. XP was missed to leave the score 6-0.
Over the next few series into the second both D’s controlled proceedings although both teams did threaten to break off some runs. Conditions were worsening with rain intensifying which made conditions greasy. Ads were able to string one drive together just before half time. Nick Coffi carried, fumbled, recovered the fumble and still broke off a 25 yard scramble to the 10. HT whistle went to leave it 6-0.

Admirals started quickly on opening of second half with quick outs to McAuliffe and Coffi. The drive ground to a half with a number of drops on catchable passes.

The rain was falling heavily at this stage and was to decide the rest of the proceedings. Both defenses were hitting hard as it turned into smashmouth football.

Harris Monagan was imperious at middle linebacker racking up nearly 20 tackles covering the proverbial every blade of grass. Admirals D-line were causing havoc also with a number of sacks and tackles for loss. Similarly Drogheda were also tackling in the back field and blunting Admirals running game. The collisions were ferocious with no quarter given by either team.

The teams swapped fumbles and interceptions and Drogheda nearly broke off a punt return to score save for a last ditch tackle from the ever present Monagan.

Into the fourth quarter Admirals started to get some success on the ground from Dowling and Donaldson and were able to move the chains. They saw out the last 5 minutes of the clock with hard direct carrying up the gut for an Admirals 6-0 victory.

Admirals now turn their attention to the return fixture against UCD next Sunday 25/05 at 2pm.

MVP on the Cork team without question goes to Harris Monagan.

Special mention to Coach Russell Kerley who was in the trenches all day for the Lightning.

Thanks to the Cork Admirals for submitting this game report

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Craigavon Cowboys vs. Dublin Rebels

The Craigavon Cowboys had a difficult start to the 2014 campaign with three losses to the top two teams in our Power Rankings before they managed to come away from Castleknock with a win against the West Dublin Rhinos last time out. Whilst that will release some pressure and have confidence high in the Craigavon camp, they are now heading back into the fire as they welcome a Dublin Rebels side looking to head back to the SBC North.

The home side will want to grind out another win here and further ease their relegation worries, but it will be easier said than done when facing an offence featuring a veteran quarterback like Andrew Dennehy and weapons such as Chris Purdy, Paul Grogan and Simon Mackey, amongst others.

The Rebels will be favourites for sure but this Cowboys team has a reputation of being hard working and never giving up. Could we see an upset?

Waterford Wolves vs. North Kildare Reapers

A rematch of a game from earlier in the season, this matchup is becoming quite the rivalry! It’s also a game that Waterford can’t afford to lose, if they’re going to avoid the dreaded relegation.

The Reapers won the earlier match, coming out 13-0 victors in North Kildare, but can they do so again? They have a large, talented roster and key off-season acquisitions have made them a stronger team. However they were knocked back down to earth somewhat last time out as they suffered a 49-0 loss to a UL Vikings side that clicked on the day. That isn’t to take away from the clear progress the Reapers have made though. Their coaches have the experience and their players have the talent to take this team far, and a playoff berth is not beyond their abilities.

The Wolves are suffering though. With a small squad and injuries on top of that the Waterford side are still awaiting their first win of the year. Can they do it in front of the crowds at the RSC? To do so they will have to do a better job of protecting quarterback Eoin Reinhardt, who has been knocked out of two of their three games thus far. Keep him upright and they have every chance of challenging the North Kildare Reapers and getting revenge, and potentially a W.

IAFL-1

Drogheda Lightning vs. Cork Admirals

Well this could be an intriguing match. The Drogheda Lightning are suffering with a small roster and are yet to win this season whilst the Cork Admirals are full of surprises, having turned round a 53-0 loss on opening day to UCD to win 20-8 against the Meath Bulldogs.

But that victory was at home. Can Cork travel well? It’s a long journey to Drogheda, and Cork’s squad isn’t the biggest. However their offence is full of talent, with quarterback Stephen Hayes, receiver Nick Coffi and running back Shane Cullinan all dangerous in terms of their ability to put points on the board. Their home form this year could be critical to their success but an away win or two would be sure to turn the doubters.

The Lightning however need a win. The loss against Mullingar on the opening day must have hurt but the 61-0 destruction by UCD will have them wanting a victory badly now. It’ll be difficult, made even more so as on-field general Mick O’Shea is banned for the game due to his ejection in the last match.

