Dublin Rhinos @ Dublin Rebels, Sportslink, Santry 25 Jul 2010

For the third time this season the Dublin Rebels faced off against the West Dublin Rhinos; this time with a Shamrock Bowl berth on the line. After successive 48-0 wins in the regular season, the Rebels were runaway favorites, and didn’t disappoint. With a clear sense of purpose, they racked up ten touchdowns across all phases of the game, finishing as 65-0 winners.

Having forced the Rhinos into a 3-and-out on their first possession, RB Aaron Smith set the tone for the day on the Rebels’ first offensive play. Taking a handoff from QB Andy Dennehy, he bounced to the right and outran the entire Rhino defence en route to six points. The ground game would prove to be dominant all afternoon. The quintet of war pigs up front lived up to their billing, snaffling scraps of Rhino from the battlefield and pocketing the meaty innards for later. Smith would cross the plane again later, as would fellow RB Sam Hodgins; the two continuing their battle for statistical supremacy along with WR Barry Flinn.

Indeed, those savage hogs made their presence felt in the passing game just the same. With time in the pocket, Dennehy delivered some impeccable passing. He dropped 3 TDs into Flinn’s hands, giving the receiver little more to do than be leggy and vaguely co-ordinated. Dennehy threw another TD to TE Paul Grogan, who shook a number of defenders to get into the endzone. It wasn’t all glory for the signal-caller though. In a disappointing deviation from the gameplan of feeding TDs to his stats-obsessed skill players, he called his own number on a QB sneak for a score of his own, infuriating Hodgins, who didn’t even have any jelly babies to cheer himself up with. He also threw two picks to CB Dan Breslin.

The Rhinos couldn’t capitalise on these turnovers however, as the Rebels defence held them to just a handful of total yards. Returning Rebel veteran Sean Shanahan joined Ross McCooey and Kevin Finnegan in a fierce and athletic linebacking corps, surrounded by standout performances along the D-Line and the secondary alike. Rhino QB Stevie Moon did his best to air it out, but couldn’t find a rhythm and spent most of the day running for his life. His Houdini act could only last so long though, as he was eventually picked off by defensive MVP and game captain Colin Keegan, who returned the interception for six points with the help of the head hunting Rebels D, each man salivating at a chance for a defensive touchdown.

Safety Brian Carter also had a pick, which he subsequently turned into a circus, as only he could. Meandering back twenty yards from where he changed possession, he set up a punt return-type situation, ripe for illegal blocking. Having prolonged the play till the jig was up, he chucked a lateral to DE Ciarán Tighe, as only he would. Tighe, the day’s other defensive captain, plundered his way into the endzone amid a shower of yellow flags and white caps raining down from on high. Had they not been there to take the moment away they would have made for the perfect celebratory backdrop. As it happened, the number of penalties so bamboozled the referees that they awarded the Rhinos a 1st down, the shrugging shoulders suggesting it was best to just start the whole thing over.

The Rebel’s defence would get their own back later though, when DT Fredo Meneses recovered a blocked punt in the endzone for a special teams’ touchdown. With the notorious fumble burglar Hodgins in the vicinity, and he of superior speed, the score was even more impressive. The last of the extra points, kicked by Ian McDonnald, brought the final score to 65-0 and the two sides were set to part ways.

For the Rhinos, it was a tough ending to an excellent season that saw them climb from the IAFL basement to the semi-finals. On this occasion it was an opportunity to Learn, Chat and Play with the Pros – a hugely beneficial exercise for players of any game of skill. Their disappointment would be rightly tempered with pride.

For the Rebels, the real challenge awaits – another Shamrock Bowl against the UL Vikings who beat the Carrickfergus Knights 20-0 in the other semi-final. Without a Bowl win since 2006, the pressure is firmly on to reclaim the title they once took for granted. For UL, the opportunity to entrench themselves as an IAFL dynasty dangles similarly. Neither team will accept anything less than a win. The outcome will be decided in Tallaght stadium on the 7th of August. And it will be decided at breakneck speed. At full tilt.

