Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge Drimnagh Cycos v BSFL Allstars Game Summary 2003

Drimnagh Cycos 12 BSFL Allstars 18 – 25 January 2003

Drimnagh Cycos 12 BSFL Allstars 18 – The BSFL Allstars travelled to Dublin on a cold, wet windy day on Saturday, 25 January 2003 to play the Drimnagh Cycos in the Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge in the Phoenix Park. The BSFL Allstars were made up of players from the Bournemouth Raiders and Invicta (Canterbury) Coyotes. The match was 7v7 Flag Football under the Irish Rules then used in Ireland. The Cycos first possession was stopped at the 20-yard line by a strong BSFL Defensive stand. On the first BSFL possession QB Nick Michael threw the ball straight into the hands of the Cycos #55 (Liam Farrell), although again the Allstars defense stopped the Cycos from scoring. QB Michael yet again threw an interception on the next BSFL drive, this time in the endzone. Drimnagh Cycos Quarterback Aidan Kelly scored the first Touchdown of the game on the next possesion, running in from 5 yards. Stephen wigley of the BSFL Allstars helted the Point After with a lunging tackle. Michael threw a third interception on the next drive, this time to Cornerback #53 who returned it 30 yards for the second touchdown. Kelly was tagged on the resulting option play by Mark Houston, ening the PAT attempt, leaving the score 12-0 to Drimnagh. Mark houston replaced Nick Michael at Quarterback for the Allstars, and they drove downfield in the final two minutes of the half to put a score on the board as Abdulmalik Lawal caught a 10 yard TD Pass from Houston, although the PAT attempt was unsuccessful. The Half-Time Score read Drimnagh Cycos 12 BSFL Allstars 6.

The second half started with playmaker Mark Houston calling a no huddle offense with Michael as QB and Houston as Wide Receiver. While a couple of Cycos looked at Houston, none decided to cover him and Michael completed a 75-yard pass to Houston to tie the game. The PAT attempt to Stephen Wigley was spoiled by a Drimnagh defender. The BSFL defense dominated the Cycos from there to the final whistle, leaving little room on passing, running, option and trick plays, and both Vincent Gurrea and Stephen Wigley got interceptions for the Allstars. BSFL decide to run conservative rushing plays up the middle by Houston and the outside by Lawal, who broke free on a 40-yard running play to put the BSFL Allstars 18-12 up. After a controversial sack in the endzone where the teams dispured whether it should be a safety or not, the Cycos kept the ball on their own goalline. Three plays later Houston intercepted a Cyco pass and returned it 20 yards, but BSFL could not get in the endzone as the Irish team kept them out. The Cycos then took over and started slowly marching downfield, and after two unsuccessful attempts to get in the endzone they face 4th and Goal from the 10 yard line. QB Kelly rolled out to his right looking for Receivers #55 (Liam Farrell) and #53 but they were covered. Kelly circled back, looking for an open Tight End in the Endzone to his left, but just as he was about to release the ball, Lawal dove to take the flag, leaving the BSFL Allstars 18-12 winners.

At Phoenix Park, DublinH1H2Total
BSFL Allstars61218
Drimnagh Cycos12012
Drimnagh Cycos 12 BSFL Allstars 18 – 31 January 2003 [Reference: 1]
TeamScorersScore
1st Half
DRIAidan Kelly 5yd Run 0-6
DRI#53 30yd Interception Return0-12
BSFLAbdulmalik Lawal 10yd Pass from Mark Houston6-12
2nd Half
BSFLMark Houston 75yd Pass from Nick Michael12-12
BSFLAbdulmalik Lawal 40yd Run18-12
Drimnagh Cycos 12 BSFL Allstars 18 – 31 January 2003 [Reference: 1]

Teams

Drimnagh CycosPosition
Aidan KellyQuarterback
Liam Farrell (#55)Cornerback / Receiver
Stephen Dunne
John Canning
Ian McGuinness
Cameron Cramer
Ian Curtis
Bob Curran
BSFL Allstars
Nick Michael (Bournemouth Raiders)Quarterback
Mark Houston (Bournemouth Raiders)Wide Receiver / Running Back / Quarterback
Vincent Gurrea (Bournemouth Raiders)Wide Receiver / Cornerback
Abdulmalik Lawal (Bournemouth Raiders)Running Back / Defensive Line
Stephen Wigley (Invicta Coyotes)Cornerback
Hash (Retired)
Kalid (Retired)

References

Internet Archive

[1] British Senior Flag League | Wayback Machine (2003) Internationals [Internet] Available from: [Accessed 12 November 2019]

Social Media

[2] Liam Farrell (2020) Facebook Messenger 29 November 2020 – Response to Eirball Article on Drimnagh Cycos v BSFL Allstars Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge 2003

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Liam Farrell & Peter Mullen, Drimnagh Cycos & and John Kane

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 29 November 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in whole or part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.

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