SHAMROCK BOWL XVI FARCE
Last modified on 2009-09-12 16:19:11 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
By Marco Polo
CARRICKFERGUS KNIGHTS 66-00 LIMERICK VIKINGS
Sunday 16th June 2002
Venue: University Of Limerick.
REPORT:
Well I hope someone from the I.A.F.L. holds their hand up and accepts responsibility for this, the most disgraceful decision in the history of American football in Ireland.
Limerick Vikings 00 – 66 Carrickfergus Knights sounds awesome, doesn’t it? And if you read the reports on both the I.A.F.L. (Who are responsible for the farce) and the I.A.F.S. (Author: Scott “Carrickfergus Knight” Robinson. I should mention) website’s, you would think that it was the greatest ever performance by a team in the Shamrock Bowl final. Or as quoted “the highest ever scoring total in a Shamrock Bowl”.
We will try to give you the honest view on it. The fact is the I.A.F.L. are guilty of presuming that the UL Vikings were going to be as bad as they were during the 2001 season. They thought that by giving the Vikings all the early season fixtures they could ensure that everyone played them twice. Obviously the Vikings would not make the Final. Well guess what just as the Rebels went from being the current champs to winning only one game. The Vikings emerged as the best team in the league this season.
It was bad enough that towards the end of the season the Vikings could not field a team for their final regular season match, a return trip to the Dublin Dragons. They conceded the match to the Dragons. This was the only blemish on their impeccable record of winning every other match during the season.
Weeks before the Final, it became obvious to everyone in the league that all (except approx 3) of the Vikings had finished college and returned home, many abroad. Obviously the Vikings could not field a team without bringing in rookies with no experience at all, or ‘bangers’ (players from other teams) to represent them.
A number of suggestions where made to members of the I.A.F.L. from different parties. But there was no possible resolution, only to award the Knight’s the Shamrock Bowl, after all Limerick could not field a team and arrange another game as a Spectacle. The Possibility of a North V’s South match was an exciting prospect. Or as a last resort allow Limerick to form a team from the rest of the league’s players, to represent them in the Final. Another possible reward for players who had played hard all season long.
This obviously made the I.A.F.L.’s decision easy! Right?? WRONG!!!! Instead a decision was made to allow Limerick to draft in a new squad of players. But not from the players who may have deserved it, not to mention the players who would have given the Knights a run for their money. Instead a decision was made to draft players from one of the development teams, who had never played before.
And so, a team of Rookies took to the field to represent the Vikings against one of the longest running and most successful teams in the country, the Knights. The result a complete farce. 66-00 to the Knights.
No disrespect to the Knights is intended here as either way they where the Champions in the end, but I amongst many here in the league wonder why it was decided to allow this farce. I spoke recently to one of the Viking’s, Fergal Fennessy. He told me he felt ‘physically sick’ all through the game. I can tell you from experience, this is not what the honour of playing in the Shamrock Bowl Final is supposed to be about.
We hope soon enough to interview someone from I.A.F.L. to get their opinion on the matter. Also to find out what they intend to do, to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.
The 2002 Shamrock Bowl Champions – The Carrickfergus Knights, who no matter what were definitely deserving of the title after Limerick could not field a team. I know I for one would have loved to see the full Vikings squad (Who beat the Knights Home & Away and won every game they played this year) take to the field to challenge the Knights for the coveted Bowl. A different story altogether would have been told. Good luck to the Vikings next year especially the ones who did play in the Final.
DUBLIN REBELS 12 – 06 DUBLIN DRAGONS
Last modified on 2009-07-25 13:20:51 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
SAVED THE BEST UNTIL LAST
Posted 12th June 2002
By Andy Dennehy
DUBLIN REBELS 12 – 06 DUBLIN DRAGONS
Date: Sunday 9th June 2002
Venue: Island Bridge, Dublin
REPORT:
In a hotly contested Dublin derby between the league-bottoming Rebels and the marginally more successful Dragons, last year’s Shamrock Bowl victors (the Rebels, remember?) managed to add a precious ‘1′ to their win column on the league table. This completed the inversion of the Rebels’ 2001 results as they plummeted from the dizzying heights of 5-1 and the Shamrock Bowl last year to the embarrassing quagmire of 1-5 and the only team in the league who did not have a Shamrock Bowl place at any point this season.
Although the TDs would suggest another defensive battle – 3 Interception returns; one for the Dragons, two for the Rebels – the Rebels’ offence finally rose out of their previous habit of turnovers and silly mistakes to produce a spirited performance against the ominous Dragon’s defence
Rookie Rebel receivers Carl Faichney and Stephen Lynch hit form hard in the face with a lump-hammer of safe hands and synergised a solid aerial attack with the down-to-earth meanderings of RBs Mark Slator and Marcus Naylor. For the Dragons, a bruising three-pronged running game was the only boon as their dire passing game continued.
Dragons LB Ulli Zinnecker put the first points on the board midway through the 2nd quarter, picking off an errant lob from Rebels QB Andy Dennehy and lifting the game from a scoreless situation. The Big Friendly German huffed and puffed a mighty 40 yds, untouched, to the Rebels endzone. The TD was not converted.
In response, Rebels’ RB Slator put his dancing feet to good use, grabbing an interception near the end of the 1st half and waltzing 30 yds to equalise. Again, the TD was not converted.
