A Study in Shutouts – AFI Week 9 Round Up
Cover Photo: Paul McIlwaine
With five fixtures happening across the league last weekend, I was really hoping for some more competitive encounters and closer results. And as I’m sure you’re all aware of by now – this was not the case! In fact, the only game where the visiting side managed to muster any points was up in Armoy, as the Stags scored a late six points to avoid a shutout. The rest of contests were far more one sided, including a dominant performance from the Panthers over a previously feisty Wexford side. Keep reading for the full American Football Ireland week 9 round up!
Dublin Rebels 52 – Craigavon Cowboys 00
Things are not looking good for the Cowboys. After back to back defeats at home, the Orangemen went on the road to Dublin hoping to reverse their fortunes with a clash against the rising Rebels. The men in black had other ideas however, putting 52 points on their guests and sending them further into an already spiralling losing streak. It was Quarterback by committee in South Dublin on Sunday as Joe Krause and Jason Kolokithas combined for 5 touchdown passes, while the latter also earned a receiving and rushing score in what sounds like an absolute beat down. Tommy Breslin, Jack Cronin, Tadgh Fitzsimmons, Bryan Molloy and Dave King all found the endzone for six points as the Rebels effectively punched their tickets to the playoffs. They will face a much stiffer test at home next weekend as the Trojans come to town, in what will most likely be their toughest test of the season so far.
South Dublin Panthers 48 – Wexford Eagles 00
The Panthers continued their reign atop of Division One on Sunday with another strong performance, this one coming against an Eagles side who normally would have put up more of a fight! Conor Hoskins continues to be an absolutely unstoppable force, rushing for four touchdowns on Sunday and further cementing his claim to player of the year. Sean Goldrick AKA Goldie added a pair of touchdowns to the tally, while James O’Leary’s pick six was the straw that broke the Eagle’s back. I’m actually shocked that the Wexford outfit didn’t score at all considering how well they have been playing this season, but I suppose it really does come down to any given Sunday. At 5-0 the Panthers are almost guaranteed playoff football, but a win up in Antrim against the Stags in a fortnight’s time will be enough to seal the deal. The Eagles on the other hand now have a lot of work to do to regain the ground lost as a result of this defeat.
Causeway Giants 26 – Antrim Stags 06
Watch out everyone, the Giants are on a two game winning streak! After a slow start in Limepark, the home side came alive in the second half with a pair of Jig McCoy touchdowns to gain a 14 point lead. Luis Alberto then followed suit with two scores of his own, including a 69 yard rushing touchdown to seal the deal and a second successive victory for the home side. The Stags didn’t go down without a fight though – an Eoin Delargy receiving score interjecting the knockout blows to avoid the shutout and lend some respectability to the final line. Victory for the Giants moves them up to fourth in the Division One standings and current holders of a playoff spot, a position the County Antrim outfit could only have dreamed of at the start of the year. Whether or not they can hold on to it now, is an entirely different story.
West Dublin Rhinos 35 – Cill Dara Crusaders 00 (Halftime Forfeit)
A depleted Crusaders side entered the Rhino enclosure in Castleknock on Sunday, and fought until they could fight no more. With less than 15 healthy players to begin with and eventually finding themselves down to just 13, there was only so much that the Kildare side could work with. The home side were up by 14 points by the time the second quarter began, and that lead was rapidly extended multiple times before the halftime whistle came. Jakub Urbas, Wello Omorodian (playing against his old team) and Chris Kalemba x 2 did the damage for West Dublin on offense, while Luis Ricardo earned a fumble recovery touchdown off the forced fumble by Mick Adams. Matt Mays also earned an interception as the home side simply overpowered their opponents. Huge respect is due to the Crusaders for even showing up and fulfilling the fixture, but any time a team forfeits it’s not a good sign. You just have to hope that Cill Dara’s season doesn’t come to an early conclusion and that they can see out the rest of their schedule.
Belfast Trojans 43 – Cork Admirals 00
It is a LONG drive home from Cork to Belfast, especially when you’re leaving with a loss. I truly hoped and wished that this would have been a battle, but the strength of the reigning champions was just too much for the Leesiders to handle. Deramore Park has become the Trojan’s fortress, giving the Green Machine a significant homefield advantage in advance of a ball even being kicked. As expected, Belfast got rolling early and were up 14-0 by the end of the first quarter as Dom Lynn connected with Michael Ferris and brother James. The play of the game and perhaps the season so far came in the second quarter, when Jordan Clinton scooped up a blocked Cork field goal attempt and took it back to the house for six points – likely extinguishing any hope of a comeback in the process.
Dom Lynn connected with Ryan Brolly for another score before the halftime whistle, but the game was effectively over as a contest at that stage. A Ryan Brolly field goal, Maks Dmitrov pick six and safety off an over shot punt snap into the endzone were the only points scored thereafter, but the damage had been done and the Trojans moved to 4-0. It’s fair to say they’re on course to defend their title, but still have tougher tests yet to come in the form of the Mavericks and Rebels! Unfortunately for Cork, they are now bottom of the table and will have a long climb back up if they want to stay alive in the top flight. Every game will count from here on out.