Last week in Double Coverage’s ‘What we know: IAFL1 Edition’ we suggested that the Minotaurs would be looking at the opposition in IAFL1 and quietly contemplating the famous Seattle Seahawks mantra ‘Why not us?’. The time for quiet contemplation is done.
The rain poured down and a sea of umbrellas swarmed the Harbour Field side line. (Expertly marked off with the beloved respect barrier, this being the same game that last year spawned the now constant of IAFA sidelines.) A field that doesn’t drain particularly well and a deluge from the Heavens indicated early that this was to be not going to be a high flying, fast paced game. Seasoned Referee Tony Rivers took charge and the Bulldogs won the toss. Electing to defer the option, Mullingar chose to kick off the game, favouring wind direction over possession.
Not a single pass was thrown in the 1st Quarter as both sides struggled with the terrain underfoot and the swirling gale running across the field. The Meath men’s opening drive was cut short after being stopped on 3rd and short and failing to illicit a jump offside on the ensuing punt. A healthy return set Mullingar up in great field position in the Bulldogs half of the field. Minotaurs running back Dermot Corroon showed no signs of being slowed down by the conditions and drove the Westmeath team deep into the Bulldogs Redzone. As so often before, the Bulldog defence held firm and forced a turnover on downs. So went the first quarter, all rushing attempts and neither team making the decisive break through.
The rain had subsided slightly at the opening of the 2nd Quarter but the period looked much the same as the first with both teams slugging it out in the trenches. Mullingar perhaps had the better of it defensively as the Bulldogs offensive continued its poor early season form. Following an excellent punt from the ever reliable John Brennan, Mullingar found themselves in the shadow of their own goal posts. Solid carries from Fullback Niall Corcoran and Dermot Carroon gave the home side some breathing space. Following a first down, Mullingar QB Niall Folan handed again to Carroon and some excellent blocking upfront sprung the elusive back to the second level where he found himself with one man to beat. Stuck in the mud the Bulldogs Safety Steve McDonnell, couldn’t get a hand near Carroon, as the Midland Express found a new gear and was gone, carrying the ball 75 yards for the score. Impressive blocking upfront by former Bulldog and Minotaurs left guard, Jo Coyne, opened a hole on the 2PAT for Niall Corcoran to waltz into the Endzone for 2 points. At half time the Minotuars led 8-0.
Some adjustments by Bulldogs Offensive Co-Ordinator and QB Eddie McMahon saw an improvement in the 3rd Quarter. Some added protection saw the veteran QB take to the air and threaten deep. The conditions still playing their part meant any kind of comeback would be difficult for the Bulldogs and after piecing together a drive to the Mullingar 25 yard line, the Bulldogs thought their prayers had been answered when WR Darryl Ratty was man handled attempting to reel in a pass. A flag thrown for Pass Interference and as the ball lay on the swampy field, indiscipline again cost the Bulldogs as a comment from the sideline and another flag for unsportsmanlike conduct wiped out any gain following the PI call. The Bulldogs most promising drive withered after that and an offence that has struggled all season long continued to do so.
The 4th Quarter was an exercise in time management for Mullingar and Folan kept his team moving and the clock ticking; even managing to catch out the Bulldogs Defence with 9 men in the box with a completed deep pass off play-action down the right side to WR Shane Walsh narrowly being kept out of the endzone. Mullingar were extremely efficient in their clock management and were able to kneel the game out after the two minute warning. There remained little enough white, orange, purple or black on the field at the end, with most wearing an unflattering shade of brown.
This article has been syndicated from Double Coverage and any opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of IAFA. Any references to non-IAFA websites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those websites.