Craigavon Cowboys 24 Belfast Trojans 20
Possibly the most exciting game to be played in the Irish American Football Leagues 2010 season took place at Carrickfergus Rugby Club on Sunday 13th June.
As part of a double header, the Craigavon Cowboys played the Belfast Trojans in the early game, while Northern Division leaders, the Carrickfergus Knights, took on the Central Division second place team, the West Dublin Rhinos. The Trojans won the toss , deferred and kicked off to the Cowboys. Both teams initally struggled to move the ball, though the Trojans ground game looked strong against a normally dependable Cowboys defense.
It was late in the first quarter when points finally went onto the board. Cowboys Quarter Back #2 Chris “Motown” Bondi connected with a 20 yard pass to #33 Conal Walsh in the endzone, though the point after was blocked and the Cowboys were 6- 0 up. Midway through the second quarter and the Trojans were faced with a fourth and twenty at the Cowboys thirty yard line, Quarterback, #11, James kay connected with receiver # 7, Adrian Cassidy to make the first down and then ran the same play to score their first touchdown, again the point after was also blocked and the score was 6 a piece. As the half ended the Cowboys put a finley balanced drive together that ended with # 40 , Bobby Murray crashing into the endzone and a half time lead of 12 – 6.
Play resumed after the break and the Cowboys went straight into self destruct mode, giving away 45 yards in penalties and allowing the Trojans to score off the back of a broken play. Worse was to come when the Trojans scored two extra points to take a 14 – 12 lead. At the end of the third quarter, the Cowboys offense got going again and Bondi followed into the endzone, off the blocking of Centre,#63, Manny Bell and Guard, #79, Paul Braniff. to put the Cowboys 18 – 14 up.
With five minutes left in the game and the Trojans offense struggling to move the ball, a pass form the Trojans Quarterback bounced off the hands of two Cowboys defenders and into the hands of # 7. Adrian cassidy who ran unchallenged into the endzone to put the Trojans 20 – 18 up.
The Cowboys started with the ball on their own thirty five yard line and kept their drive alive with a number of amazing diving catches by #33, Conal Walsh. With the Cowboys offense fighting to get into field goal range, Walsh pulled in another diving catch to put the ball on the twenty yard line and then followed this up by catching for 6 points with less than a minute left in the game.
The Trojans started deep in their own half but were awarded a Pass Interference penalty to move to the half way mark and then a storming run by Trojans # 21, Johnathan McKenzie took the ball into the endzone but he was called back to the four yard line where he had been knocked out of bounds by Cornerback # 18 , Geard Gillen. With thirteen seconds left on the clock, the Trojans were able to get away two plays but both were broken up by Safety, #36, Martini Lach. The game ended 24 – 20 to the Cowboys.
The Superfry MVP trophy was awarded to # 33, Conal Walsh.
This moves the Cowboys to a four wins and three loses for the season and a showdown with the Trojans again on the 4th July.
The 4th July game will be part of the Lurgan 400 celebrations and will feature a “Festival of American Football” in Lurgan Park. The day starts with a DV8 game between the Carrickfergus Knights and the Tullamore Phoenix at 12 noon followed by the Trojans / Cowboys game at 2:30.
The Festival will also highlight the Cowboys Flag Football team , Cheerleaders, Music and a Barbeque.
