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.

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

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Craigavon Cowboys vs. Trinity College Dublin

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

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

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

Dublin Dragons vs. North Kildare Reapers

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

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

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

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

Dublin Rebels vs. Waterford Wolves

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

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

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

IAFL-1

Meath Bulldogs vs. UCD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Trinity College Dublin 27 – 18 Carrickfergus Knights

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UL Vikings 22 – 7 West Dublin Rhinos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shamrock Bowl Conference

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

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

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

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

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

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

IAFL1

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

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

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

IAFL2

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

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

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

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

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Craigavon Cowboys 0 – 28 Belfast Trojans

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dublin Rebels 14 – 13 UL Vikings

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

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

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

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

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

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

North Kildare Reapers 13 – 0 Waterford Wolves

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

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

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

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

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

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

IAFL1

UCD 53 – 0 Cork Admirals

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

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

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

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

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

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