With the seedings for the playoffs decided prior to Sunday’s late kick-off – the Rebels assured of top spot and the Rhinos the wildcard – both teams ended their respective seasons on a somewhat flat note. The game itself was almost as pre-determined as the seedings. The Rebels were 48-0 winners in their earlier fixture on opening day, and firm favorites to win the rematch in Castleknock. With a swashbuckling sense of symmetry, the Rebels fashioned another 48-0 victory to bookend their undefeated season in style.

However, the style was nothing more than numerical, as the prevailing sense of formality led to a drab contest. The violently swirling wind and 5pm kickoff lent itself to some irritable sluggishness; the food fair at Farmleigh taking care of most players’ hunger for battle. The wind would also dominate both teams’ game plans, both sides leaning on their running game in precarious passing conditions.

With RB Aaron Smith abroad taking care of his illogically uneven suntan, it was left to Sam Hodgins, himself returning from overseas, to fill the void. This was a challenge Hodgins approached with an unprecedented commitment to racial stereotypes, showing up more tanned, more muscular and sporting a corn-row haircut that Smith himself doesn’t, but definitely should. He even played a bit like the American. Taking the vast majority of the offensive touches, he broke countless tackles on his way to a three touchdown performance, taking his season tally to fifteen in just seven games.

That said, QB Andy Dennehy did brave the elements on occasion, making particularly good use of his tight end to engage his core strength and fire downfield to TE Paul Grogan. Negotiating the wind like a hardy flautist, the receiver wrapped his hands around the ball like lips around a tinwhistle. Once secured, he jigged towards the endzone, leaving Rhino defenders reeling in pursuit; woebegone rats hopelessly chasing the magic piper.

On offense, the Rhinos had marginal success running, with Seán Power carrying the load. Stevie Moon replaced Stephen Macken at QB, but made only occasional attempts to air it out into the gust. One such attempt was picked off by Brian Carter who, after faking a handoff to CB Dave McKeating, returned the interception for a touchdown. The defence also contributed to the scoreline with a safety, making up for the odd missed extra point, the wind wreaking more havoc with Ben Sullivan’s long snapping. The special teams unit did manage to nail a field goal however, as Ian McDonald slotted one from 30 yards. Rhino DB Keith Lally did his best to keep the game competitive, coming up with two interceptions as well as a couple of important pass break-ups. But with the Rebels D as stifling as ever, these turnovers served as mere interruptions rather than threats to the Rebels’ steady dominance.

With the game in hand, third-string QB Barry Flinn came into the game for what would be the final offensive drive. Leaning heavily on Hodgins, the Rebels marched again into Rhino territory as far as a yard line that will strategically be forgotten. Incredibly, Hodgins was summoned from the huddle to the sideline. Veteran lineman Sunday O’ Hanlon entered the game. He knelt down in front of Flinn. Agasp, the young QB looked at his offensive co-ordinator, who simply put on a pair of aviators and nodded. The play was called, the huddle broke and O‘ Hanlon took his position in the backfield. There was no confusion. The Rhinos crowded the line of scrimmage, in full knowledge of where the ball was going, and why. 15 years of service in the trenches, without ever touching the ball. A TD ruthlessly plucked from him earlier in the season by Hodgins, a youngster who scores touchdowns for fun. Even behind the black helmet, you could sense the murder in his eyes and the prickle of the beard. Both red, like the fires of hell.

Snap. Clumsy but successful hand-off. Gradual gathering of momentum before plunging into defender and the dizzying rebound. Surprisingly nimble return to equilibrium… Touchdown. Accusations of running up the score abounded but the sour backdrop did nothing to take away from Sunday’s special day. In fact, the bitterness was somehow fitting.

Trying to summon up some similar karmic energy the Rhinos tried their luck with DT Paul O’ Toole at QB for their final surge. It would prove unsuccessful.

So, The Rhinos move on for their first postseason appearance. A win against the Cork Admirals will pit them against the Rebels again for a spot in the Shamrock Bowl, but whoever the opponents, there will be no anti-climactic sense of formality. The business end of the season is here!!!!!!!.

The IAFA, in conjunction with Athletics Ireland and the Office of Public Works, will be hosting a Family Fitness Day in Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park on 4th July.

