SHAMROCK BOWL XIX

Sunday 28th August 2005-2pm

Grafton Arena, Deramore Park, Belfast.

Dublin Rebels 26-19 Belfast Bulls

GAME REPORT & PICTURES

Scorers:
1st Quarter: DUB: Brian Dennehy 1yd run (6-0); DUB: Mark Smyth 10 yard fumble return (12-0).
2nd Quarter: DUB: Sam Hodgins 5yd run (18-0); BEL: Mark Helferty 15yd pass from James McKelvey, Eoghan Murphy 1xpt (18-7).
3rd Quarter: BEL: Erin Wagner 13yd run (18-13).
4th Quarter: BEL: Kris Donaghy 9yd pass from James McKelvey (18-19); DUB: Fearghal O’Donnchu 15yd pass from Andrew Dennehy, Brian Dennehy 2xpt (26-19).

The Dublin Rebels won Shamrock Bowl XIX by a score of 26-19 in a very exciting game played at the Grafton Arena in Belfast. The result of the game was not decided until the final play of the game when the Bulls were stopped on the Rebels 5 yard line. The game is one of the most memorable in Irish American football history and is the second consecutive Shamrock Bowl to be decided by a score inside the final two minutes. Both teams had periods of dominance in the game – the Rebels in the first quarter and early second quarter and the Bulls from late in the second quarter and the third quarter. Both teams seemed evenly matched in the final quarter.

Rebels running back Brian Dennehy (#88) finds a gap.

The Rebels got of to a good start by pinning the Bulls back on their own 5 yard line with the opening kick-off. The Rebels defense, led by Kenny Hudson and Al Kelly forced the Bulls to punt, giving the Rebels the ball at mid field. The Rebels marched downfield helped by some runs by Brian Dennehy and Sam Hodgins to give them a first and goal. Brian Dennehy then got the first touchdown of the game on a 1 yard run up the middle. The Rebels defense came up big on the Bulls next possession. On the first series after the ensuing kick-off, the Rebels got a major break when defensive end Paul Smyth, after getting a sack on preceding plays, recovered a Bulls fumble in the backfield and took it into the endzone for the Rebels second touchdown. The Rebels defense continued its dominance on the Bulls next possession. Defensive backs Marcus Naylor and Patrick Quinn prevented the Bulls from passing effectively. The Rebels forced the Bulls to punt. Late in the first quarter, the Rebels were faced with a crucial 4th and 1 on the Bulls 40 yard line. Quarterback Andrew Dennehy, who was having one of the best games of his career, got the necessary yardage to continue the drive on a quarterback sneak. Dennehy led the Rebels back into scoring range and rookie Sam Hodgins gave the Rebels an 18-0 lead with a 5 yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.

Rebels defense causes the Bulls to fumble in the first quarter.

As the second quarter progressed, the Bulls began to get into the game. Their offense began to move the ball and their defense, including Carl Ward, Mark Helferty and Andrew Neeson began to click. Mid way through the quarter, the Bulls were faced with a 4th down at mid field. They lined up in punt formation, but faked the punt. Running back Erin Wagner scrambled for 20 yard to give the Bulls a crucial first down on the Rebels 20 yard line. A couple of played later the Bulls scored their first touchdown on a 15 yard pass from James McKelvey who hit Mark Helferty in the corner of the endzone. Eoghan Murphy kicked the extra point. The Bulls defense stopped the Rebels on their ensuing drive and the score was 18-7 in favour of the Rebels at half time.

Fans watch the action from the stands at the Grafton Arena.

The third quarter seemed to belong to the Bulls. Mark McGrath and Erin Wagner seemed to be able to pick up yardage on the ground and quarterback James McKelvey seemed to have more time. The Bulls defense forced the Rebels to punt on their opening possession. However, the Rebels punter fumbled the snap and was tackled to give the Bulls the ball in good field position. McKelvey then put together a solid drive and the Bulls scored on a rumbling 13 yard run by Erin Wagner who broke a number of tackles to get into the endzone. Momentum continued with the Bulls when linebacker Chris Weir made an interception at half way on the Rebels next possession. The Bulls offense then drove downfield thanks to some runs by Wagner and a couple of passes and got into scoring range early in the fourth quarter. McKelvey then threw a swing pass to running back Kris Donaghy who took it into the endzone from 9 yard out to give the Bulls a narrow 19-18 lead with only 11 minutes remaining in the game.

Rebels QB Andrew Dennehy wins the Thomas Street Jewellers MVP Award.

The fourth quarter then became on of the most exciting in IAFL history as both teams made every effort to get the victory. The Rebels were forced to punt on their first possession of the quarter thanks to some excellent defensive play by the Bulls. The Bulls offence then drove to the Rebels 35 yard line, but was stopped by three good defensive plays by the Rebels defense. The Bulls then decided to try another fake punt, but turned the ball over when the runner was tackled without getting the necessary yards. Andrew Dennehy then put together the best drive of his career with passes to Simon Mackey and Brian Dennehy to get the Rebels to the Bulls 25 yard line with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Dennehy then threw an out to tight end Fearghal O’Donnchu who caught the ball on the 10 yard line. O’Donnchu went for the goal line and forced his way through two Bulls defenders, just managing to get the ball in the endzone while being tackled. Brian Dennehy got the two point conversion to give the Rebels a 26-19 lead with just a minute remaining. However the game was not yet quite over. After the kick-off, the Bulls started on their own 30 yard line with 49 seconds remaining in the game. A couple of runs by Erin Wagner and some passes got them a first and goal on the Rebels 6 yard line with only 14 seconds left on the clock. The Rebels defense then put together a goal line stand and the game ended when the Rebels defense tackled Erin Wagner as he attempted to run for a touchdown as time expired.

The win is the Rebels third consecutive Shamrock Bowl victory. Rebels quarterback Andrew Dennehy won the inaugural Thomas Street Jewellers MVP award mainly because of the way he directed the Rebels offense on each of their scoring drives. Shamrock Bowl day also featured Ireland’s first ever youth flag Championship which the Belfast Bulls youth team won against the Craigavon Titans.

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