BY 5PM ON Saturday, the winners of Shamrock Bowl XXVII will be known and either the Dublin Rebels will be celebrating one of the biggest shocks in Bowl history or the Belfast Trojans will have completed that rarest of feats, the perfect season.
Earlier this week TheScore.ie caught up with Drew Mikhael, head coach of the Trojans and Gary Sommerville, wide receiver with the Rebels to get their thoughts on the game.
We started by asking Mikhael if the prospect of going in as such heavy favourites put more pressure on his relatively young team:
“I don’t think so, simply because the players set a high standard for themselves during pre-season.
“They know what they want to achieve, external pressures haven’t factored at all really because the ambition within the club is so high.”
For Sommerville, being underdogs doesn’t present the Rebels with too much of an advantage either:
“We have won Shamrock Bowls as heavy favourites but also as the underdogs.
“In the undefeated 2010 season we went into the Bowl against the Vikings as heavy favourites and came out on top but the following year the Vikings were fancied to win it and we squeaked out a victory in dramatic fashion late in the 4th quarter.”
Image: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
While the Trojans have conquered all before them this year, scoring 290 points and conceding just 38 in their eight games; the Rebels have a brilliant record when they reach the Shamrock Bowl, coming out on top in seven of nine appearances.
However, neither think the past will count for anything on Saturday in Tallaght Stadium.
“The Trojans have been fantastic for the last 2 years and really raised the bar in the Irish American Football League (IAFL),” says Sommerville, “but I’m sure both teams at this stage know enough about each other to try and put together a winning game plan.”
The Trojans’ Mikhael agrees. “Our stats versus the Rebels are not a factor and you highlighted why that is the case.
“The Rebels have tremendous experience and quality throughout their squad. If you look at their history you’ll see that they have lost matches to opponents during the regular season only to beat those teams come semis and finals.
“Their final record shows that they know how to step it up for big games and we’ll have to prepare for our hardest match yet.”
YouTube: Belfast Trojans
While American football is, at all times, a team sport, both teams are well aware of the individuals who could make a big difference in Saturday’s showpiece.
“I have respect for the whole Rebels squad,” says Mikhael, “they are strong in all units and it seems unfair to pick out certain players but at the same time you have to mention guys like Simon Mackey at running back and defensive end, who has had a great season at both spots.
“Andy Dennehy at QB is the glue that brings a very dangerous offense together along with his receivers Gary Sommerville and Paul Grogan.
“They have so many weapons to hurt you, if you concentrate on one, then another can deliver a blow. On defence Kevin Finnegan is a great player who does a lot of things in their scheme and Steve Walsh is always a tough customer.”
Sommerville and the Rebels, meanwhile, are very wary of Trojans running back, Dave Colvin.
“He has been instrumental running the ball for the Trojans this year and I don’t think we have ever seen him play below par.
“He has a dynamic skill set that can cause any team problems so he will definitely be one player to watch out for on July 20th.
“Defensively it’s hard to pick out one player that stands out as they have all been solid as a unit, but their linebackers have kicked on this year and can certainly change a game at any moment.”
Image: Annie Vea @ 401 Media
So what will it mean for both teams if they were to walk away with Bowl victory on Saturday afternoon?
For the Trojans, it’ll mean even more than their recent Atlantic Cup victory.
“The Shamrock Bowl is the prize and it’s the reason why we suffered the months of toil, training through an unholy winter to run wind sprints and beat each other up on the practice field.
“That effort was to put us in position to win a Shamrock Bowl. Now that we have that chance, I expect to see that effort every snap on the day.”
For Sommerville though, a win wouldn’t mean as much as their 2010 victory over the UL Vikings who were going for four-in-a-row.
“It’s almost with tongue in cheek and with all due respect to the Trojans and the excellent work they’re doing, that I’ll say it’s only their second bowl so no, it wouldn’t rank up there with the big ones in terms of wins or losses but it would sure be nice to win it.
“Having been away from the Bowl since 2011, our club is hungry to win and get back to the summit of the IAFL.”
