25th August 2002 - Team Canada defeat the Knights
Irish Champions, the Carrickfergus Knights, gave a good account of Irish American football by putting up a solid performance against a very highly regarded Team Canada in Dublin today. Team Canada is a representative team consisting of some of the best under-21 players in Canada. They travelled with a squad of 47 players representing 25 colleges/high schools.
Canada opened the scoring late in the first quarter with a 24 yard touchdown run by running back Ashley Heinz. The Knights picked up several first downs in the second quarter - mainly through the air with Stephen McDowell linking up with receivers Paul McKillop and Ian McIlroy, but failed to covert these opportunities into scores. Canada scored again just before half time when Dan Gooding scored from 10 yards out. Ricky Postma added the 2 point conversion to give Canada a 14-0 lead at the half.
Canada came out strong in the 3rd quarter and quickly added to their lead - Gooding scored again, this time from 7 yards out and linebacker Mike Smith recovered a Knights fumble and returned it 48 yards for another score. Ricky Postma added another 2 point conversion to make it 28-0. The Knights defense came on strong through the remainder of the game - linebacker Spencer McDowell made a number of tackles in the Canadian backfield and sacked Canadian Quarterback Morgan Gallagher. In spite of a strong display by the Knights defense, the Canadians managed to score once more - this time on a breakaway run by Ashley Heinz. The Knights responded by putting together a 75 yard scoring drive. Three first down passes by McDowell and a couple of strong runs from Pete Watt put them in scoring range. McDowell found McKillop in the endzone from 9 yards out to make the final score 34-6 to the Canadians.
Team Canada now travel to Britain to play the Chester Romans in the second game of their European tour.
Article courtesy of http://www.irish-american-football.org
3rd July 2002 - Dublin Rebels win Charleroi Trophy
Dublin Rebels beat the Charleroi Cougars in the final of the Charleroi Trophy, at the Complex Sportif de Charleroi in Belgium. This is the first time an Irish club side has won an International tournament abroad. Marcus Naylor of the Rebels won Offensive MVP for the tournament.
In the final, the Rebels defeated the Cougars 22-0 thanks to two TD passes from QB John Durrad to Feargal O’Donnchu. Marcus Naylor had opened the scoring for the Rebels with a 21 yard interception return in the 1st quarter. In the semi-finals, the Rebels had defeated the Forbach Taupes of France 26-8.
Semi-Final results
Dublin Rebels 26-8 Forbach Taupes
Charleroi Cougars 0-0 Reims Champs (Cougars won on 4 downs tie breaker)
3rd place playoff result
Reims Champs 18-0 Forbach Taupes
Final
Dublin Rebels 22-0 Charleroi Cougars
Rebels scorers:
DUBLIN REBELS (IRL) 22 CHARLEROI COUGARS (BEL) 0
1st Quarter: DUB - Marcus Naylor, 21yd int return, Mark Slator 2xpt. (8-0).
2nd Quarter: DUB - Feargal O'Donnchu, 13yd pass from John Durrad, Ulli Zinnecker 2xpt (16-0)
3rd Quarter: No Scoring.
4th Quarter: DUB - Feargal O'Donnchu, 9yd pass from John Durrad (22-0).
DUBLIN REBELS (IRL) 26 FORBACH TAUPES (FRA) 8
1st Quarter: No scoring
2nd Quarter: DUB - Ulli Zinnecker 1yd run (6-0); FOR - 11 yd pass + 2xpt (6-8)
3rd Quarter: No Scoring.
4th Quarter: DUB - John Durrad, 3yd run (12-8); DUB - Ulli Zinnecker 3yd run (18-8); DUB - Feargal O'Donnchu - recovered Forbach fumble in endzone, + 2xpt. (26-8).
17th June 2002 - Knights win Shamrock Bowl XVI
The Carrickfergus Knights crushed the University of Limerick Vikings 66-0 at the University Bowl yesterday in Shamrock Bowl XVI. 46-0 up at the half-time interval, the Knights kept on piling on the points in the second half.
Carrickfergus Knights - 2002 Shamrock Bowl winners
Photo courtesy of Cillian Smith
SCORERs (all Carrickfergus):
1st Quarter:- Shaw, 12yd run, Watt 2xpt (8-0), C. McDowell, 34yd run (14-0), C. McDowell 15yd pass from S. McDowell (20-0).
2nd Quarter: C. McDowell 53yd run, Watt 2xpt. (28-0), Watt, 7yd run (34-0), Shaw, 16yd run (40-0), McKillop, 1yd pass from S. McDowell (46-0).
3rd Quarter: McIlroy, 4yd run, Watt 2xpt. (54-0), McKillop, 6yd run, Watt 2xpt. (62-0), Defensive safety (64-0).
4th Quarter:- Safety on punt (66-0).