This event, which is aimed at families, will feature some interactive games and demonstrations that members of the public can take part in.
In addition to the American football events, Athletics Ireland will have a range of Athletics events and the OPW is hosting a food fair. A US gospel choir and marching band will also perform.

The Irish American Football Association is putting on the following activities:

Field Demonstration Area:

1. Players from the IAFL will put on a fully kitted demonstration scrimmage on the hour every hour from Noon. This demonstration will last for approx. 15 minutes.

2. Players from the Flag Football Schools Programme (aged 10-13) will play flag football demonstration games.

3. Pass and Punt competitions for kids.

Information Stand:

Information on American football in Ireland and indeed the Dublin Rebels can be found at the Information Stand.
Interactive Games:

The IAFA will have the following interactive stands whereby members of the public can have fun trying out some of the skills applicable to American football. All games are safe for both adults and children:

Quarterback Game – test your quarterbacking skills by throwing an American football at some targets.

Short-yardage game – ever wondered what it is like to be a running back diving for a touchdown with tacklers hanging out of you? Try diving for the line with a bungee cord attached to simulate being dragged back by tacklers.

Agility Course – time yourself over an agility course similar to one used by real American footballers.

Wear the Gear – Ever wondered what it feels like to wear full American football kit? Members of the public can dress in up at this stand.

EA Sports Interactive Games:

EA Sports will be suppling two big screen interactive games that members of the public can try out.:

John Madden football on PS3

EA Sports Active on Wii.

Shamrock Bowl Tickets:

All attendees will receive a voucher allowing them to purchase Shamrock Bowl tickets at a discount rate. Shamrock Bowl XXIV will take place at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday 7th August, 2pm.

Athletics Ireland Events:

Details of events being run by Athletics Ireland can be found on the following website link:

http://www.familyfitnessfestival.ie/

An IAFL regular season fixture between the West Dublin Rhinos and Dublin Rebels will kick-off at 5pm in the grounds of nearby Castleknock College. This is the final fixture of the IAFL regular season and both teams are fighting for play-off places. Admission is free

Carrickfergus Knights vs Dublin Rebels
Sunday June 20th, Sportslink, Santry

The Carrickfergus Knights traveled to Dublin in perfect conditions to face their historic rivals: Dublin Rebels. A rivalry older than some of the teams’ rookies, this matchup had been highlighted on the calendar of each team since the start of the season; and once things were underway in this battle for the IAFL league title, they didn’t disappoint.

Kevin Finnegan returned the opening kick-off fifty yards and set the Rebels up with an early upper hand. Though they struggled to finish drives and committed some costly turnovers, the early advantage was ominous. The Dubliners kept their noses in front throughout and comfortably secured the league title and No.1 seed through the playoffs with a 28-13 win over the visiting Knights.

RB Aaron Smith carried the load early on, picking up a number of first downs behind his quintet of incessantly incensed hogs on the offensive line. Inside the redzone, it was this fire that ultimately undid their good work, as penalties kept the drive from bearing points. It wasn’t until early in the second quarter that the deadlock was broken. QB Andy Dennehy hit WR Barry Flinn near the sideline and the possession receiver unexpectedly discovered some YAC, staying in bounds and shaking a tackle to cross the goal line.

On defense, the Rebels’ aggression pinned the Knights to their line of scrimmage, forcing them to feed off occasional big plays from WR Paul McKillop and RB Chris Carson. Early on, it wasn’t enough to recover the deficit, and it was the Rebels who would score next. After a pair of deep completions to TE Paul Grogan, and in spite of Grogan handing fifteen yards back for a shameful taunt, Dennehy again looked for Flinn in the corner of the endzone. CB Chris Davidson was judged to have interfered with the receiver, though he had reason to feel hard done by. On the ensuing play, Smith ploughed over the goal line to make it a two score game.