IAFL-2

Galway Warriors vs. South Kildare Soldiers

The South Kildare Soldiers make the long journey to Galway to play the first ever competitive game of American football in the city.

Both of these teams are 0-1, with the Warriors losing to the Tyrone Titans and the Soldiers missing out to the Dundalk Mavericks first time out.

The away side probably has the most experience, with the team taking several forms in a nomadic existence over the last few years, and with several of their players heavily involved with flag football and even representing Ireland in the European Flag Football Championships last Summer. Their Head Coach, Ken Farrell, has the experience too. Can he mastermind a first win for the South Kildare team?

It won’t be easy. The Warriors have talent and the guys to pick up a victory. Their offensive line in particular has some big guys on it, though a lack of numbers could see them tire quickly, as they did against the Tyrone Titans.

This should be a fine game, and one worth making the journey out to beautiful Galway to see.

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

Dublin Dragons 7 – 34 Carrickfergus Knights

The Carrickfergus Knights gave a stunning second half display to come from 7 points down to blitz the Dublin Dragons. With the scoreline 0-0 at half time, this one looked like it would be a close cagey affair, even as the Dragons took the lead through Wello Flash in the third quarter.

However, after a difficult opening month, the Carrickfergus Knights were not to be denied a win as they went on the rampage. In difficult conditions, the run game was prominent, with rushing scores from Gareth Millar, Eoin Heatly and Darren Montgomery racking up the points.

But the aerial attack also got in on the scoring, as quarterback Paul McKillop found free-scoring wide receiver Chris Ireland for his fourth touchdown of the year. And the defence wasn’t to be left out of the glory either as a pick six by Lee Boyd rounded off the scoring for the away side.

West Dublin Rhinos 6 – 19 Belfast Trojans

Difficult weather conditions made this game a ground and pound battle, one both sides managed to give a good account of themselves in.

The Trojans managed to run the Rhinos into the ground with the combination of Neil Montgomery and Peter Roberts doing the majority of the damage. But it was quarterback James McKelvey that opened the scoring, with a trademark run from short yardage.

A 90-yard drive followed, before Roberts would finish it emphatically with a touchdown.

The Trojans’ defence would get in on the scoring too, as former Jyväskylä Jaguars’ player Jon-Erik Talvio scored his first touchdown for the team, picking off Rhinos’ quarterback Arun Mooney and taking it back for the score.

The West Dublin side have had a difficult start to the year but holding the Trojans to just 19 points should give them heart, and they showed more by grabbing a late score, Mooney connecting with Dan Breslin in the end zone.

IAFL-1

Mullingar Minotaurs 8 – 0 Meath Bulldogs

Full game report here

IAFL-2

Dundalk Mavericks 7 – 20 Tyrone Titans

An excellent IAFL-2 match-up saw the Northern team come out on top away at Dundalk.

Tyrone quarterback Daniel Mullan continued his rich form for the team as he threw two more touchdowns, hitting Ryan Brolly and Ruairi Bradley for scores, two targets he passed to for six points in the Titans’ last outing.

The running game proved telling too, as Steven Harkness and Kyle McAneny pounded the ball for the away side, with McAneny putting the ball in the end zone for a touchdown to boot.

Matty Hagan scored for the home side, before the same player dispatched the PAT.

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 week in Double Coverage’s ‘What we know: IAFL1 Edition’ we suggested that the Minotaurs would be looking at the opposition in IAFL1 and quietly contemplating the famous Seattle Seahawks mantra ‘Why not us?’. The time for quiet contemplation is done.

The rain poured down and a sea of umbrellas swarmed the Harbour Field side line. (Expertly marked off with the beloved respect barrier, this being the same game that last year spawned the now constant of IAFA sidelines.) A field that doesn’t drain particularly well and a deluge from the Heavens indicated early that this was to be not going to be a high flying, fast paced game. Seasoned Referee Tony Rivers took charge and the Bulldogs won the toss. Electing to defer the option, Mullingar chose to kick off the game, favouring wind direction over possession.

Not a single pass was thrown in the 1st Quarter as both sides struggled with the terrain underfoot and the swirling gale running across the field. The Meath men’s opening drive was cut short after being stopped on 3rd and short and failing to illicit a jump offside on the ensuing punt. A healthy return set Mullingar up in great field position in the Bulldogs half of the field. Minotaurs running back Dermot Corroon showed no signs of being slowed down by the conditions and drove the Westmeath team deep into the Bulldogs Redzone. As so often before, the Bulldog defence held firm and forced a turnover on downs. So went the first quarter, all rushing attempts and neither team making the decisive break through.

