Northwest Vipers silence Stags to secure first win of the season

The Northwest Vipers secured their first win of the 2026 campaign with an impressive 21–0 road victory over the County Antrim Stags at Newforge Sports Complex, Belfast.

In their first away game of the season, the Vipers delivered a composed and physical performance on both sides of the ball. After a tough opening week, this result marks a strong response as the team levels their record at 1–1.

A dominant defensive display, combined with a balanced offensive performance, saw the Vipers take control of the game and execute effectively in key moments.

The game opened with a tough, physical first quarter as both defences held firm and prevented any early scoring. The Vipers moved the ball well offensively but were unable to capitalise, including a missed field goal attempt.

A turnover briefly stalled momentum when the Vipers threw an interception on their second drive. However, excellent hustle from Lorcan McCartney prevented a potential pick-six, tracking back to stop the return.

READ NEXT: Derry Greyhounds: Veteran Starcash Barry caps 100th race with dramatic victory

The Vipers continued to lean on their ground game, with Darren Quinn leading the way at running back and finding consistent yardage behind a strong offensive line performance.

The breakthrough came in the second quarter when quarterback Mike Naulty finished a well-worked drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown on a QB sneak. In his senior kitted debut, Harry Burgess converted the extra point to give the Vipers a 7–0 lead heading into halftime.

The Vipers built on their momentum in the second half with a confident and well-rounded offensive display.

Naulty extended the lead with a composed passing touchdown to Lewis Lecky, who was left open in the back of the endzone for an 8-yard score. Burgess added his second successful extra point to make it 14–0.

The Vipers offence continued to click, combining an effective passing attack with a strong run game. The highlight came when Naulty launched a deep ball to Harry Chambers, who marked his senior debut in style with a 60-yard touchdown reception. Burgess remained perfect on the day, converting again to extend the lead to 21–0.

On the ground, the Vipers were dominant, finishing with 148 total rushing yards, led by Darren Quinn’s 88-yard performance, consistently gaining tough yards and controlling the tempo of the game.

Defensively, the Vipers were outstanding throughout, recording six sacks from Josh Reed, Niall Lyons, Cathal Curran, and Joshua Ferris (2). Darren Quinn also forced a fumble as the defence maintained control and secured a shutout.

The performance was a true team effort, with strong contributions across all units.

On offence, Mike Naulty and the offensive line (Dylan Coyle, Owen Brady, Niall Lyons, Cathal Curran, Michael Gallagher and Leroy Harris) were named Offensive MVPs, reflecting both efficient quarterback play and dominance in the trenches.

Defensively, Josh Reed led the team in tackles and was named Defensive MVP alongside Caolan McLaughlin, who impressed in the secondary.

On special teams, Harry Burgess earned Special Teams MVP honours, finishing a perfect 3/3 on PAT attempts in his senior debut.

MVP awards for the 2026 season are proudly supported by The Branch Bar and Grill, Campbell’s Bar, The Old Dock’s and Georges Bar.

This result provides strong momentum for the Vipers as they build into the season following a balanced start at 1–1.

The team will now look to carry this performance forward as they continue their AFI Division One campaign, with confidence growing after a dominant all-round display. Next up is a long trip to Wexford for the Vipers on April 12th where they face the Wexford Eagles at Gorey Town Park.