The inaugural American Football College Championship took place in the University of Limerick over the weekend. It featured teams from UL, DCU, UCD and Trinty College. The four teams participated in a large flag tournament on Friday with each team putting three teams into the competition. The standard of play was very high with some big throws and acrobatic catches on show. The final was played between a DCU team and a UL team and was a dramatic affair with DCU grabbing victory with a last second touchdown.

On Saturday the kitted football tournament took place. The first round of games were short playoff games to decide the finals. Trinity Thunderbolts were drawn against the UL Vikings in the first game and the DCU Saints faced the UCD Sentinels in the second game. The Vikings shut the Trinity defence down with a strong showing from a number of rookies including Sean Sheehan. On offense the Vikings power running game gained yards with every play. Adrian Garvey made the hard yards behind great blocks from the O-line and reciever Jake Aufty. Vikings QB Liam Ryan punched in the score to put UL in the College Bowl. In the second game a dogged performance by UCD wasnt enough to overturn the more experienced DCU Saints. The Saints wildcat style offense made solid yards and RB Dave McMahon punched the ball in on an impressive run to put DCU in the final to face UL.

In the third place playoff Trinity faced UCD and the two rivals played out a tense game. The game was scoreless for the first half with both teams struggling to move the ball in difficult conditions. UCD were attempting to move the ball predominantly in the air and their efforts were hampered by high winds and wet field conditions. Trinity used their ground game effectively and eventually gained the upper hand. They had better field position for most of the second half and made the pressure count with the go ahead touchdown run towards the end of the game. UCD staged a spirited comeback but a Trinity interception by #25 killed the game off.

In the final UL faced DCU. The Saints started on offense and looked to keep the ball on the ground with RB Dave McMahon. The Vikings D shut the Saints down and forced a three and out. The Vikings started on Offense and QB Matt Huntsman ran a perfectly executed option play getting Adrian Garvey free for a long TD run. The Vikings defence was in top form forcing turnover after turnover. Sean Sheehan, Ruari Tuite and Adam Dunne performed extremely well in their first games. Garvey added on another TD, this time a punt return for a touchdown with a pass from Huntsman to TE Marc Ashworth to convert the two point attempt. Garvey then completed his hat-trick with another long run behind the blocks of Eoghan O'Grady, Shane Gleeson and Jake Aufty.

IAFL Commissioner Maurice Cosgrove presented the inaugural College Bowl to Vikings captain Glen Carr in the Stables Club to cap a great weekend for football in Ireland.

Pictures to follow shortly.