The rain had subsided slightly at the opening of the 2nd Quarter but the period looked much the same as the first with both teams slugging it out in the trenches. Mullingar perhaps had the better of it defensively as the Bulldogs offensive continued its poor early season form. Following an excellent punt from the ever reliable John Brennan, Mullingar found themselves in the shadow of their own goal posts. Solid carries from Fullback Niall Corcoran and Dermot Carroon gave the home side some breathing space. Following a first down, Mullingar QB Niall Folan handed again to Carroon and some excellent blocking upfront sprung the elusive back to the second level where he found himself with one man to beat. Stuck in the mud the Bulldogs Safety Steve McDonnell, couldn’t get a hand near Carroon, as the Midland Express found a new gear and was gone, carrying the ball 75 yards for the score. Impressive blocking upfront by former Bulldog and Minotaurs left guard, Jo Coyne, opened a hole on the 2PAT for Niall Corcoran to waltz into the Endzone for 2 points. At half time the Minotuars led 8-0.

Some adjustments by Bulldogs Offensive Co-Ordinator and QB Eddie McMahon saw an improvement in the 3rd Quarter. Some added protection saw the veteran QB take to the air and threaten deep. The conditions still playing their part meant any kind of comeback would be difficult for the Bulldogs and after piecing together a drive to the Mullingar 25 yard line, the Bulldogs thought their prayers had been answered when WR Darryl Ratty was man handled attempting to reel in a pass. A flag thrown for Pass Interference and as the ball lay on the swampy field, indiscipline again cost the Bulldogs as a comment from the sideline and another flag for unsportsmanlike conduct wiped out any gain following the PI call. The Bulldogs most promising drive withered after that and an offence that has struggled all season long continued to do so.

The 4th Quarter was an exercise in time management for Mullingar and Folan kept his team moving and the clock ticking; even managing to catch out the Bulldogs Defence with 9 men in the box with a completed deep pass off play-action down the right side to WR Shane Walsh narrowly being kept out of the endzone. Mullingar were extremely efficient in their clock management and were able to kneel the game out after the two minute warning. There remained little enough white, orange, purple or black on the field at the end, with most wearing an unflattering shade of brown.

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

Dublin Dragons vs. Carrickfergus Knights

Well what a game this could be. The (1-2) Dragons host the (0-3) Carrickfergus team, and both are eager for a win. The Knights have had a tough start to the year, taking on the top 3 teams in our Power Rankings in their first three games and they’ve coped admirably, not shipping too many points whilst also scoring a few themselves. Now it’s time their season got back on track.

Does that start with the Dublin Dragons though? The home team will be desperate to grab a win to ease themselves away from the mire of relegation. They have a tough remaining season and will hope they can pick up at least one more win to ease the worries. Can the tough defence help power the Dragons to victory? Or will the Knights win this one?

West Dublin Rhinos vs. Belfast Trojans

Those Trojans take to the field once again, and again they will look to extend the unbeaten streak that leads back to 2011. They face off against the West Dublin Rhinos in Castleknock, a team that is in an almighty struggle to save their 2014 season and their SBC status.

The Rhinos are struggling with injuries for sure but their usual solid defence is shipping points and the offence is lacking firepower. But this is also the team that upset the Dublin Rebels last year. Can they pull off a bigger shock in 2014?

Doubtful. This Belfast side is rolling again. With names all over the scoring charts on offence and a defence that is disrupting teams for fun, the Trojans are the odds on favourites to win the Shamrock Bowl for a third consecutive year.

IAFL-1

Mullingar Minotaurs vs. Meath Bulldogs

The IAFL-1 is continuing its unpredictability in 2014! After UCD demolished Cork and then Meath beat UCD, we all expected the Bulldogs to demolish the Admirals. But that wasn’t the case as the Navan side went down 20-8 to Cork team.

The Bulldogs are struggling on offence. They weren’t putting massive numbers up in 2013 but with a rotation of staff, the attack isn’t providing the firepower required to firmly put teams away.

Their defence, however, is doing well. Shutting down UCD’s offence is no easy task, considering the same team has put up 140 points in their other three games. They should task themselves with shutting down the Minotaur’s run game.

