Kevin Hogan | Contributing Writer
This Sunday, Trinity’s American Football team travels to Tallaght Stadium to take on two-time champions, the Belfast Trojans, who will be hoping to take a third consecutive Shamrock Bowl win back up north.
This will be DUAFC’s first appearance in the final, the fruit of what has been a breakthrough season for the team. In a sport which receives little attention in Ireland, the Dublin University American Football Club will have the opportunity to grab the headlines and take home the biggest prize in Irish American Football.
This current season has been five years in the making for Trinity. Reinstated in its current form in 2008, TCD American Football has only grown stronger and more formidable with every season. Winning only one game in their first season, they are now a far cry from what once was and stand as one of the titans of the 2014 IAFL. In 2013 the Dublin Rebels – seven time champions – eliminated TCD during the semi-finals. This year a rematch occurred, with TCD coming away with the win in a 47 – 8 victory, the biggest margin of defeat ever experienced by the Rebels.
From the beginning of the season, Trinity showed up to do work and make an impression. The inaugural game of the 2014 season saw Trinity host the UL Vikings at home, and saw them showcase their new arsenal. The opener ended in a 34 – 9 home win for Trinity, which saw Dan Finnamore make his debut at quarterback for the team after leaving the Drogheda Lightening having played for them for the previous three years. Finnamore threw for three touchdowns; more than TCD garnered in the entire 2013 season. A host of new and old receiving talent facilitated the win, along with a rushing score and kick-return for a touchdown from Trinity’s Rob McDowell.
Trinity powered on, defeating the West Dublin Rhinos in their second game with a scoreline of 27 – 0. Trinity’s steely, disciplined defense refused the Rhinos any scores and gave us a glimpse of why they would be one of the team’s biggest assets. Newly acquired talent would once again shine in TCD’s third game vs. the Carrickfergus Knights, where a swift David Lunn would run in two touchdowns, and German Velderrain – now a stalwart force to be reckoned with on the offensive and defense line – force a safety.
The team’s game against the Craigavon Cowboys, which marked the halfway point in their regular season, would be more hard-fought than expected. The Cowboys offense proved difficult to contain at times, and their defense complicated things for TCD. Ultimately however, Trinity prevailed and came away with a 25 – 16 victory, with Steven Alexander, Lunn and McDowell putting points on the board for TCD.
With the end of the second college semester, the students would have a six week break from games to complete exams and prepare for their game against the Belfast Trojans.
Undoubtedly, this was considered the game to watch for the 2014 season. The Belfast Trojans had been undefeated for two years, winning their last 26 games along with the Shamrock Bowl in 2012 and 2013. They have undoubtedly established themselves as the kings of American Football in Ireland.
Previously, Trinity met the Trojans in May 2013 at the final of the EFAF Atlantic Cup, conceding defeat with a 26 – 0 loss at Tallaght Stadium.
Anticipation had grown throughout the season as Trinity continued their trend of punching in scores and claiming the W. Undefeated half-way through their regular season, Trinity had proven themselves as a force to be reckoned with and a formidable opponent. As spectators of the league and indeed Trinity’s players themselves began to recognize their potential, all eyes would be on this game to see if Belfast would continue their two year undefeated streak. Trinity had the hunger and the belief to win as they had shown themselves what they were capable of in the first half of the season.
In what was one of the most monumental games of the 2014 season, Trinity came out on top with an 18 – 0 win, an impressive feat which highlights the talent on both sides of the ball for TCD. Allowing the Trojans nil points is no small feat, however Trinity’s defense is bolstered by the presence of senior veteran IAFL players such as former captain Stephen Carton, Andrew Redmond and Alex Gurnee who’s production is critical in stifling opposing offences. First year players such as Dylan Campbell, George Walsh and German Velderrain also caused chaos on the defensive line, putting pressure on the Trojan’s quarterback relentlessly for four quarters.
McDowell was the pioneer of offensive production on the day and would run in all three touchdowns. Since then, Trinity are a team whose doubts have been cast aside, having shown up with a somewhat depleted squad and only one training session under their belt since the Cowboys game, to come away with the win.
Trinity’s next three regular season games were played true to form and they took away the win every time, defeating newly formed teams in North Kildare and Waterford, and returning to play against West Dublin in their last regular season game with a 53 – 6 victory.
This left them as the number one seed for the playoffs, which saw them face off against the Dublin Rebels and record another phenomenal 47-8 victory.
This brings TCD to the final, against the Belfast Trojans. Trinity American Football’s hunger and desire over the past five seasons have brought them to this point. There are players who have invested all their time, money and effort into this team over the past few years for little or no recognition and who are keen to see their investment pay off.
With many of TCD’s veteran players concluding their 5th year of playing the sport after this season – including Stephen Carton, Kieran Coughlan, Brian O’Driscoll, Craig Marron and the phenomenal Rob McDowell -there is certainly a grand sense of finality and conclusion to this game. Trinity American Football’s story in both the long and short term feels like it has reached an epic conclusion, the work over the past five years paired with new talent in the roster, resulting in their first Shamrock Bowl appearance. The game is scheduled for a 3pm kickoff this Sunday August 10th at Tallaght Stadium and has all the makings of a classic.
