Shamrock Bowl Conference

Dublin Dragons vs. Dublin Rebels

It’s getting to what we call the business end of the season and yet there is still so much to fight for in the Shamrock Bowl Conference. The Dublin Rebels have sewn up a playoff spot but could still take the SBC North crown if they win out and the Belfast Trojans slip up against Carrickfergus in their final game of the year.

Meanwhile at the other end of the division, the Dragons SHOULD be safe from relegation with their win over Waterford meaning the Wolves would have to beat both the University of Limerick Vikings and the West Dublin Rhinos and hope that the Dragons lose their two remaining games in order to leapfrog them. Stranger things have happened but it’s an unlikely one. However the Dragons will certainly want to make sure they seal their own SBC safety with another win either against the Rebels or the Cowboys on the final day, or even better both!

The Dragons have the third worst defence in the League by points conceded, and the second worst offence, putting up just 31 points in their six games. However, it’s their first season back in the SBC after a big rebuild and many of their players are rookies or inexperienced, particularly at this level of play. They have excellent foundations to build on and a good coaching setup.

Waterford Wolves vs. University of Limerick Vikings

This is it for Waterford. They really could do with a result against the Vikes. They’re the only winless team remaining. The Dragons hold the Head to Head over them so look out of sight, the Cowboys have a much superior points difference and the Rhinos look improved so will be difficult to beat in the Wolves’ final game. If they’re to put their fate of survival back in their own hands, the team needs a win against UL.

But that’s much easier said than done. The Vikings are on a five win streak and are wrapping up their regular season here this weekend. They’ll want to do so with another victory and a resounding one at that to finish the year and head in to the playoffs on a high. With the third best offence and the second best defence in the SBC, watch out for the Vikings in the playoffs.

West Dublin Rhinos vs. Trinity College Dublin

Well the West Dublin Rhinos have certainly made things interesting. Their win over the North Kildare Reapers has given them an unlikely shot at the playoffs. They were then beating the Carrickfergus Knights 8-0 at half time when the game was unfortunately postponed due to an ambulance leaving and being unable to return. That game is apparently going to be finished, with a second half played starting with an 8-0 scoreline, with rumour stating the 13th July as the proposed date, though we still await confirmation from the League.

If the Rhinos were to sew up that win at the Knights and beat Waterford on the 6th July they could leap from relegation candidates to playoff competitors in just a few short weeks. Good on them!

But first Trinity stand in their way first. The highest scoring team in the League and the only remaining undefeated team, the students have rampaged through every side they’ve met this year, scoring no less than 18 points in a game (which was against the reigning champions, the Belfast Trojans, who still have the best defence in the League). Can anybody stop them?

TCD wrap up their regular season here and anything less than 8-0 will now be considered a massive disappointment. It will take a lot to stop them as they head into the playoffs as number one seeds.

IAFL-1

Drogheda Lightning vs. UCD

UCD have already wrapped up a place in the IAFL-1 Bowl game, having attained a 5-2 record which cannot be caught by two teams (due to Mullingar and Cork still having to play each other). They’ve been impressive this year, racking up a massive 210 points whilst conceding just 18, with their front 7 being dominant in almost every game, allowing the offence to play without massive pressure. Quarterback Dave Murphy has had a year to remember but will no doubt be looking to add to his 19 scores (5 rushing, 13 passing, 1 pick six).

Drogheda are still looking for their first win of the year, having limped through a campaign with injuries and loss of players. They have a young squad with plenty to build on but with an influx of other teams in the area (Dundalk, Meath and the Dublin teams not being a million miles away), it could be difficult to keep the roster together. However they’re a very proactive group and work hard to recruit and I’m sure we’ll see the Lightning around for a long time yet.

It’s going to be a tough game for the home side to pick up their first win, as UCD will be looking to round of their season in style and take the top of the division going in to the Bowl game.

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

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Craigavon Cowboys vs. 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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.