Mullingar propped up the division a year ago. However, with a shake up, a new quarterback and a rush orientated offence, the Minotaurs have already won a game in 2014. However, can they face off against the trio of Meath, UCD and Cork? Are they at that level yet?

IAFL-2

Dundalk Mavericks vs. Tyrone Titans

The two 1-0 teams in the IAFL-2 face off in what is sure to be a cracker in Dundalk!

The Mavericks overcame the South Kildare Soldiers in the first game with two well drilled punt returns for touchdowns. Their special teams will be something to watch for the Titans.

The Tyrone side are probably the most experienced in the IAFL-2 with a smattering of ex-Cowboys throughout but the Mavericks have a whole host of old Drogheda Lightning players amongst their roster so look for this game to be more IAFL-1 standard.

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.

Earlier today, coaches from the Irish American Football Association introduced school children from the South Dublin County Council area to flag football. The event, run in the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght was part of the Sky Sports sponsored Living For Sport programme which runs in various cities around the UK and Ireland. Several Irish sporting bodies took part in the event in Tallaght.

Hundreds of local school children were given the opportunity to try flag football and receive instructions from IAFA coaches, Russell Kerley, Eoin O’Sullivan (both Drogheda) and Ken Farrell of the IAFA Schools Flag Programme.

The IAFA is currently recruiting a panel of schools flag coaches with a view to introducing the school flag football programme to the South Dublin area in the near future.

Three tiers of American football awaits in the Irish Leagues this weekend!

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Dublin Rebels vs. Dublin Dragons

The 3-0 Rebels host the 1-1 Dragons in a Dublin-derby that means a lot to both of these teams. The Dragons will be looking at the schedule ahead of them and keeping an eye on the other teams around them with apprehension. The year ahead is tough now, with a rematch against the Rebels, the Trojans and the Vikings still to go. The games against the Carrickfergus Knights and Craigavon Cowboys will be crucial. But first up they face the Rebels.

Last year’s Shamrock Bowl finalists will be looking to go 4-0 and take the top of the SBC North in the absence of a Belfast Trojan game this weekend. With the likes of Andrew Dennehy, Simon Mackey, Paul Grogan and a young but talented receiver corps on offence they should have more than enough to break down the Dragons’ defence. We’ve still not seen the Rebels hit what we’d consider to be their top gear yet but they’re 3-0 and that’s what counts.

West Dublin Rhinos vs. Craigavon Cowboys

Well what a game this could be. Both teams are without a win so whoever grabs it here could be looking for more than just a first W of the season but some comfort away from that feared relegation spot.

The Cowboys were demolished last time out by the Belfast Trojans, losing several of their players to injury, players that they’ll hope will be back to full fitness for this game.

The Rhinos are displaying their usual prominence on defence, having played two difficult games so far, against Trinity and the UL Vikings. However they’re displaying their usual difficulty on offence too, scoring just one touchdown in those two games. Should they put some points on the board in this game though, you’d have to fancy them to take the win with their defensive capabilities, but can they put the necessary points on the board?

IAFL-1

UCD vs. Drogheda Lightning

UCD suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat last time out, to the Meath Bulldogs, and will be eager to get back on to winning ways. The high powered offence that we saw in the first two games came to a stuttering stop but you should fully expect to see quarterback Dave Murphy and the receiving corps, including Paul Geraghty, who is having a great season thus far, putting points on the board in this one.

Drogheda had a difficult start to the year, going down 8-14 to the Mullingar Minotaurs at home in week one. They’ll want to put that result behind them and crack on with the season but it’s going to be difficult to topple UCD, especially away from home.

IAFL-2

Tyrone Titans vs. Galway Warriors

The first competitive games for two newbies! That’s an exciting prospect. I bet coaches and players on both sides are absolutely pumped for this match-up.

The Titans have experience throughout their squad, with the likes of Kyle McAneny and Ryan Brolly coming over from the Craigavon Cowboys whilst Galway have a big, strong squad.

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.

The annual search is on to celebrate and reward the dedication and commitment of the sporting volunteer. The endless enthusiasm of the volunteer allows children and adults to participate in sport at every level throughout their communities.

