Well, what a week! A game in the North was much closer than expected, whilst somewhat of an upset occurred in the IAFL-1. Just another week in the Irish American Football Leagues!
Shamrock Bowl Conference
Craigavon Cowboys 16 – 25 Trinity College Dublin
With a Double Coverage writer at this game, we bring you a full match report from this game HERE.
Dublin Dragons 12 – 21 North Kildare Reapers
In another IAFL-1 graduate game the Reapers travelled to Westmanstown to face off against the Dublin Dragons. Both would be looking to go 2 & 0, but it would be no easy feat for either side in a tightly contested match-up.
However the North Kildare side would come out fighting, their strong running game dominating the Dragons’ defense. Conor Hendrick would finish off two drives with scores, with Ciaran Heneghan kicking both PATs, to give the Reapers a 14-0 lead.
The Dragons wouldn’t go away though and bounced back with a Dave Edwards rushing score. The running back has been the team’s most consistent scorer the last two years and would add to his 2014 tally again before the day was out.
The North Kildare side wouldn’t be denied though, with quarterback Eoin Hallissey finding receiver Michael O’Reilly for six, before Heneghan again slotted in the PAT.
Edwards would manage a consolation score but the Reapers were ultimately good value for their 12-21 victory.
Dublin Rebels 22 – 6 Waterford Wolves
The Waterford Wolves took their rejuvenated squad North to face off against last year’s Shamrock Bowl finalists, the Dublin Rebels.
The home side wouldn’t disappoint the crowd at their new venue at Seapoint Rugby Club as they got off to a flyer, stopping the Waterford Wolves offence deep in their own half before a Wolves mixup on punt saw them concede a safety as the ball flew out the back of their own end zone.
The Rebels would capitalise, scoring a touchdown on the next drive, with veteran quarterback Andrew Dennehy finding reliable tight end Paul Grogan for six, before Ger O’Leary converted. It looked like it would be a long afternoon for the guys from Waterford.
But credit to the away side they dug deep and scored back, quarterback Eoin Reinhardt rushing one in, to make it 9-6. Unfortunately Reinhardt would be knocked out of the game shortly after, the second match out of three that he’s been forced off through injury.
In the second half the Dublin side clicked. Dennehy found Peter Keely for one score with the ever-reliable Simon Mackey, who terrorised Waterford throughout the day, rushing in another. They’ve not been the most prolific of teams in their two games thus far but the Rebels are undefeated. Meanwhile the Wolves are still looking for their first win, and looking at their remaining fixtures, it’s hard to see where that will come from.
IAFL-1
Meath Bulldogs 2 – 0 UCD
With a Double Coverage writer at this game we bring you the full match report HERE.
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