DUBLIN CITY MARSHALS 45-41 DUBLIN CITY UNIV SAINTS

Venue: ALSAA, Dublin Airport.

Scorers:
1st Quarter: DCU: David McMahon 29yd run (0-6); DCM: Darien Bell 65yd run + Jess Palmer 1zpt (7-6); DCM: Darien Bell 49yd pass from Seth Larson + Palmer 2xpt (15-6); DCU: Willie Coyne 90 yd kick off return + Declan O’Donoghue 1xpt (15-13); DCM: Jess Palmer 80yd int return (21-13).
2nd Quarter: DCM: Jess Palmer 41yd pass from Seth Larson (27-13); DCM: Steven Travers 36yd pass from Larson, Mark Davey 2xpt (35-13).
3rd Quarter: DCU: David McMahon 14yd run (35-19): DCM: Defensive safety (37-19); DCM: Mark Davey 27yd pass from Larson + 2xpt (45-19); DCU: David McMahon 23yd run + 2xpt (45-17).
4th Quarter: DCU: David McMahon 7yd run + Conor Buggle 2xpt (45-35); DCU: Conor Buggle 21yd run (45-41).

The Dublin City Marshals and DCU Saints, the IAFL’s two newcomers, served up a spectacular offensive game to spectators at ALSAA today. Both teams scored 6 touchdowns each, 5 of which were scored in the first quarter alone. The top performers for each side included Marshal’s receivers Darien Bell and Jess Palmer who each scored 2 touchdowns and Saints running back David McMahon who scored 4 rushing touchdowns. Each of these players was playing their first ever IAFL game.

Saints Willie Coyne (#21) heads for the endzone.

The Saints scored first through a 29 yard run from McMahon early in the first quarter, but it was the Marshals who had the best of the first half. Darien Bell replied to the DCU score by taking a handoff from quarterback Seth Larson and taking it 65 yards to the endzone for a breakaway score. After stopping the Saints on their next drive, Bell quickly got on the scoreboard again by breaking free and catching a 49 yard touchdown pass from Larson. DCU replied immediately when kick returner Willie Coyne caught the ensuing kick-off and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown. After stopping the Marshals on their next possession, the Saints threw and interception which Jess Palmer, also playing safety returned 80 yards for a Marshals touchdown. The Marshals seemed to dominate the second quarter, with defenders Jason Havens and John Collins shutting down the Saints running game. Their offense remained in full swing with Seth Larson throwing two more touchdown passes – a 41 yarder to Jess Palmer and a 36 yarder to Steven Travers to give the Marshals what seemed like a comfortable 35-13 lead at half-time.

DCU picked up the pace on offense in the second half with McMahon and quarterback Conor Buggle managing to move their offense more effectively. The Saints scored early in a third quarter thanks to a 14 yard run by McMahon. On the Saints next drive, the Marshals pinned them back on their own goal line with a punt then scored a defensive safety by tackling the Saints in their own endzone. The Marshals offense then capitalised on the good play of their defense by putting together another scoring drive after receiving the free kick after safety. Davey scored on a 27 yard pass from Larson and the conversion gave the Marshals a 26 point lead with just over a quarter left to play. However, the Saints slowly crawled back into the game as their defense, led by Darrin O’Toole and Neil Callanan figured out how to stall the Marshals potent offense. Running back David McMahon scored two rushing touchdowns to bring the Saints back in range of the Marshals. With only 1:19 left to play, quarterback Buggle scored on a 21 yard scramble to make it a one score game. The Saints attempted an on-side kick, but it was recovered by the Marshals. Darien Bell capped a fine first day out in the IAFL with a crucial first down reception which enabled the Marshals to run out the remaining time and win their debut game in the league.

UNIV. LIMERICK VIKINGS 6-6 DUBLIN DRAGONS

Venue: Lucan Community College, Dublin.

Scorers:
1st Quarter: DUB: John Durrad 7yd run (0-6).
2nd Quarter: No scoring.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: Chris Bassitt 1yd run (6-6).

In contrast to the game at ALSAA, the Vikings – Dragons game was a defensive stuggle with neither team being able to move the ball effectively, particularly through the air. Liam Ryan and Liam Hayes were among the big hitters for the Vikings defense and Lez Connolly and Nick Newby helped the Dragons defense play its best game for a while. The Dragons new run orientated offense scored first when quarterback John Durrad carried the ball into the endzone from 7 yards out as time expired in the opening quarter. Their was no scoring for the majority of the rest of the game and it looked like the Dragons would win until the Vikings managed to put together one last drive and Chris Bassitt scored a short yardage touchdown to draw them level with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game.