Shamrock Bowl XXI

Event

2007 IAFL Season

UL Vikings	Cork Admirals
South	South
22	14

Date

29 July 2007

Venue

UL Sports Ground, Limerick

← XX

XXII →

Shamrock Bowl XXI was played on July 29, 2007 at UL Sports Ground, Limerick to decide the Irish American Football League (IAFL) champion following the 2007 regular season. This Shamrock Bowl hosted two teams from the IAFL South division, the University of Limerick Vikings and the Cork Admirals. The Vikings won the first Shamrock Bowl title in their team history, previously losing their last two in 2002 and 2006. This was the Cork Admirals' first Shamrock Bowl appearance.

The game finished 22-14 to the Vikings, courtesy of three rushing touchdowns from game MVP Seamus Hogan.

The 2007 playoffs were played by

The University of Limerick Vikings were heavily favoured going into the game because Shamrock Bowl XXI was being played on their home ground in UL Sports Grounds, and having Shamrock Bowl experience.

Cork got off to a great start when kick returner David Barry took the opening kick-off back deep into Vikings territory. The Admirals threatened to score, but were stopped on the 15-yard line by the Vikings defense. The Admirals defense held the Vikings offence on their very first possession of the game, forcing them to punt the ball. The key play for the Admirals on the ensuing possession was a 40 yard draw play by fullback Alain Pezeron which got them a first and goal on the Vikings 3-yard line. Two plays later, Cork’s Keith O’Callaghan scored from 3 yards out, following the linemen to the goal line. Pezeron got the 2-point conversion to make the score 8-0 Admirals.

The Vikings got back into the game shortly afterwards. Quarterback Chris Bassitt led them down field on helped by running backs Andrew Gordon and Seamus Hogan, before Hogan scored a touchdown on a 5-yard run up the middle. Bassitt got the 2-point conversion to level the scores at 8-8. Both defenses dominated the second quarter in which there were a number of good defensive plays on both sides of the ball. The Vikings defenders Declan O’Donnell, Damien Laffan and Alan O’Carroll made a number of key tackles. On the other side of the ball, the Admirals defensive line of Marcus Gates, Ross McCullough and Barry Rea forced some tackles for loss. With less than 5 minutes to go to half time, Vikings' cornerback Daniel Smith got the first turnover of the day when he picked off a pass intended for Dominic MacHale. However, Vikings' kicker Adrian Garvey missed a field goal and the score remained 8-8 until the half.

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