Irish American Football Round-Up

Another week and all of the remaining Shamrock Bowl Conference teams are at or past the half way mark in the season. There was only one game in the SBC but it was a bit of a biggie! Meanwhile in the IAFL-1 a battle of the big boys saw the biggest points total in the division this year whilst another tight game saw a team take control at the top of the division.

McKelvey had a great day for the Trojans - photo by Nathan James Sharrocks

SBC

Dublin Rebels 6 – 26 Belfast Trojans

Belfast’s green machine rolled into Dublin and continued their unbeaten run that dates back to the playoffs of 2011. The score-line however is somewhat misleading. This game was still 0-0 at the half and the Rebels only really let the game slip as they were getting desperate to score themselves.

Whilst meaning no disrespect to the other teams in the League, Dublin had to beat the Trojans here and in Belfast this coming weekend to have hopes of topping the division after they lost to the Rhinos. However the Rebels will take heart from this game. They have pushed the Trojans closer than any other team this season and they have every chance of beating them in Belfast in the next fixture.

Dublin battled all the way against Belfast - photo by Ariane Boudias

Trojans’ quarterback James McKelvey had a great second half, throwing for two scores and sneaking two in himself, stretching his lead on the passing scoring chart. Both passing touchdowns went to David Richardson, who is now dominating the receiving touchdown charts with five scores in four games.

Simon Mackey continued his terrific season for the home team, taking his rushing touchdown total into double figures, four ahead of his closest rival at the top of the rushing scoring chart.

Scoring Charts

IAFL-1

Drogheda Lightning 0 – 6 Waterford Wolves

The Wolves continued where they left off, almost two months ago when they narrowly beat the North Kildare Reapers, by dispatching the Lightning in a close, defensive battle of a game.

The IAFL-1 has shown many close, low-scoring games this year with the top team in the table changing after almost every set of fixtures. Now Waterford rise to the top as the only undefeated team left in the division. They have the joint best scoring average in the IAFL-1 and joint second best defence with the Lightning and behind the Bulldogs.

Quarterback Aaron Walsh connected with tight end David Kelly for the only score of the game. The Wolves have to wait until the end of May until their next fixture, against the Dublin Dragons, whilst the Lightning face off against Meath at the beginning of June.

Tullamore Phoenix 15 – 12 Dublin Dragons

The battle of the former top division teams gave us the highest scoring game in the IAFL-1 so far this year as the Phoenix came out on top by a field goal.

In what was a close run game throughout the difference was a David Maloney kick, whilst he also reined in a pass from Jordan Reid to double his tally to two touchdowns on the season and take the top of the receiving scoring chart in IAFL-1.

Reid also scored the other touchdown through the air, hitting Brendan O’Toole for his first of the season.

The Dragons gave a great account of themselves though, with running back David Edwards grabbing a touchdown. Dublin’s defence then grabbed a score as linebacker Conor Tyrrell picked off Jordan Reid and took it to the house for six.

Scoring Charts