The Knights didn’t lie down though, and pulled a score back before the half following an acrobatic interception from LB Spencer McDowell who returned it to the Rebels 4 yard line. It didn’t take the Knights O long to capitalise on the somewhat startled Rebels D, who were tasked with defending their own goalline moments after leaving the field. With one of last years IAFL most valuable player nominees in the backfield the Knights had reason to be confident when they handed the ball to Carson, and he didn’t disappoint. The Knights O-Line created a perfect running lane and then some for the workhorse to shimmy through to the endzone. The point after was incomplete. The Rebels then had time to attempt to claw back a score before the half but were denied by the clock. Score at the half: 13-6 Rebels.

Receiving the ball to start the second half was perfect in the eyes of the Knights. Riding the wave of momentum generated by the late first-half TD, the Knights received the kickoff and set out to break the back of the IAFL Central champions. Seasoned quarterback Adam Devenney came out passing, throwing a series of probing balls that attacked a demoralized Rebels’ defense. While he had some success on the opening drive, Devenney sailed too close to the wind against a defense that prides itself on generating turnovers. Safety Brian Carter jumped a Devenney pass down the visitors’ sideline, gaining possession at the half-way line and skating through the chaos to take it to the house for six. On the PAT attempt, quick-witted and honey-voiced holder Paul Grogan turned a fumbled snap into two points when he gathered the ball and sprinted to the front pylon. 21-6 to the home side.

Another Knights interception, this time from Davidson, stopped the Rebels from going out of sight, and a QB sneak run from Devenney kept them within one score going into the final quarter. With Smith continuing to churn out yards on the ground and the Knights giving up short completions underneath, the final score was a long time coming, with Dennehy again finding Flinn on the outside to put the game out of reach. 28-13 to the Rebels.

Launching their final attack, Devenney became the latest triggerman to lead a receiver into the precarious terrain of Keegan Island; the cornerback’s interception seemingly putting an end to any comeback hopes. The Rebels offence attempted to run the clock down, with workhorse Aaron Smith again plunging forward into the heart of the Knights defense. The Carrickfergus defense rallied once again, forcing a punt to give the Knights one last chance to claim the No 1 seed and 2010 league title.

It was however the formidable Rebels defence that had the last laugh, as they forced the Knights to punt after a three and out. As the ball hung in the still summer air, lazily drifting to the sideline, the game clock finally struck home and two battered and beaten sides were finally excused from battle.

With this victory, the Rebels improve to 7-0 and have secured the No 1 seed for the playoffs and the league title for a fifth year in a row. Both teams will now look to the semi-finals and their potential matchups. The Rebels will first have to survive a resurgent Rhinos team, who will be fighting for their playoff lives when the sides meet on the 4th of July in what is sure to be another hard-fought battle in the closing weeks of the IAFL regular season.

Jeff Reinebold to give clinics in Ireland
Jeff, who is currently part of the Southern Methodist University Mustangs coaching squad, will be delivering coaching clinics to IAFL coaches and players between 19th and 21st July.

Reinebold is well known to most sports fans as one of the pundits on Sky Sports coverage of the NFL.
He won the World Bowl as Head Coach of the Amsterdam Admirals and has coached at University of Hawaii and in the Canadian Football League.

He has also been the NFL’s Senior Manager of International Player Development.

The IAFCA will be arranging a clinic for its members.

There will also be an on-field clinic open to all IAFL players.
Both clinics will be held in Dublin – times/venues will be announced soon.

keep in touch for further information

REBELS VS DCU SAINTS 49-00

A lesson to sports pundits everywhere – it isn’t always a game of two halves. Occasionally, it’s a sneaky game of two quarters, when circumstances such as those on Sunday present themselves.

Down 49-0 at the interval and short on numbers, the visiting Saints opted to knock off early and let the Rebels move to 6-0 with their tanks still half full. In truth, it was an unsurprising ending to a game that was essentially over before it started. Talked out of forfeiting before the game, DCU kicked off into a flat atmosphere where a sense of the inevitable mingled with the drizzle in the air. Being coaxed into a game of football doesn’t bode well for a competitive tussle, and once the Rebels took the upper hand early on, they never relinquished it.