 Minister Michael Ring TD, Minister of State for Sport and Tourism recently launched the Volunteers in Sport Awards 2014 at the Aviva Stadium. The Minister was joined at the launch by John Treacy, CEO, Irish Sports Council, Olympic Gold Medallist and Chair of the Judging Panel Ronnie Delany, Fiona Coghlan, Captain, Irish Women’s Rugby team, Stephanie Roche, Peamount Utd and Republic of Ireland Women’s Football Team, Keith Fahey, St. Patrick’s Athletic and Republic of Ireland and Irish Olympic Boxer Darren O’Neill.

 An initiative of the Federation of Irish Sport in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council, the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport and The Community Foundation of Ireland, the Volunteers in Sport Awards are run to honour the work of volunteers in Irish sport.

The awards are designed to recognise the contribution of the 500,000 volunteers who give so generously of their time to sport every year. Sport remains the single biggest driver of voluntary activity in Ireland.

Ten winners will be selected to receive an award from the nominations received. An Overall or Lifetime award to honour a volunteer, who has consistently given of their time for a sport, a team, or an event over many years, will also be awarded. Full details of the scheme and how to enter can be found on line at

The deadline for nominations for the 2014 Volunteers in Irish Sport Awards is

 For further information, please contact:

Elaine Mooney, Federation of Irish Sport,

IAFA clubs are encouraged to nominate deserving volunteers in their organisation for these awards.

Follow us on:

12 noon, Friday 30^th May 2014. The awards will be presented to the winners at a ceremony in the Aviva Stadium in early Autumn.elaine.mooney@irishsport.ie Tel: 01 6251155https://twitter.com/volunteers2014www.volunteersinsport.com http://bit.ly/1g6lAgv

Well we’ve had a weekend off, and we hope all of you had an excellent Easter weekend. But now it’s back to business.

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Belfast Trojans vs. Craigavon Cowboys

The Belfast Trojans host their first home game of the season and face off against the Craigavon Cowboys, who they defeated 28-0 just four weeks ago. The reigning Champions haven’t destroyed their first two opponents, the Cowboys and the Carrickfergus Knights, as we’ve come to expect from them but they’ve been relatively comfortable in victory. With the ability to score from anywhere on the field, the Belfast team are still without a doubt the favourites for the 2014 Shamrock Bowl.

The Cowboys on the other hand are showing flashes of rejuvenating. They’ve had a torrid few years but with a strong youth team and young players mixed with experienced players in their senior side the Craigavon side is on the up. They should win a few games this year.

Carrickfergus Knights vs. Dublin Rebels

Well this game should tell us whereabouts everybody is in the SBC North. The Knights are currently 0-2 to the Rebels’ 2-0 but the Carrickfergus team have faced the current top team in each division, and given a good showing of themselves. The Rebels just about defeated the UL Vikings and didn’t decimate the Waterford Wolves as expected. However the team is strong and once they get on a run they could keep going straight to a second successive Bowl.

This should be a great game, a must-win for the Rebels if they’re to have any hope of upsetting the Trojans for the SBC North Championship and a must-win for the Knights if they’re to avoid going 0-3 and if they want to get their season on to winning ways.

North Kildare Reapers vs. UL Vikings

The Reapers get their first taste against an experienced SBC side as they host the UL Vikings, who have had a shaky start to the season but seem to have gotten back on track.

With a nightmare start with two losses, against Trinity and then the Rebels, the Vikings got back to winning ways against the West Dublin Rhinos. With the rest of their schedule made up with IAFL-1 graduates, the UL team have to feel confident about going 6-2.

The Reapers however, are no pushovers. They’ve shown they have a strong defence and some serious talent on offence. Can they upset the Vikings and going 3-0?

IAFL-1

Cork Admirals vs. Meath Bulldogs

The Bulldogs managed to upset the previously undefeated UCD team last time out, winning 2-0 in a defensive battle of a game, whilst Cork lost 53-0 to the same opposition. Is this one already written then? Of course not. No game is.

The Bulldogs have a strong defence, whilst the score from the UCD-Cork game was, by all accounts, flattering. Cork have a decent offence, and talent on defence, but suffered injuries in that game that allowed the score to run away from them. This will by no means be a walkover by Meath.

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.

Well, what a week! A game in the North was much closer than expected, whilst somewhat of an upset occurred in the IAFL-1. Just another week in the Irish American Football Leagues!

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Craigavon Cowboys 16 – 25 Trinity College Dublin

With a Double Coverage writer at this game, we bring you a full match report from this game HERE.

