DCU Saints 22 – 14 West Dublin Rhinos
May 13th, 2009 | | Game Reports
DCU Saints travelled to Castleknock to play West Dublin Rhinos on 10th May. The two teams played earlier in the season and shared a 18-18 tie game. This time both teams were eager to walk away with bragging rights.
DCU took the kick off and drove up the field getting numerous first downs, a reverse by WR Conor Buggle made excellent yardage, strong running by RB Dave McMahon and great catching by TE Brian Gilbourne brought the DCU saints to 7 yds from Rhinos endzone. Dave McMahon ran the ball in after great blocking from the Offensive Line. QB Cormac Eklof connected with Geoff Coleman who caught a high ball and turned into the endzone for 2 extra points.DCU Saints Defense took to the field, fired up from watching the Offense score in their opening drive. The Defense immediately stamped its authority, forcing Rhinos to punt, the punter was accidently hit, thus giving the Rhinos 15 yds and a first down. Once again the defense stood firm and Rhinos punted.
(Photos by Janice McConnell)
DCU Saints Offense retook the field and after a stuttering start, moved up the field as Brian Gilbourne and Dave McMahon made first down after first down and brought the Saints to the Rhinos redzone. Cormac Eklof called a pass play and duly delivered a ball into the corner of the end zone into the hands of Geoff Coleman. The 2xpt attempt was unsuccessful.
DCU Defense turned the ball over on downs. DCU Offense couldn’t capitalize and Ronan Murphy punted. The Rhinos once again found the Saints defense tough to break and punted – the punt fell into the arms of LB Eoin Fox, who saw glory and a beckoning NFL contract with the Raiders and started to sprint upfield. Eoin built up a head steam before being ankle tapped and tackled bring the Saints to the half way line. Dream was dashed. The Rhinos Defense started to raise its game and when DCU Offense made some errors, Rhinos held firm and DCU punted. A poor snap to the kicker allowed the Rhinos block the punt and recovered the ball on Saints 40. Their running game started to make some slow headway,until their QB passed long to their WR Steve Mooney, for a TD. The Rhino kicked an extra point. Score was now Rhinos 7 – DCU Saints 14. The Saints Offense took to the field with less than 90 seconds remaining in the half. Going for the score, DCU didnt get the first down and punted. The Rhinos had 8 seconds for one play that the defense stuffed when Gary Fogarty and Vinny Flood combined to sack the QB.
The opening Offensive drive for DCU didnt go well and DCU punted. The Rhinos Offense started with some fire inside them after their half-time break and started to move the ball slowly downfield and aided when penalties went their way, they found themselves in Saints redzone. On fourth down with 8 yds to go, MLB Joe Carlyle stopped the Rhinos as their QB draw came close when Joe tackled their QB on the 1yd line. DCU Saints Offense took the field knowing that they must score. Successfully directed by QB Cormac Eklof, the Saints charged upfield. The Saints moved the ball well on the ground with Joe Carlyle sharing ball carries with Dave McMahon. The quarter ended and starting into the fourth quarter, QB Cormac Eklof connected with WR Geoff Coleman and then again to WR Sam Monson to bring the ball to the 1yd line. RB Dave McMahon ran the ball in for his second TD again behind the blocking of an excellent Offensive Line . Rookie Shaun Goss playing in his first game caught the pass from Cormac Eklof for the 2xpts. The score was now Rhinos 7 – DCU Saints 22.
Kicker Ronan Murphy boomed the kick off and Rhinos started from their 7 yds out from their endzone. On third down, their QB, Stephen Macken connected for 30yds. This gave them momentum and they made some big plays thru their TE, Barry Bolton and Sean Power ran the ball in to score their second TD of the day. They kicked a 1xpt. The score was now Rhinos 14 – DCU Saints 22.
Rhinos attempted an Onside kick but a diving Offensive lineman Dave Byrne pounced on the ball giving the Offense excellent field position. Penalties and good defense from the Rhinos once again forced the offense to punt and put the Rhinos deep into their redzone.With time running out the Rhinos attempted one last drive. They broke out of their endzone with a run and a first down. The Rhinos had under 2 minutes to score. DCU Saints Defense had different ideas, OLB Gary Fogarty swapped with DE Vinny Flood and promptly sacked the QB on consecutive plays and tackled the RB for a loss. Rhinos passed incomplete and the DCU Offense took to the field and kneeled to close out the game. DCU came out of the game with a satisfactory win and no major injuries and have two weeks of practice before our next game in Cork versus the Cork Admirals on May 31st.
Game MVP: Dave McMahon scored 2 TD’s bringing his season total to 5