PREVIEW: 2015 Irish American Football League – South
[tps_title]Irish American Football League – South[/tps_title]
[tps_header]Trinity College Dublin (8-0 in 2014)[/tps_header]
Trinity College Dublin won all of their regular season games in 2014, including victory over the Dublin Rebels in the semi-finals before they were beaten in a close battle with the Belfast Trojans in the Shamrock Bowl Final. The students were far and away the best team throughout the regular season, but their first final appearance in the club’s history didn’t quite go to plan. They possess a youthful, quick and hard working group of players that are in prime condition to make another attempt at a Championship final. Maybe this will be their year!
Trinity started off their last campaign with the annual College Championship game, where they defeated the UL Vikings in the final to give them their first taste of silverware. This may have been what sparked the surge of form from the students who went on to eclipse an unbeaten season, whilst also ending the unbeaten streak of the Belfast Trojans in the process. Dominant displays through the year made Trinity College the team to beat and they almost went all the way! Prolific on both sides of the ball, the students scored 272 points on offence, averaging 34 points per game whilst only conceding 70 points in 8 games; impressive stats!
Trinity will host the first game of the 2015 campaign as they face fellow University side, UCD. Games against the Vikings and Rebels soon follow as they close out their campaign away to the Rhinos. Will there be another unbeaten season on the cards?
Keys to Success: After coming a whisker away to lifting the Shamrock Bowl in the summer, Trinity College have a squad capable of dethroning the elite teams in the country. Although Trinity lack depth at times, their players are fit enough to cope with another full season of games. With QB Dan Finnamore at the helm after an impressive first year, he will have more confidence in this offence that should see him flourish alongside receivers Daniel Murphy and David Lunn. If league MVP, Rob McDowell makes a return this year, Trinity will possess arguably the most explosive offence in the league once again.
Prediction: It’s going to be a close fight at the top of the SBC South, and Trinity will most certainly be apart of it. Whether they can replicate or even better last seasons performances will be interesting to see, but what will be more interesting is the battle between the University sides. Whoever comes out on top, will surely clinch the SBC South! 2nd
