THE DONEGAL-DERRY VIPERS put up a spirited fight but ended up with a narrow defeat in their first game in the IAFL1 against the West Dublin Rhinos last weekend.
West Dublin Rhinos 9-8 Donegal-Derry Vipers
By Dermot Brown
It was an early start for the Vipers leaving Derry and travelling to Castleknock, Dublin in the early hours. The lads had been hard at work in preparation for a new season in a new league since late November, last year’s unbeaten season in IAFL2 has been pushed far back into the rear view for the lads have their sights on bigger and better fish to fry in IAFL1.
Head coach Jason Brock, on board for another year has given the men new targets for the battles ahead, not just to compete in this league but to plant their own flag and show how capable they are of dominating the opponent.
It was to be a tough muddy encounter in Dublin for the boys in Red and Gold, persistent rain over night had turned the field into what can only be described as a quagmire, almost unplayable but our boys got stuck in all the same.
Shaun McGrory and the Vipers Offense
Early in the first quarter Quarterback Danny Mullan missed a wide open Ryan Brolly on a go route that would have opened the scoring in the game followed by the Vipers having a field goal blocked by the Rhino defence.
Multiple three and outs followed for both team’s offensive units leading into the second quarter only to be broken up when Viper Rookie Eli Doherty intercepted a wayward pass from the Rhino quarterback much to the delight of new defensive coach Kyle McAneny.
The Vipers front five struggled for large portions of the game, swapping in three new center players who couldn’t cohesively snap the ball in the horrible conditions. The entirety of the Vipers offensive unit, weathered these problems as a totality as things would get worse before they got better.
The Rhinos played tight and controlled throughout the game, quick crossing routes and speed around the outside proved too much when they were able to break a thirty yard score and then a defensive safety making the score 9-0 going into the half.
Video: Watch Ryan Brolly’s 95-yard run touchdown for the Donegal-Derry Vipers
The Vipers came out in the second half permeating aggressiveness and determination at the point of attack and were rewarded in the fourth quarter when wide receiver Ryan Brolly caught a quick slant in his own red zone and took the ball 95 yards for a Viper touchdown. After a well polished trick play they added on another two points with a fake field goal run in from Gary Melly making the score 9-8 and setting up a nail biter of a finish.
The Viper Defence stood tall all day barring the single Touchdown score not much else was at fault, Rookie Defensive End Paul O’Donnell made a nuisance of himself in the opposition back field all game, stalwart McAneny made eight tackles for a loss and rookie Safety Isaac Sullivan made some key hits to shut down opposition drives at crucial points in the game.
After the Viper scores the lad’s confidence was up and they smelled blood but victory was wrenched from them as Mullan had his pass intercepted to all but kill the final drive and secure the win for the Dublin boys.
As a team the Vipers gave an amazing account of themselves in their first game in Ireland’s second division of American football, special mentions have to go to new rookie Running Back Gabriel Dell’aira and receiver Melly whose ingenuity gave the lads the points in a game that teetered on a knife edge. Next up is the South Kildare Soldiers at The YMCA playing fields on April 2nd come on down and cheer our boys on and we hope to see you there
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