AMERICAN FOOTBALL NATIONAL FINALS
AMERICAN FOOTBALL took centre stage at Dubarry Park on Saturday when American Football Ireland held their two main championship finals there with both the Harp Bowl and Shamrock Bowl deciders taking place.
The Athlone stadium looked resplendent and the changed line markings caught the eye for regulars from Buccaneers matches. The event was blessed with ideal weather apart from one shower which, thankfully, fell between the two finals. The top two teams in American Football Ireland contested their respective deciders.
In the opener Craigavon Cowboys proved much too strong for West Dublin Rhinos in the Division One final although it took them until just before half-time to open the scoring. Leading 8-0 at that stage they took complete control thereafter, adding a further 5 touchdowns, to ease to a 35-0 victory that not only secured the Harp Bowl trophy but also promotion to the Premier Division. The Ulster side’s Eoin Hughes was named man of the match. Meanwhile, the Rhinos fielded a lady in their ranks with Lisa Browne getting game time.
The standard of play in the Premier clash between the 2022 and 2023 winners was much higher. UCD, with the most youthful panel in their near 60 squad, got off to a flyer and were 36-0 to the good at half-time courtesy of 6 touchdowns. Holders Dublin Rebels came much more into the contest in the final two quarters and held the Students scoreless in that period. But 2 touchdowns proved insufficient to reel in UCD and retain their title as they lost 36-14. Thus UCD, whose two females in their panel did not see game time, regained the coveted title with Tom Donovan taking the man of the match accolade.
The American Football Ireland national Womens Flag team put on a display prior to the first match but it may not have been what those unfamiliar with American Football expected, ‘flag’ being their term for ‘tag’! Phoenix Flyers Acrobatic & Cheerleading Club put on a display at half-time in both finals and a flyover added to the razzmatazz of the occasion. Both matches took about 150 minutes each and involved 6 match officials from whom there was much arm waving and flag tossing. All in all a very enjoyable event and, hopefully, they will return to Athlone next year.
