Cork Admirals 3-20 Univ. Limerick Vikings

Scoring:
1st quarter - No Scoring
2nd quarter -
Vikings TD 11 yard pass from JP Nerbun to Seamus Hogan. 6-0
Vikings TD 7 yard pass from JP Nerbun to Seamus Feehan. 12-0
3rd quarter -
Vikings TD 11 yard pass from JP Nerbun to Glen Carr (2xpt - JP Nerbun to Glen Carr). 20-0
4th quarter -
Admirals FG. 20-3

In a gargantuan clash of southern titans, the Cork Admirals came to fortress Limerick on the back of several impressive victories in recent weeks, looking to extend their unbeaten run and gain revenge for last year’s Shamrock Bowl defeat.

With clear sunny skies over Limerick, the conditions couldn’t have been better for football. The heralded Cork Admirals offense took the field with good field position after the opening return, and had success moving the ball both on the ground and the air before finally being stopped deep in Vikings territory. Both teams traded possessions during the first quarter, with the defenses stamping their mark on the game.

It wasn’t until the 2nd quarter that the Vikings started to gain success on the ground. With a 30 yard run from Adrian Garvey and consistent moving of the chains from RBs Seamus Hogan and James Twomey, the Vikings moved the ball into the Admirals’ redzone. QB JP Nerbun hit RB Seamus Hogan on a pass into the flats and Hogan evaded Cork’s tacklers to find his way into the endzone to make it 6-0 Vikings.

Both teams had limited success on offense for the rest of the half. Alain Pezeron was able to move the chains several times for the Admirals but they never really looked like scoring before the half.

With the Vikings getting the ball back with less than 2 minutes to go in the half, penetrating runs from Seamus Hogan moved them down to the 7 yard line. With 30 seconds left in the half, Nerbun lasered a pass to uncovered receiver Seamus Feehan, who, like a leaping oncilla in the night, plucked the ball out of the air for his first TD of the season. 12-0 Vikings.

On the kick-off to start the second half, Vikings' returner Brendan McCarthy, returned the ball all the way back to the Cork Admirals 11 yard line. Two plays later JP Nerbun connected with TE Glen Carr in the flats, and Carr, like a runaway beer truck, bowled over the Admiral defenders to rumble into the endzone for another Vikings TD. The two hooked up again on the 2 point conversion to make it 20-0.

The Admirals took to the air on their next drive, with some great gains made by Cork TE #58. However, the drive was killed by penalties and the Vikings were let off the hook.

The Vikings defense adjusted to the Admirals passing game well, and Cork turned back to the run. With some good gains from Pezeron through the middle and O’Callaghan on sweeps, the Admirals moved into scoring range. However with less than two minutes left in the game, and 4th down in the Vikings redzone, the Admirals decided to kick a field goal to avoid a shut out. The kick made its way over the bar via the post, but despite getting on the scoreboard, it was clear that the Admirals had accepted defeat. After Seamus Feehan recovered the onside kick, the Vikings took a knee to finish out the game, and keep their three year unbeaten streak at home intact.

It was a great team performance from UL with good performances from QB JP Nerbun and all three Vikings running backs on offense, and DE Jim Davis led the Vikings’ stingy defense with a sack, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Cork’s best performers were Alain Pezeron at RB and TE/LB #58 on both sides of the ball.

The Vikings look like a force to be reckoned with, showing a much more balanced offense today than in their previous two games, and will not give up their Shamrock Bowl trophy lightly. All eyes will be on the return game in Cork in three weeks time, where the two powerhouse programs will lock horns once again.