Belfast Bulls 2-44 Univ of Limerick Vikings

1st Quarter:

8-0 Vikings - Adrian Garvey 14 yard run (Adrian Garvey 2 point conversion)

16-0 Vikings - Chris Bassitt 1 yard run (Barry Carmody 2 point conversion)

2nd Quarter:

16-2 Bulls - Safety

24-2 Vikings - Glen Carr 1 yard pass from Chris Bassitt (Chris Bassitt 2 point conversion)

3rd Quarter:

31-2 Vikings - Seamus Hogan 41 yard run (Adrian Garvey 1 point conversion)

38-2 Vikings - Chris Bassitt 6 yard run (Adrian Garvey 1 point conversion)

4th Quarter:

44-2 Vikings - Adrian Garvey 18 yard run (2 point conversion failed)

Game Report:

On a rainy day at the University of Limerick sports grounds, the UL Vikings emerged Shamrock Bowl bound after a comprehensive victory against North Division champions Belfast Bulls.

The Vikings? defense came out of the gates fired up and forced the Bulls into a 3 and out on their first drive, shutting down the Belfast running game. The Vikings capitalised on excellent field position from the resulting punt return, and Adrian Garvey wasted no time in opening the scoring, finding his way to the endzone on a 14 yard run on their second offensive play.

The Bulls luck didn?t improve on their second series as Daniel Smith picked off a Mike Calo pass and returned it into Belfast territory once again.

After some good gains on the ground, quarterback Chris Bassitt scored on a QB sneak from a yard out to put the Vikings up by 16.

Belfast started to move the ball well in the second quarter, inspired by the running of quarterback Mike Calo, and were unlucky not to score as they were stopped on 4th down inside the Vikings 10 yard line.

They did get on the scoreboard soon after as running back Adrian Garvey was tackled inside his own endzone for a safety making the score 16-2.

The Bulls, now with some momentum, looked like getting on the board again, but as they were nearing the Vikings? redzone, Calo was picked off again, this time by Liam Ryan just before the 2 minute warning.

After a couple of Vikings runs, QB Bassitt hit receiver Marc Ashworth with a 57 yard pass down to take them down to the three yard line. Two plays later the Vikings were up 24-2 following a 1 yard pass from Bassitt to TE Glen Carr with 10 seconds left in the half.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with the Vikes getting on the scoreboard quickly, this time Seamus Hogan finding paydirt from 41 yards out making the score 31-2 and effectively ending the game as a contest.

With QB Mike Calo missing for the second half, the Bulls offense struggled. FB Gareth Millar gained good yards on the ground, but without an established passer, they were often forced into 3 and out situations, with no answer for the Vikings run defense.

The Vikings tacked on two more scores courtesy of Bassitt and game MVP Adrian Garvey to leave the final score Vikings 44 Bulls 2.

The Vikings now look forward to next week, where they face the Cork Admirals in Shamrock Bowl XXI. Both teams are looking for their first ever Shamrock Bowl victory, with undefeated UL slight favourites over a very physical Cork team, who defeated four time defending champions Dublin Rebels in their semi final.