Drimnagh Thrash Leicester in Senior Flag Challenge Match

10th July 2001

Saturday 7th July 2001 saw the Drimnagh Cycos host the Leicester Eagles in the fifth Anglo-Irish Shield Flag Football Challenge. This was the third visit of the Eagles to Ireland and they were seeking revenge for the victory Drimnagh achieved in Leicester last May. The history of this game saw the Cycos go into the game with three wins against the Eagles one. Although the sun did not appear it was still warm, making it great conditions for the game.

The game got underway with the Eagles receiving the opening kick-off. Although their Offense began by moving the ball well, the Cycos defense eventually got to grips with them and the Eagles went four-and-out. Drimnagh took over and it was soon apparent that QB Aidan Kelly and WR Liam Farrell were on fire. A quick drive was capped by a long winding run by Aidan for the first TD of the match. The one point conversion was successful, Kelly hitting Farrell in the back of the Endzone. This resulted in a worrying knee injury to Farrell, fortunately for the Cycos he managed to recover.

The Eagles second drive proved more successful with a steady march up the field. An inch perfect pass from Chris Wild to Craig Broughton at the front corner of the Endzone capped the drive. The Cycos managed to prevent the conversion from being scored to maintain a one-point lead. This was to prove the only score the Cycos would concede, although both Craig Broughton and James Hossack provided plenty of trouble to the Cycos secondary.

The next two Cyco possessions were capped with touchdown passes from Kelly to Farrell. Neither attempted conversion was successful. Between these two drives Aidan Kelly had managed to intercept the Eagles. With the score at 19-6 the Cycos got their fourth score of the game in the form of a run from Stephen Dunne. He capped this by making a catch for the two-point conversion.

The next score completed a hat-trick of Touchdown passes from Kelly to Farrell. Once again Stephen Dunne added the two-point conversion. The Cycos defense got in on the scoring when Liam Farrell returned an interception for a Touchdown for the next score. Iain McGuinness make the catch for the two point conversion.

An interception by Iain McGuinness on the Eagles next drive set up the Cycos final dive, which ended in another Touchdown run by Aidan Kelly. On the defensive line both Cameron Cramer and Darren Brady picked up a sack each during the game, while Mike Costall and Marcus Gambrill did likewise for the Eagles.

At the presentation of the Anglo-Irish Shield after the game, Aidan Kelly was given MVP for the Cycos and James Hossack was given MVP for the Eagles.