Dublin Dragons 12 – 21 North Kildare Reapers

In another IAFL-1 graduate game the Reapers travelled to Westmanstown to face off against the Dublin Dragons. Both would be looking to go 2 & 0, but it would be no easy feat for either side in a tightly contested match-up.

However the North Kildare side would come out fighting, their strong running game dominating the Dragons’ defense. Conor Hendrick would finish off two drives with scores, with Ciaran Heneghan kicking both PATs, to give the Reapers a 14-0 lead.

The Dragons wouldn’t go away though and bounced back with a Dave Edwards rushing score. The running back has been the team’s most consistent scorer the last two years and would add to his 2014 tally again before the day was out.

The North Kildare side wouldn’t be denied though, with quarterback Eoin Hallissey finding receiver Michael O’Reilly for six, before Heneghan again slotted in the PAT.

Edwards would manage a consolation score but the Reapers were ultimately good value for their 12-21 victory.

Dublin Rebels 22 – 6 Waterford Wolves

The Waterford Wolves took their rejuvenated squad North to face off against last year’s Shamrock Bowl finalists, the Dublin Rebels.

The home side wouldn’t disappoint the crowd at their new venue at Seapoint Rugby Club as they got off to a flyer, stopping the Waterford Wolves offence deep in their own half before a Wolves mixup on punt saw them concede a safety as the ball flew out the back of their own end zone.

The Rebels would capitalise, scoring a touchdown on the next drive, with veteran quarterback Andrew Dennehy finding reliable tight end Paul Grogan for six, before Ger O’Leary converted. It looked like it would be a long afternoon for the guys from Waterford.

But credit to the away side they dug deep and scored back, quarterback Eoin Reinhardt rushing one in, to make it 9-6. Unfortunately Reinhardt would be knocked out of the game shortly after, the second match out of three that he’s been forced off through injury.

In the second half the Dublin side clicked. Dennehy found Peter Keely for one score with the ever-reliable Simon Mackey, who terrorised Waterford throughout the day, rushing in another. They’ve not been the most prolific of teams in their two games thus far but the Rebels are undefeated. Meanwhile the Wolves are still looking for their first win, and looking at their remaining fixtures, it’s hard to see where that will come from.

IAFL-1

Meath Bulldogs 2 – 0 UCD

With a Double Coverage writer at this game we bring you the full match report HERE.

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.

UCD took their rampaging form to Navan on Sunday 13th of April. The Bulldogs were the last team to take to the field in Ireland’s second tier, with everyone else having completed at least one game.

An SBC play off team in 2013, the students have been wreaking havoc on IAFL1 teams in their two opening games. Dispatching Mullingar 26-0 and then crushing the reformed Cork Admirals 56-0. An offence on fire and an impregnable defence. These, most observers agree, are the ingredients of a Championship Season. Preseason predictions proffered that UCD should traverse the pitfalls of the IAFL1 with ease but all suggested that the Bulldogs would be their toughest opponents.

The Bulldogs have not been without turmoil in their offseason preparations, the loss of Offensive Co-Ordinator David Rothwell was keenly felt and a redesign of the offence, that showed signs of breaking out last year, is still in progress. The off season had it positives also, a strong recruiting campaign saw no less than eleven rookies dress for play on Sunday, with many topping the depth chart on offence and defence.

Winning the toss, UCD deferred the option to the second half and the Bulldogs elected to receive the opening kick off. Experienced Referee Michael Smith took charge of proceedings and following the kick off, the new look Bulldogs Offence took the field. Early signs weren’t good for the Bulldogs as the first snap was high and the second sailed over QB Eddie McMahon’s head. Pursued by both sides a treacherous bounce saw it arrive in the hands of the onrushing UCD defensive line. After only the second play from scrimmage UCD were within five yards of the Bulldogs goal line.

Newly installed Defensive Co-Ordinator Nickey Kennedy looked to his Defence to get the Bulldogs potentially disastrous start. Coach Kennedy’s first call was to unleash his Defensive End duo of Steve ‘Fink’ Power and Steve Connor. The two combined on the ensuing series for a tackle for a loss on the UCD running back, effecting two throws from UCD QB Dave Murphy which both landed in the dust and finally blocking UCD field goal attempt. On ominous start from the reunited pair following Powers return and move from Outside Backer to Defensive End.

