Irish Football Weekend Roundup

Another weekend gone in the Irish American Football Leagues and what a weekend it was! New leaders in both the Shamrock Bowl Conference North and South as well as a shock result in the North coupled with a gutsy performance from the Mullingar Minotaurs in IAFL-1 made the weekend more than interesting.

Photo by Nathan James Sharrocks

Shamrock Bowl Conference North

West Dublin Rhinos 7 – 6 Dublin Rebels

The formbook was well and truly torn up for this fixture. The Dublin Rebels were top of the division going into the game, having won their two games. Meanwhile the West Dublin Rebels were pointless and winless in three, including a 22-0 loss against the Rebels earlier in the year.

The Rhinos (left) surprised everybody with a win over the Rebels - photo by Ariane Boudias

However the Rhinos rediscovered last year’s defensive solidity and kept the Rebels to a single score, a Simon Mackey run, whilst managing to score a TD themselves, a pass from Jonathan Northcutt to Alex McQuirk. The win means the Trojans leapfrog the Rebels to the top of the SBC North whilst the Rhinos remain bottom due to their head-to-head record with Craigavon.

Belfast Trojans  58 - 7 Craigavon Cowboys

The reigning champions finally played their second game of the season, a repeat of their first against the Craigavon Cowboys. And the result was similar. Stand out performances from Dave Colvin, who had three rushing touchdowns, and Jeff Blair, with some big kick off returns, consolidated what was a great team performance.

McKelvey added another two passing touchdowns to his tally today - photo by Nathan James Sharrocks

Last time out the Trojans ran up a 46-13 score but were even more dominant this time, allowing just one score through the Cowboys’ Ryan Brolly. The Trojans retake the top of the division and are now the only team undefeated in the entire Shamrock Bowl Conference.

Shamrock Bowl Conference South

Trinity College Dublin 21 – 0 University College Dublin

Trinity bounced straight back from their gut wrenching 13-12 loss to UL last week with a 21-0 victory over their cross-city University rivals. Rob McDowell’s first TD of the season last week gave him the impetus to grab two more today whilst full back Rodrigo Uribe grabbed the third touchdown.

Trinity stormed back to the top of SBC South - photo by Ariane Boudias

In a game filled with turnovers Andrew Redmond grabbed three interceptions for the home team, taking his tally to five already this year. Trinity now go back to the top of the SBC South with the same points as UL but a far superior points difference.

IAFL-1

Drogheda Lightning 20-6 Mullingar Minotaurs

The Minotaurs gave a superb account of themselves in their very first competitive game against the more experienced Lightning, holding the home team to a 0-0 score line until the 3^rd quarter in poor conditions in Drogheda.

The Minotaurs gave a great account of themselves but the Lightning came away with a deserved win - photo by Ariane Boudias

But in the end experience took its toll as Russell Kerley’s Lightning team took a 20-0 lead. The Minotaurs would go on to grab a consolation score through running back Dermot Corroon. The Minotaurs will take huge heart from this game though. A great defensive performance in poor conditions and then grabbing a score too shows the Minotaurs aren’t going to be pushovers in the IAFL-1 this year.