Trinity College Dublin @ Craigavon Cowboys
There was 1276 points scored in IAFL 1 this season, with over a third (34.4%) of those scored by Trinity College and league champions Craigavon Cowboys. Whilst their offenses have been setting the pace, their defenses have also had an almighty season as Trinity finished the regular season with the best defense (only 47 points conceded in eight games) and the Cowboys defense coming second, having conceded an average of 7.9 points a game. The last time these two teams met, Trinity came out on top 14-2 in the season opener.
It has been a great season for Trinity, having bounced back from being relegated from the SBC last year. They recorded six wins and two losses, however both their losses came in the last two games they played, losing out to the Eagles and Minotaurs. Trinity line captain Kevin Seery is hoping that recent form will be overturned this Sunday “We are very excited to get back on the field this weekend. This is playoff football, and we know our season hinges on this game. We aren’t expecting an easy game, playing away against the league leaders. We have a very young team this year so for a lot of the guys this will be their first taste of playoff football. We’ve made massive strides as a team over the season and we’re confident that if some of our rookies like WR Franklin Obiekwe and Lineman Oisin Fullham Smith step up and give their all then we can come away with the W.”
With the Cowboys beating the Minotaurs and the Eagles beating Trinity on a frantic final day of the regular season, the Cowboys saw themselves propel from third to first in the table, clinching the league and a home playoff game. The Cowboys carry the best form into the playoffs having won their last seven games, most recently beating the Minotaurs and Eagles. Cowboys head coach Greg Loughran is keen to avenge the early season defeat to Trinity and get his team to their third consecutive IAFL 1 Bowl game “It’s post season football again for the Cowboys and this time around it’s a clash with the only team to beat us in the 2019 season, Trinity College Dublin. We owe it to ourselves to win this game.”
Location: Peoples Park, Portadown
Kick Off: 2pm