It would not be the last hole the Bulldogs Defence needed to dig their team out of on the day. Again Bulldogs Offensive drives stalled and resulted in the Defence seeing the majority of the action in the 1st Quarter. QB Dave Murphy will count himself unlucky not to have linked up with at least one of his wide receivers in the End-Zone on the following two series as one pass fell perilously between the hands of the first open receiver and the second sailing over the the fingertips of towering receiver Paul Geraghty.

As time wore on in the 2nd Quarter, the Bulldogs Defenders imposed their will on the zone running UCD offence and Coach Cunningham directed his men to the air. Some excellent coverage by the Bulldogs latest brothers, rookies Kevin & Stephen Kinsella, saw Murphy deliver to the deep right side once again seeking Geraghty but Bulldogs Safety Francis Horan came under the route intercepting the pass and setting the Bulldogs up with good field position inside the UCD 40 yard line. The Bulldogs Offence reacted positively and after a series of runs by Pete McMahon found themselves threatening. Unfortunately indiscipline set in, a false start and an illegal formation penalty pushed the Bulldogs back out of the red-zone and towards midfield.

UCD’s impressive defence reacted to this pressure and denied the Bulldogs any further advance. Special Teams MVP in 2013, Punter John Brennan, pinned them deep inside their own ten with an expertly placed kick and the Bulldogs defence could smell blood in the water, as they took to the field as the 2nd quarter wound down. The addition of the Brothers Kinsella to the Bulldogs defence has been apparent to those in the know during the off season and on a windy but warm Sunday in Navan they made their presence felt as UCD tried escape the shadow of their own End-Zone. Combining for tackles on both 1st and 2nd down to pin UCD deep against the goal line, they demonstrated why they have become instant starters on an already impressive Bulldogs defence. 3rd and long to go Dave Murphy facing pressure up the middle from Bulldogs tackles, Shayne Kavanagh and Thomas O’Regan, rolled to his left. There he was met by Defensive End Steve Connor, he faltered and stalled. Steve ‘Fink’ Power, back with Bulldogs after missing the final four games in 2013, caught the scrambling QB bringing him down for the safety, in what would prove to be the decisive score of the day.

At half time the Bulldogs lead was 2-0. The second half saw the Bulldogs Offence begin to get some joy as the early holes on the line were patched and the penalties declined. A drive deep into UCD territory gave the defence a much needed break. With the Bulldogs offence threatening on the edge of the red-zone, QB Eddie McMahon went to rookie Receiver Darryl Ratty deep on the left side. Ratty went up to reel in what would be a certain touchdown only to be thwarted by excellent defensive back play as the UCD man undercut the Bulldogs Rookie securing the interception and landing in his own End-Zone. Ratty would end the day with 3 receptions and 21 yards on an impressive debut. The Bulldogs Defensive effort pushed UCD back once again. With their own goal posts looming and in a situation that felt all too familiar, QB Dave Murphy pulled a Tom Brady and punted on 3rd down alleviating the intense pressure and not presenting any opportunity for a second safety. The 3rd quarter wound down with similar efforts from both Defences stymying their opposing Offences.

In 2013 the 6 of the 8 Bulldogs games were decided by one score or less so a tight margin facing into the fourth quarter was nothing new to the Bulldogs and faith in themselves is never higher than when holding onto a lead. The UCD run game sprung to life, carving out hard yards between the tackles and they immediately threatened the Bulldogs End-Zone. Murphy sent a probing pass deep on the right side on 3rd down and it found only dust. A heavily repaired field after a tough winter, literally needed the dust to settle before the yellow flag could be seen sitting on the ground in the area of pass interference. The penalty would have put UCD on the Bulldogs four yard line with time expiring. Experienced Referee Michael Smith consulted with his Line Judge whose flag lay in the dust and joined by the back judge they held conference on the Bulldogs five yard line. For an eternity both teams watched and waited for Smith in his pristine white hat to emerge from the Conference. Finally the conference ended and the Referee, slowly and deliberately, picked up the flag, waved off the penalty and signalled 4th down. Ecstasy on the Bulldogs sideline, agony for UCD. The 4th down attempt would prove unsuccessful.