By the time Travis Lawson, the youngest player on the Rebels’ team, sprinted 60 yds for a TD from the third int-return of the game, the momentum was with the reigning champions. Neither team scored any offensive points even though the Dragons entered the redzone once and the Rebels had three close calls from within the 20-yard line. This illustrated the resilience of both defences and the inability to execute within the redzone that has plagued the Dublin sides for the whole season.
Speaking after the game, injured Rebels RB, Brian Dennehy, expressed his joy at the result. “It feels great,” he said, “We actually won a game. That means I don’t have to wear pants anymore, right?”
While Dennehy may be pantless and smiling, the Vikings and Knights look forward to this Sunday’s Shamrock Bowl, which promises to be a one sided affair. In order to play the UL Vikings will have to draft a complete new line up of rookies. All of the Vikings American stars have now left the country, leaving the Vikings with about three of their experienced players and not a chance of a victory. A real pity because the Viking’s where without a doubt the best team this season.
THE FAT LADY’S BALLAD
Last modified on 2009-07-25 13:21:37 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Posted 10th May 2002
By Marco Polo
DUBLIN REBELS 08 – 36 CARRICKFERGUS KNIGHTS
SUNDAY 5th May 2002
Venue: Woodburn Road, Carrickfergus
REPORT:
Well the weather was right for this one. A beautiful summer’s day saw the Rebels travel to Northern Ireland to face the Knights, knowing that realistically only mathematics could keep them in the race for the title.
The Knights eager for revenge after their defeat in last season’s final were up for it. The Rebels squad looked a mere shadow of its usual self and missing a number of key starting players put together a replacement defensive unit for this game with a number of players playing out of position. The knights came out with a 4 receiver and spot back set-up. They tried to stretch the defence wide and then smashed they big running back up they middle.
The Knights scored a touchdown and conversion on their 1st and 2nd possessions. A fumble each saw the possession chop and change before the knights scored again just before half time. This time the conversion was no good. Half time score 22 – 0 Knights
Once again the Rebels running game was pretty good with replacement Tail back, Marcus Naylor and Full back Andrew Flynn both gaining hard fought yards. In the second half. Throughout the game the Rebels Offence moved the ball forward and the Officials moved it back again. Silly penalties at the wrong times cost the Rebels on every second drive. The Knights, much more composed didn’t have this problem and finished off five of their drives with touchdown leaving the Rebels no way back. One penalty-less drive saw the Rebels QB Andy Dennehy easily carry the ball into the knights endzone and also convert the 2 point play through Marcus Naylor.
The Rebels who had lost Brian Dennehy for the season in the previous match, lost his replacement at the end of this game. Naylor was off with 5 minutes to go and a ruptured ligament in his hand could keep him out for 1 month.
Final score Knights 36 – Rebels 8. The Rebels still praying for a bit of fortune this year. All we can do now is look forward to our summer trip away and next season.
2nd LOSS FOR THE CHAMPS
Last modified on 2009-08-20 23:51:44 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Posted 1st May 2002
By: Marco Polo
DUBLIN REBELS 06 – 12 LIMERICK VIKINGS
SUNDAY 14th April 2002
Venue: University Of Limerick
REPORT:
The Rebels lost their 2nd consecutive match yesterday. A long and tiring journey to Limerick University preceded a hard fought match against the Limerick Vikings.
It was a story of role reversal. The Vikings who had struggled last season to make an impact on the league only winning one game V’s The Champions who had only lost one game last season on their road to the title. Limerick had won their opener this season, whilst the Rebels had lost theirs.
It was a match which was fought to the last drive at 6-6 for most of the game you could have tossed a coin coming into the last quarter to choose a winner. The Vikings new style seems to be a hard hitting running game. It was very time consuming!!! Both defences where very tough to break down – both offences fight hard for every yard. The Viking’s scored what proved to be the winner in the fourth quarter. The Rebels took the ball back deep in their own half with less than 5 mins on the clock. We moved the ball well and progressed into Viking territory with 2 minutes left in the game. A couple of penalties against us brought up a first down and long situation with time running out. It proved too much for the Rebels.
Final score Vikings 12-6 Rebels. The Viking’s look like a force to be reckoned with this year. The Rebels have left themselves an uphill struggle for the rest of the season. On a personal note, it can only get better.
REBELS LOSE OPENER
Last modified on 2009-07-25 13:30:41 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Posted 18th March 2002
By: Marco Polo
DUBLIN DRAGONS 06 – 00 DUBLIN REBELS
SUNDAY 17th March 2002
Venue: Island Bridge, Dublin
REPORT:
The Dublin Rebels took on their close rivals The Dragons yesterday on a miserable day in Island Bridge. Saint Patrick’s day 2002 left nothing for the Irish Champs to celebrate after loosing this hard fought fixture.
The weather was miserable and so was the football. The dragons scored with a long pass in the first couple of minutes and that was the end of both teams offensive efforts. From then on both Defenses held strong. The Dragons Offence never looked like troubling the Champions Defence again in the game and every time the Rebels got close to the oppositions endzone, they managed to throw interceptions. 5 in total.
Final score Dragons 6 – 0 Rebels. The Dragons first ever win over the Rebels. For the Rebels, not the start to the new season they had wanted!!!