That said, the upper hand didn’t come immediately, as Rebels QB Andy Dennehy fell foul of the slippery football and was intercepted on the first drive. On offense however, the Saints couldn’t make use of the turnover against the Rebels top ranking defensive unit, and throughout the game looked about as likely to score as a one-legged kicker.

Indeed, the game became about as lopsided as such, with Dennehy getting a firm grip and finding WR Barry Flinn for the opening score. It was plain sailing from there, with RBs Sam Hodgins and Aaron Smith rushing for 3 more scores between them, with Hodgins adding 2 more on special teams and Flinn capping it off at the end of the half with a second TD catch. A safety for Rebels rookie linebacker Ben Sullivan made up for the 2 missed extra points by the otherwise on-target rookie Ian McDonald, re-establishing the scoreline into the familiar 7 times tables, like it would be in Madden.

And like in the video game, the prospect of individual stat-collecting quickly took over from the question of winning the game. The versatile Paul Grogan, in action on defence for the day as well as on offense and special teams, set out to score in 6 different ways, but had to be content with just the 5 extra points he held for McDonald. Typically enough, it was Hodgins, the only known man to discover the point at which the scoreboard actually breaks down on Madden, who became most concerned with personal glory. With a DCU punt blocked by venerable lineman Sunday O’ Hanlon, Hodgins successfully outraced the sympathetic old-timer, chugging after the ball in search of his first ever touchdown in almost 20 years of playing. Unconcerned, Hodgins merely recovered the fumble in the endzone and reveled in his ill-gotten score, strutting back to the sidelines to chew Bubbaloo and pop a wheelie on his BMX.

On defense it was much the same, with the home team easily dominating the mish-mash of DCU players that were loyal enough to turn up. The Saints struggled to gain any forward momentum behind a severely patch-work offensive line and the experienced and aggressive Rebels defensive unit took full advantage. Safety Marcus Naylor recorded a sack along with a forced fumble, lamentably nullified due to an early whistle. The only Rebels turnover of the day that stood was a forced fumble by middle linebacker Ross McCooey recovered by defensive back Colin Keegan; the wiry islander slithering under the scrambling man-mountain linemen to come up with the elusively slick ball.

With the home team losing interest in the one-sided events on the field, requests for game report mentions became relentless, with numerous independent Rebels demanding a vicious branding of DCU as a team of Dave Knights. Ever loyal to the AWOL lineman, sympathetic to struggling teams and guardian of journalistic integrity, this is one hack who will hesitate to draw that connection. And given where this report has led to, it might be better to draw a conclusion instead. The less said about this contest the better – a disappointing game on all accounts.

Over the last few years, the rivalry between the Dublin Rebels and UL Vikings has become the fiercest in recent IAFL history. Contesting the last two Shamrock Bowls, both won by Limerick (by a combined margin of 5 points), as well as a host of regular season games in which the Rebels have come out on top (by a similarly narrow margin), there is parity, but the Vikings’ share of the spoils raises emotions and tensions that much higher. Sunday’s war of attrition didn’t disappoint, as the two teams maintained their high standard in Limerick’s scorching heat.

As with all close games, a big play or two can often prove decisive. For the Rebels, it was the coming-of-age story of wide receiver Shahin Nikroo that ultimately separated the sides. Indeed, it was the man from Tehran that broke the deadlock, getting on the end of Andy Dennehy’s deep ball to give the visitors an early 6-0 lead.

Scoring didn’t come easy to either team early on, as the game became a tussle for field position, with Paul Grogan and Glen Carr jousting for territory respectively. The Rebels defense was stifling, as linebacker Kevin Healy and safety Stephen Archibald cleaned up what little got past the front four. It took a rare mistake in the secondary that sprung the equalizer, as QB Marc Ashworth found his receiver wide open downfield after a broken coverage. The sides turned for the 2nd quarter all square at 6 apiece.

As consistent running room was hard to come by, and some crucial passes ran afoul the turf, it became apparent that breaking the deadlock was going to take something special. And so it was when the Sha-Man juiced up his inter-galactic jalopy and channeled another dash of the divine from the spirit world, hauling in his second TD with an ethereal pluck from about the clouds.