Eddie McMahon, now the Bulldogs Offensive Co-Ordinator, put his offence to the task of eroding the clock to secure the win. After a weaving run by McMahon and another excellent punt to the corner by John Brennan. UCD took to the field with only 1.17 remaining to them to save their perfect start. Again UCD hammered the ball and up field quickly putting themselves within range of the End-Zone. Time being a major factor and not being able to afford anymore rush attempts Dave Murphy went deep down the left side and found the waiting hands of Bulldogs Safety Francis Horan for his second Interception of the day and the game ending play. With no time outs left to them and only 49 seconds remaining, McMahon kneeled out the game and secured the Bulldogs first win of the season, their first ever on an opening day.

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.

I’m sure many predicted the South Conference leaders would come away with a comfortable victory, considering their hot form. However, their journey up to Craigavon could have very easily ended on a sour note, as the Cowboys put in a solid performance that threatened to derail Trinity’s 3 game unbeaten streak.

Despite coming away with a 25-16 victory, both sides struggled to take control of the early stages. Trinity did get the first points of the game, however, and went 6-0 up in the 1st quarter when quarterback Dan Finnamore found Stephen Alexander. The receiver tiptoed his way into the endzone for points, but they failed to convert the extra point.

The Cowboys’ offence soon began to establish itself with a very strong running game, proving to be difficult for the Trinity defence to deal with, with only penalties being a setback to the Cowboys efforts. Craigavon continued to gain positive yards and found themselves inside Trinity’s own 20. However, they failed to convert on 3rd down as Francis Shallow kicked a field goal, to bring the score to 6-3 at half time.

After the restart, Trinity scored again as Finnamore found receiver David Lunn, who broke a couple of tackles before sprinting to the endzone to complete a 75 yard passing touchdown. The PAT attempt was successful, Conor McGinn with the kick and Trinity extended their lead to 13-3.

However, the Cowboys were not to be outdone, first tackling the running back for a 5 yard loss and then following it up with a forced fumble, that would be recovered by the Cowboys inside Trinity’s own 15 yard line heading into the final quarter.

After a patient drive, the Cowboys’ pressure was rewarded with a touchdown when quarterback Conor Fearon snuck in on the goal line to shorten the gap to 13-9. However, Trinity came back on the offensive and despite their efforts, the Cowboys couldn’t contain running back Rob McDowell for much longer as he found space on the outside to run for a 35 yard touchdown. That made it 19-9 to Trinity after the failed PAT attempt. Although the lead was extended, the Cowboys refused to drop their heads and their efforts were rewarded when Conor Fearon found his receiver Christian Cowan, who reined in the catch for a 65-yard completion. The PAT was successful, with Shallow putting it over, and cut the score down to merely 3 points at 19-16.

McDowell put the nail in Craigavon’s coffin and finished off the scoring for Trinity, picking up his second touchdown from the goal line. Although the extra point effort was missed, Trinity came away with the 25-16 victory and their 4th win of the season.

Trinity proved that, although not playing to their usual high standards, they could still grind out wins. This should further secure their place at the helm of the South Conference. Despite suffering their second loss, the Cowboys should be proud of their efforts and were unfortunate not to have come away with something more. They are showing signs of improvement and are more than capable of picking up wins before the seasons end.

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.

Seapoint Rugby Club (Seapoint) and the Dublin Rebels American Football Club (The Rebels) have signed an agreement to allow the Rebels full access and use of Seapoint Killbogget Park Clubhouse, Pitches and facilities.

The agreement was made possible as the Rebels training sessions and matches days differ from those of Seapoint with the Rebels having the match days on Sunday while Seapoint AIL matches are on Saturday. Seapoint’s 3 fully floodlight pitches and training area, extensive gym facilities and clubhouse make this an ideal opportunity to share resources and increase the awareness of American Football in South County Dublin

The Rebels will also have full access to the clubhouse facility and again will fill gaps where the clubhouse is not well used on Sunday and Wednesday evenings. The Rebels are also committed to hosting a number of fund raising events in the club house. The agreement is for one year initially with the goal to extend it for a longer period assuming that it works well for both clubs. The goal will be to further integrate as much as possible if the first year goes well.

“We are very pleased with this agreement as it will ensure our facilities are more extensively used and will add to the diversity in Seapoint positioning us firmly as a community club” said John Power, President Seapoint Rugby Club. “The Dublin Rebels have been looking for a South Dublin base for many years. We are delighted to be able to call Seapoint Rugby Club our home and look forward to building a strong relationship with Seapoint in the coming years “ Said Michael Clarke, Dublin Rebels Development Officer.