Carrickfergus Knights vs Dublin Rebels Sunday June 20th, Sportslink, Santry
The Carrickfergus Knights traveled to Dublin in perfect conditions to face their historic rivals: Dublin Rebels. A rivalry older than some of the teams’ rookies, this matchup had been highlighted on the calendar of each team since the start of the season; and once things were underway in this battle for the IAFL league title, they didn’t disappoint. Kevin Finnegan returned the opening kick-off fifty yards and set the Rebels up with an early upper hand. Though they struggled to finish drives and committed some costly turnovers, the early advantage was ominous.
The Dubliners kept their noses in front throughout and comfortably secured the league title and No.1 seed through the playoffs with a 28-13 win over the visiting Knights. RB Aaron Smith carried the load early on, picking up a number of first downs behind his quintet of incessantly incensed hogs on the offensive line. Inside the redzone, it was this fire that ultimately undid their good work, as penalties kept the drive from bearing points. It wasn’t until early in the second quarter that the deadlock was broken. QB Andy Dennehy hit WR Barry Flinn near the sideline and the possession receiver unexpectedly discovered some YAC, staying in bounds and shaking a tackle to cross the goal line. On defense, the Rebels’ aggression pinned the Knights to their line of scrimmage, forcing them to feed off occasional big plays from WR Paul McKillop and RB Chris Carson. Early on, it wasn’t enough to recover the deficit, and it was the Rebels who would score next. After a pair of deep completions to TE Paul Grogan, and in spite of Grogan handing fifteen yards back for a shameful taunt, Dennehy again looked for Flinn in the corner of the endzone. CB Chris Davidson was judged to have interfered with the receiver, though he had reason to feel hard done by. On the ensuing play, Smith ploughed over the goal line to make it a two score game.
The Knights didn’t lie down though, and pulled a score back before the half following an acrobatic interception from LB Spencer McDowell who returned it to the Rebels 4 yard line. It didn’t take the Knights O long to capitalise on the somewhat startled Rebels D, who were tasked with defending their own goalline moments after leaving the field. With one of last years IAFL most valuable player nominees in the backfield the Knights had reason to be confident when they handed the ball to Carson, and he didn’t disappoint. The Knights O-Line created a perfect running lane and then some for the workhorse to shimmy through to the endzone. The point after was incomplete. The Rebels then had time to attempt to claw back a score before the half but were denied by the clock. Score at the half: 13-6 Rebels.
Receiving the ball to start the second half was perfect in the eyes of the Knights. Riding the wave of momentum generated by the late first-half TD, the Knights received the kickoff and set out to break the back of the IAFL Central champions. Seasoned quarterback Adam Devenney came out passing, throwing a series of probing balls that attacked a demoralized Rebels’ defense. While he had some success on the opening drive, Devenney sailed too close to the wind against a defense that prides itself on generating turnovers. Safety Brian Carter jumped a Devenney pass down the visitors’ sideline, gaining possession at the half-way line and skating through the chaos to take it to the house for six. On the PAT attempt, quick-witted and honey-voiced holder Paul Grogan turned a fumbled snap into two points when he gathered the ball and sprinted to the front pylon. 21-6 to the home side.
Another Knights interception, this time from Davidson, stopped the Rebels from going out of sight, and a QB sneak run from Devenney kept them within one score going into the final quarter. With Smith continuing to churn out yards on the ground and the Knights giving up short completions underneath, the final score was a long time coming, with Dennehy again finding Flinn on the outside to put the game out of reach. 28-13 to the Rebels. Launching their final attack, Devenney became the latest triggerman to lead a receiver into the precarious terrain of Keegan Island; the cornerback’s interception seemingly putting an end to any comeback hopes. The Rebels offence attempted to run the clock down, with workhorse Aaron Smith again plunging forward into the heart of the Knights defense.
The Carrickfergus defense rallied once again, forcing a punt to give the Knights one last chance to claim the No 1 seed and 2010 league title. It was however the formidable Rebels defence that had the last laugh, as they forced the Knights to punt after a three and out. As the ball hung in the still summer air, lazily drifting to the sideline, the game clock finally struck home and two battered and beaten sides were finally excused from battle. With this victory, the Rebels improve to 7-0 and have secured the No 1 seed for the playoffs and the league title for a fifth year in a row. Both teams will now look to the semi-finals and their potential matchups. The Rebels will first have to survive a resurgent Rhinos team, who will be fighting for their playoff lives when the sides meet on the 4th of July in what is sure to be another hard-fought battle in the closing weeks of the IAFL regular season.