This weekend saw three games take place in the Shamrock Bowl Conference, with wins for UCD, Cork Admirals and the Belfast Knights.
UCD continued their unbeaten start to the season, as they moved to 5-0, following a 21-12 win over the University of Limerick Vikings in Belfield.
The ‘Students’, who have already beaten Trinity College, Belfast Knights, Louth Mavericks and the Belfast Trojans this season, scored three rushing Touchdowns from their running back Brett Cole. Kicker Gavin Quirke added the extra point after all three Touchdowns. A dominant running game set the tone as the students ran into a 21-0 lead early in the game, with the defense holding on to a late comeback to seal the victory in a battle of Universities.
UCD will look to make it 6 out of 6 when they face the Louth Mavericks in two weeks time.
The Cork Admirals went top of Shamrock Bowl Conference (SBC) South following their 14-0 win over the South Dublin Panthers in a rain-soaked National Sports Campus.
The conditions made it very difficult for both sides, but the Admirals weathered the storm both literally and figuratively and scored a touchdown in each half to come away with the win and go to 4-1 on the season.
A 2 yard run from Bryan O’Brien scored a Touchdown in the second quarter, with Kit O’Keeffe adding the extra point to leave the half-time score at 7-0 in the Admirals favour.
The rain eased off a little in the second half, in a very tight contest until very late into the fourth quarter. Quarter-back Stephen Hayes connected with Cillian McGillycuddy for a Touchdown from 10 yards. O’Keeffe added the extra point and the Admirals claimed a 14-0 victory.
The Belfast Knights also went to 4-1 for the season, this time in (SBC) North, when they defeated Trinity College Dublin by a 29-7 scoreline.
The Knights had to come from behind after Trinity took the lead in the first quarter. Safety Stephen Davison made the run of the game after an interception. Quarter-back Spencer McDowell then ran it in to score the Touchdown to make it 7-6 after the extra point was missed.
McDowell ran in for his second Touchdown of the game in the third quarter to give the Knights the lead for the first time, after the extra point was good.
Wide receiver Marty Caskey added a third Touchdown for the Belfast side, before Davison intercepted for the second time in the game, and he ran the length of the field to score to give them a 27-7 lead.
Finally, up stepped the defence again the end to force a safety, to leave the final score 29-7 in the Knights favour. They did however pick up an injury to running back Chris Carson late on.
In IAFL 1 the Antrim Jets ran out narrow 10-6 winners over the Meath Bulldogs in the Antrim Forum Leisure Centre, while the Donegal/Derry Vipers beat the NI Razorbacks 27 points to nil in the Newforge Country Club in Belfast.
2018 Vipers RookiesFor the Jets, won won their second game of the campaign, it was revenge for losing last season’s IAFL 2 Bowl Game which the Bulldogs won 40-0.
Touchdowns from Ryan Brolly, who returned a punt, Niall Lyons with an interception, Cathal Curran and Quarter-back run from Danny Mullan gave the Vipers a comfortable victory. The Vipers are now 3-1 for the season.
Photo Credits: UCD, Ian Humes Photography, Donegal/Derry Vipers