Though his efforts were indeed therapeutic to his teammates, the Vikes were less impressed with his handiwork, and set about restoring order to meet their own ends. It took an equally mysterious phenomenon, namely the colossal tight end Carr’s ability to scoot downfield unaccounted for, that allowed the home team to build some momentum. Complimenting strong running from Adrian Garvey, Ashworth’s completions brought play up to the Rebels goal-line, and it was Ashworth himself that tied the game up again, plunging across the plane on 4th and inches. A successful conversion gave them a 1-point lead going into halftime.

The Dubliners came out to start the second half and leaned heavily on their running game. An almost entirely rookie O-Line, led by former DT Steve Wilson, ploughed the way for RBs Aaron Smith and Sam Hodgins up the field, all the way to the 5 yard line, when the game to a frightening halt. Both teams were held in tense concern as a UL defender didn’t surface after bringing down Hodgins and was eventually taken to, and safely discharged from, Limerick Regional hospital.

When the game re-started after over an hour’s delay, the atmosphere had changed somewhat, and a brand new game seemed to be getting underway. Continuing from where they left off, at the UL 5 yard line, the Rebels had the upper hand, and within two plays had scored both a touchdown and a 2-point conversion on two powerful runs.

The score now at 20-13, the next score would be critical, and when Hodgins delivered it, and Nikroo added the 2-pointer, the lead appeared insurmountable going into the 4th quarter. The Vikings drove admirably, but were kept at bay by the likes of CB Duvet McKeating. Playing with a broken wrist, the duvet showed a harder edge than his suffocatingly soft moniker might suggest, continuously breaking up passes and making timely tackles. An interception from linebacker Kevin Finnegan brought an end to the champs’ drive however and the Rebels set about driving back. However, some good defense from the Viking forced a punt from the visitors, setting up UL with another chance to hack away at the Rebels skeleton crew defense.

Carr was again instrumental in moving the chains for the home team but it was a long run from Garvey brought the Vikes to the goal-line once more. And, once again, it was Ashworth who punched it in, on a second QB sneak. Crucially, however, DT Sunday O‘ Hanlon’s blocked field goal prevented UL from getting to within one score and the Rebels could successfully wind down the clock after the Vikings elected not to attempt an onside kick.

In true football terms it was a victory for the Rebels O-Line, who kept Dennehy upright all day and ushered Smith and Hodgins towards the Limerick secondary, if not at will, certainly when it mattered most. However, in hyperbolic, biased and uninformed sports journalism terms, the day belonged to the little Iranian who could: Shahin Nikroo. With the game ball tucked under his arm, the young receiver set off home to post incomprehensible rubbish on the internet and, for once, not take any abuse for it

Trinity College arrived at Sportslink emboldened by their performance in their previous encounter with the Dublin Rebels, determined to prove their conviction that the 39-6 scoreline had flattered to deceive the IAFL Central leaders.

Trinity’s gameplan suggested a desire to take the Rebels on man-for-man, a deviation from the hell-for-leather underdog approach favoured in the first match-up where 9 defenders typically filled the box and the students were undone only by a small number of big passing plays.

With fewer men crowding the line of scrimmage, the Rebels running game found more breathing space, and RB Aaron Smith made good use of it. After picking up a couple of first downs, he finished off the drive taking an off-tackle run 25 yards. While Trinity’s offense sputtered out, the Rebels points tally swiftly mounted. On the second drive, WR Barry Flinn gangled behind the secondary and juggled a post route from QB Andy Dennehy, before coming down with it and adding to the lead. The following possession ended likewise, Smith again going in on the ground, this time untouched as he followed the blocking of LG Ross McCooey, TE Paul Grogan, and WR Conor Ryan. By the end of the 1st quarter, the scoreline read 24-0.

Sticking to the mantra, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” the Rebels offense continued to crank out yards on the ground in the second quarter. The students however caught a break when an undisciplined drive by the Rebels O drew numerous flags and resulted in a punt. On the very next play Trinity QB Hal Spottiswoode Hodson called his own number on an option play, opting to keep the ball as he ran into the heart of the Rebels defense. The plucky young signal caller’s visions of glory were abruptly interrupted however as he collided with McCooey, who was in his more familiar position of middle linebacker. The ball was knocked loose and recovered by McCooey; giving the Rebels possession inside the Trinity redzone.

