Craigavon Cowboys @ Belfast Trojans
Malone Rugby Club, Belfast. 2pm
This Sunday the IAFL embarks on its post season. Every game is a winner takes all match up. Regular Season formbooks go out the window. Other factors become key to success as each team fights its way towards the Shamrock Bowl and tries to get their muddy & bloody hands on Irish Football’s Holy Grail.
The Knock Out match is the IAFL Wild Card Game which pits the 4 – 4 Craigavon Cowboys against the 6 – 2 Belfast Trojans. At stake is a Semi-Final slot against the league’s top seeded U.L.Vikings. This is a real treat for football fans here in Ireland. The Northern Division has been the shining light of the IAFL 2011 season and these teams have fought their way to this game, giving us one more top class contest to enjoy!
This year has been a spectacular success for both teams. The Belfast Trojans have beaten the reigning champion Dublin Rebels & their divisional rivals Carrickfergus Knights on their way to a 6 – 2 record. A mark which could have won 2 of the 3 IAFL Divisions. They arrive in the post season on the back of a thrilling home win against the Knights. During which they displayed all of the attributes that ranks them 3rd in the IAFL’s unofficial seeding. Both their Defense and Offence rank 5th though which points to consistency and balance across the board and also brings us on to their biggest weapon this season… Special Teams. In close games it is a team who can kick field goals from distance, punt efficiently and kick off and return well that have the edge. On more than one occasion this season the Trojans “third side of the ball” have provided that edge and propelled them to 3rd overall.
On offence they have a few wrinkles that will cause opponents problems too. If you plan for their orthodox offence, which carries a serious aerial threat, you may be caught by their very compact and effective Wild Cat look. One of the few teams in Ireland to follow the lead of several NFL & NCAA teams, The Trojans have yet to reap the rewards of this element of their attack. This may be less about execution and more about choosing the right moment to spring it on a defense. For those attending the game it is sure to provide some of the more entertaining moments.
Over the 2011 season the Trojans scored an average of 20.75 points per game while their defense conceded an average 15.12 points per game. That is pretty much all team can ask of their defense. It speaks volumes on the organization, effort and coaching that these guys put in. What’s more they have improved throughout the season. Their biggest setback came in week 5 against the Carrickfergus Knights. They have however pitched 2 shutouts this season and gave up only 54 points total in the second half of the season – against tough opposition.
One of those opponents was the Craigavon Cowboys. On June 5th the Cowboys won their regular season home fixture with the Trojans 21 – 28. This was another highlight for the ‘Boys who started slowly before bursting into action on their long road trip to Cork. For a team who have conceded almost as many points as they have scored the stats do not tell the whole story. Their offence is ranked 4th in the league and has at its core one of the league’s most versatile QB’s. Chris Bondi is supported by a capable roster who can create serious problems for defenses. They have a solid running game which can call on the services of one of the IAFL’s all time great Full Backs, Bobby Murray. Their passing game is equally potent, with TE Peter Loughran surely pushing to be the top TE in the league, while at the same time causing problems when he is lined up as a slot or wide receiver. A well coached offensive line provides an excellent platform from which to launch attacks.
The Cowboys Defense may rank 8th in the IAFL, but they have the envious ability to read an opponent, adapt and break down their offense. They have done this regularly though out the season. Again well coached and well prepared it will not be easy for the Trojans to find the endzone and they may have to rely on their kicking game to keep the score board ticking over.
In the regular season these teams met twice Week 7 (April 17th) Cowboys 12 @ 33 Trojans and again in week 13 (June 5th) Trojans 21 @ 28 Cowboys. Home field advantage proved decisive in both meetings and perhaps it will again on Sunday. My feeling is the Trojans will have to strike early to overcome the Cowboys.
No matter the result I would like to congratulate both teams on outstanding and entertaining seasons and I recommend this as a MUST SEE game!