Standings

Note Standings Calculated Automatically from Schedule.

Schedule

Schedule compiled from results and fixtures from numerous sources – please see references section for more details.

Weekly Recaps

Week 1 (2 April 1988)

The opening game of the 1988 Irish American Football League season between the winners of the first two Shamrock Bowls – Craigavon Cowboys and Dublin Celts – was a washout with the game being cancelled. [References: 2]

Week 2 (9 April 1988)

The 1988 Irish American Football League season finally got underway at Coleraine on Saturday, 9 April 1988 when the Chieftains found the Dublin Tornadoes whirlwind too much to handle as the visitors won 46-0.

Week 3 (17 April 1988)

Dublin Celts and Belfast Blitzers both got their 1988 season underway in Belfast with the Celts winning 20-7. Belfast Labatt Spartans defeated Carrickfergus Cougars 7-6 and went top of the Irish Conference in both teams first game of the 1988 season. [References: 1, 3-4]

Week 4 (1 May 1988)

Craigavon Cowboys opened their 1988 season with a 32-0 victory over Dublin Tornadoes, the Dublin team’s first defeat of the season. Belfast Labatt Spartans earned their second close win of the season as they moved top of the Irish Conference on 2-0 with a 14-7 defeat of Coleraine Chieftains who fell to their second straight loss. [References: 1, 4]

About the 1988 Irish American Football League

The 1988 Irish American Football League was the third season of the league. Eight teams returned from the 1987 season – both East Side Jets and Jordanstown Jaguars had disbanded mid-way through the 1987 season and Bangor Buccaneers had moved to Newtownards, becoming the North Down Raiders but never played in the 1988 season. NI Giants (also known as Belfast Tennants Giants for sponsorship reasons) pulled out after the preseason after a dispute over scheduling leaving seven teams, divided into two Conferences: National and Irish. The two Conference Champions plus the two teams with the next best records qualified for the Shamrock Bowl Playoffs. Dublin Celts, Craigavon Cowboys, Belfast Blitzers and Dublin Tornadoes contested the National Conference while Coleraine Chieftains, Carrickfergus Cougars, and Belfast Labatt Spartans contested the Irish Conference.

Map of Irish American Football League Teams 1988

Stock Photo of Football Helmet in Irish Colours and Football

References

Scoreboard References

[1988-1] Britball Now (2016) Results Section [1988] [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/results-section.html [Accessed 23 March 2017]

[1988-2] Anon. (1987) “Gridiron action” Belfast Telegraph. Friday, April 1, 1988. Pg. 29. Past Editions of the Belfast Telegraph are Available to view on the Internet at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ [Accessed 6 May 2020]

[1988-3] Anon. (1987) “Chieftains fall” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, April 11, 1988. Pg. 18-19. Past Editions of the Belfast Telegraph are Available to view on the Internet at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ [Accessed 6 May 2020]

[1988-4] Anon. (1987) “Celts’ home debut” Irish Independent. Monday, May 14, 1988. Pg. 22. Past Editions of the Belfast Telegraph are Available to view on the Internet at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ [Accessed 13 October 2018]

Team Information References

[1988-TI-1] Britball Now (2022) North Down Raiders [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Britball%20Teams/NORTHDOWNRAIDERS.htm [Last Accessed 28 December 2022]

LOGO REFERENCES

[1] Dublin Celts American Football Team Facebook Page (2016) Photo by Joseph Greene August 28, 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1421158977901127&set=gm.269427200117075&type=3&theater&ifg=1 [Accessed 3 July 2018]

[2] Coleraine Chieftains (2002) Coleraine Chieftains: Chief Image [Internet] Available from: http://www.thecolerainechieftans.freeservers.com/images/chief.gif [Accessed 18 July 2018]

[3] Craigavon Cowboys – Twitter Account (2018) Profile Picture [Internet] Available from: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/864100166680424448/TCauLbnj_400x400.jpg [Accessed 22 July 2018]

[4] Belfast Blitzers Facebook Page (2019) Post, August 12, 2019 at 1:31 PM [Internet] Available from:  https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/posts/2244208692356940?notif_id=1565921781157641&notif_t=comment_mention [Accessed 17 August 2019]

[6] Belfast Blitzers Facebook Page (2021) Post to Page by Belfast Blitzers, 5 February 2021: [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/146339398_3535274803250316_484236705150193506_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=2&_nc_sid=dbeb18&_nc_ohc=APIfzLRulaMAX9g3LLc&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=72bcf54f0435a9ab26cd035a8d2cf7c7&oe=604502C2 [Accessed 5 February 2021]

[11] Dublin Tornadoes Football Helmet – Authors’ Personal Collection – Purchased at http://www.417helmets.com

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Jo Buchanan (Craigavon Cowboys), Kevin Sharkey (Dublin Celts) and David Turner (Belfast Blitzers)

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 3 January 2023

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019-2023

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.