Though the Rebels’ offense cooled down somewhat, RB Sam Hodgins managed to get in on the action, taking a hand-off 10 yards into the end zone, with TE Paul Smyth providing the daylight at the second level to clear Hodgins’ path. With 8 TDs on the season, he kept his nose in front of coach and counterpart Smith on 7; a competition both are quick to shrug off as secondary to the primary goal of winning a Shamrock Bowl, Hodgins less so. A Paul Grogan field goal made the score 33-0 midway through the 2nd quarter.

Still struggling on offense, it was the Trinity defense that provided the first spark for the college team. In the pocket, Dennehy looked down the field for Flinn, who checked up to block for Grogan in the flats, expecting the QB to take the short throw. Fearing a dressing-down for not being in position to block for the oft-cranky but handsome Grogan, Flinn under-ran his route and DB Conor Campbell was in position to make the pick. As karma would have it, the upright, tunnel-visioned Flinn was lit up as he galloped towards the ball carrier. However, Trinity could not make the turnover count, and the half ended with the score still at 33-0.

The Rebels came out running in the 3rd quarter, sucking the Trinity defense in and setting up single coverage on the outside. Seeing this, Dennehy called for Flinn to run a deep fade route, and the connection brought the Rebels to beyond 40 points. In response, Trinity QB Hal Hodson began to find some success through the air, though again drives were unsustainable thanks to the league’s top defensive unit. On defense, the students collected their second interception of the day when back-up QB Brian Carter misfired while throwing on the run. Reinvigorating Trinity, it could have been a costly mistake, irrespective of the scoreline, and the Rebels management are said to be thinking hard about their QB depth chart.

As Hodson continued to sling it, he met a similar fate, with one pass ending up in the hands of linebacker and the day’s defensive MVP, Kevin Healy. On the return, Fredo Meneses delivered Dandelion Cafe, Bar & Club’s Mexican appetizer of the day with a block as tasty as it was crunchy, though the choice of cuisine remains entirely speculative. Nonetheless, Healy rumbled gratefully into the endzone. Undeterred, Hodson carried on firing darts around the field, and after a number of completions his confidence allowed him to venture towards the murky marshland of Keegan Island, where countless receivers lay buried in the hostile quagmire presided over by that dastardly tyrant, Colin Keegan. With a stiff lip and a cocked rifle, Hodson ordered his troops into the ever-darkening shadows, only to be met by that barbarous cornerback Keegan, who snagged the prized pigskin and lorded it over his victims. The rotter!

As the game winded down to a 55-0 ending, it was the running of Smith and Hodgins that proved to be the decisive factor, with both sharing the offensive MVP award. The milk ‘n cookies combo proved as satisfying as ever, with Flinn doing his best to join in as the slender and subordinate drinking straw. However, the analogy does nothing to break the perception of Flinn and Hodgins being inseparably chummy, and would best be shelved going forward.

Two years since the Dublin Rebels last fielded an 8s team, the less experienced members of the Rebels senior outfit once again huddled up under coach Shane Campbell, taking on the Erris Rams. Traveling across the country, the Mayo flock were short-numbered, with every player required to play both sides of the ball. Though their intensity never wavered, the lack of depth showed as the Rebels secured a comfortable 46-0 victory, with scores increasing in regularity as the game wore on.

Shahin Nikroo did the bulk of the damage, snatching two TD catches from QB Barry Flinn and adding another with a long run as he shuffled from the backfield to his more familiar wide-out position. Flinn threw another TD to WR Gary Sommerville, and rushed for another. The success of the offensive attack was in no small part due to the efforts of rookie linemen Mick Kehoe and Jason O’Connell, along with veteran John McGeown returning from injury. Their efforts gave the unpracticed QB the time to read the scaled-down defense, with receivers Conor Ryan, Andrew Corcoran and Ian McDonald also racking up some catches.

The Rebels defence twice added to the scoring, with CB Eoin Daly returning a fumble and LB Kevin Healy taking an interception back to the house. Their glory was just reward for a defensive effort that stifled the Rams attack all day. Apart from some strong running by QB Andrew Kelly, the Rams struggled to move the ball as various Rebel defenders ruthlessly attacked the line of scrimmage.

In all, it was a long afternoon for the depleted Rams. Coach Michael Kelly once summarized his team in the words ‘heart, heart and more heart.’ Such an assertion was evident on a day when his team were outnumbered threefold and a long way from home. Their effort staved off any complacency from the Rebels, who ultimately just had too much firepower for the men from Mayo.

Dublin Rebels go 3-0 in their 2010 campaign against Dublin City University Saints. 40-06

With the sun blazing and sky blue, the Dublin Rebels made the short trip up the Ballymun Road to take on the DCU Saints at St. Claire’s Sports Grounds. The weather delivered Shamrock Bowl attendance levels, with a bizarre amount of good-looking people camped on the sideline to cheer on their beloved Rebels. Suspicious, and perhaps distracted by the fanfare and clinking of champagne glasses, the Rebels stumbled to a win; the scoreline embellished by a late surge. Performances by both sides were sloppy, in conditions that made excuses hard to come by.

The Saints opened with a spread offense, with QB Scott Misfud operating out of the shotgun and receivers strewn about the field. Surprised by this look, the Rebels defence surrendered some completions downfield, with TE Vinny Flood in particular causing problems for the Rebels secondary. However, the home team could not maintain consistency, in large part due to mistakes in the exchange between centre and quarterback. Wayward snaps too often left Misfud in a scramble, occasionally forced into punt return-type situations or firing passes 20 yards back only to the line of scrimmage. The Rebels capitalized on these opportunities, finishing the first half on a high as Dave McKeating intercepted an errant pass as time whittled down, tying him with middle linebacker Ross McCooey for the lead in Rebel interceptions while keeping the Saints scoreless going into the third quarter.

On offense, the Rebels came out running through Sam Hodgins and Aaron Smith, before QB Andy Dennehy began to work in the aerial attack. After a series of gains on the ground, and with the Saints crowding the line of scrimmage, Dennehy hit WR Barry Flinn in single coverage inside the redzone. Yards after the catch turned the play into a touchdown, giving the Rebels the early lead.

The game carried on in a slapdash manner. The Saints continued to mix some promising gains with wild losses, looking threatening one minute before unravelling their good work. In the second quarter a lengthy drive stalled, setting the Rebels up near their goal-line after a turnover on downs that finally came with good pressure from a depleted Rebel defensive line that saw utility man Conor Walsh lead the charge. On the first play of the ensuing Rebels possession, Hodgins took a handoff up the middle, escaped a linebacker and eventually scored on a 95 yard scamper thanks to some feisty downfield blocking by WRs Andrew Corcoran and Shahin Nikroo to nicely compliment the big bruisers of an offensive line led by centre Jonathan Kelly.

Up by two scores, it was a while before the Rebels would add to their lead. Drives stalled and tension grew amongst the concerned legions of Rebel followers. Close calls for Misfud were plenty as potential interceptions were dropped by DB Colin Keegan and rookie linebacker Ben Sullivan. It took a punt block, scoop-and-score from DB David McKeating to get the visitors the elusive third TD. With the Saints looking out of contention, the Rebels capitalized on the shift in momentum. Hodgins crossed the plane for a second touchdown while Smith followed suit with two of his own.

Late on, the Saints finally managed to consolidate a drive, after a controversial pass interference call on safety Marcus Naylor set them up inside the 10 yard line. Workhorse RB Dave McMahon bounced a run to the outside and scurried into the corner of the endzone to crack their goose egg. Looking to finish strong the Saints forced an impressive 3 and out of the Rebels offence on the next drive. Looking to have some fun and get another score for good measure Misfud called for a Hail Mary. On an “awesome cadence” the Saints took one last shot at a consolation prize only to have their shot land in the grateful hands of a deep covering Ross McCooey, wrapping up the Saints day and allow the Rebels a final shot of their own to pad the difference.