AFAI All-Ireland American Football League 1991

	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
*Dublin Celts	7	7	0	0			1.000
*Belfast Spartans	6	3	2	1			.583
Antrim Bulldogs	7	3	3	1			.500
Dublin Tornadoes	8	3	5	0			.375
Newtownabbey Warriors	5	0	5	0			.000
Craigavon Cowboys	0	0	0	0			.000

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Shamrock Bowl VI		29 September 1991
1991	Dublin Celts	66	Antrim Bulldogs	6

AFAI All-Ireland American Football League 1992

	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
Mourne Conference
*Craigavon Cowboys	5	4	1	0	124	18	.800
*Antrim Bulldogs	6	4	2	0	127	16	.667
Belfast Spartans	6	4	2	0	105	59	.667
Tara Conference
*Dublin Tornadoes	6	4	2	0	81	49	.667
*Dublin Celts	6	3	3	0	77	57	.500
Drogheda Vikings	5	1	4	0	15	135	.200
Lee Valley Steelers	6	0	6	0	0	195	.000

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Semi-Finals
13.09.1992	Dublin Tornadoes	6	Antrim Bulldogs	19
13.09.1992	Craigavon Cowboys	10	Dublin Celts	6
	Shamrock Bowl VII
20.09.1992	Craigavon Cowboys	14	Antrim Bulldogs	6

AFAI All-Ireland American Football League 1993

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Semi-Finals
12.09.1993	Dublin Tornadoes	20	Belfast Spartans	0
12.09.1993	Craigavon Cowboys	0	Dublin Celts	19
	Shamrock Bowl VII
26.09.1993	Dublin Tornadoes	19	Dublin Celts	2

AFAI All-Ireland American Football League 1994

	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
*Dublin Tornadoes	6	5	1	0	128	35	.833
*Carrickfergus Knights	6	5	1	0			.833
Lurgan Area Raiders	6	2	4	0			.333
Belfast Spartans	6	0	6	0	26	112	.000

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Shamrock Bowl IX
1994	Dublin Tornadoes	18	Carrickfergus Knights	13

AFAI All-Ireland American Football League 1995

	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
*Dublin Tornadoes	8	8	0	0			1.000
*Dublin Lightning	6	4	2	0			.667
*Carrickfergus Knights	7	2	5	0			.287
*Lurgan Area Raiders	7	0	7	0			.000

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Semi-Finals
17.09.1995	Dublin Tornadoes	60	Lurgan Area Raiders	0
17.09.1995	Dublin Lightning	L	Carrickfergus Knights	W
	Shamrock Bowl X
24.09.1995	Dublin Tornadoes	34	Carrickfergus Knights	12

AFAI All-Ireland American Football League 1996

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Shamrock Bowl XI
1996	Dublin Lightning	26	Dublin Tornadoes	8

AFAI Irish Senior League 1997

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Playoff
07.09.1997	Dublin Bulls	14	Dublin Lightning	0
	Shamrock Bowl XII
21.09.1997	Carrickfergus Knights	21	Dublin Bulls	0

Report

In 1991 the Irish League was reunited, as the Dublin Celts rejoined after a season playing in the English second division, and the Dublin tornadoes joined them and the Irish League of American Football teams in an All-Ireland American Football League. The Carrickfergus Cougars and Coleraine Chieftains had merged as one Antrim team, the Newtownabbey Warriors. Craigavon Cowboys didn’t play that season. Dublin Celts, as expected, ran away with the League title, and then defeated Antrim Bulldogs 66-6 in Shamrock Bowl VI.

In 1992 there was again two conferences, Tara and Mourne, named after mountain ranges associated with Irish Kings, and the addition of the Lee Valley Steelers from Cork, and Drogheda Vikings, a split from the Celts, brought the league up to 7 teams again. The Cowboys also returned, but the Warriors disbanded. On opening day the A26 Bulldogs became the first Irish team to beat the Celts since 1988, and the Celts proceeded to lose their first three matches before winning their last three to make the playoffs. Conference Champions were the Dublin Tornadoes and Craigavon Cowboys, who defeated Antrim Bulldogs 14-6 to take their second or third Shamrock Bowl (there is sill dispute over who won in 1990).

The League again became one division after the Drogheda Vikings disbanded and reformed as the Ardee Falcons in a 8-v-8 Mini-League. Dublin Tornadoes and Dublin Celts met in the first ever all-Dublin Shamrock Bowl, after knocking out the Belfast Spartans and Craigavon Cowboys in the Playoffs. The Tornadoes won their first of three Shamrock Bowls, defeating the Celts in what would be their last ever game, 19-2.

1994 saw big changes to the league. New teams were the Carrickfergus Knights, a follow on from the Prospect Pumas Junior team, and the Lurgan Area Raiders (a reformed Craigavon Cowboys), but the league lost the Celts, Bulldogs and Lee Valley Steelers. The Bulldogs had lost three Bowls in four years, and the Celts had also disbanded after lack of success. The league was now just four teams, and the Dublin Tornadoes again won the Shamrock Bowl, beating the Carrickfergus Knights 18-13.

In 1995 a new team, Dublin Lightning, formed partially from old Dublin Celts and Drogheda Vikings players entered the league, but the league remained at four teams as the Belfast Spartans sat out the season. All for teams made the playoffs, and the Tornadoes won their third in a row, again defeating the Knights, 34-12.

The 1996 season saw the return of the Belfast Spartans, and the Lurgan Area Raiders, moved to Portadown, becoming the Pumas. The Dublin Lightning won their only Shamrock Bowl, defeating the Dublin Tornadoes 26-8 in Shamrock Bowl XI, in what was the last game the Tornadoes played, as another team disbanded after losing the Shamrock Bowl, with a lot of players retiring.

A new organisation, Image Management and Promotions, took over the running of the league in 1997, renaming it the Irish Senior League, like its British counterpart, and the Dublin Bulls, a new team based in Gateway Computers, joined the league, however, the Spartans had left for good, and with the loss of the Tornadoes, this left the League with four teams again. Carrickfergus Knights won the first of their Shamrock Bowls, 21-0 against the Bulls.

The new organisation was unpopular with a number of players and teams, and the Lightning dropped out, and the Greystones Rebels (who had formed in 1997 but didn’t play) also went alone, setting the scene for a dispute between the IAFA and Image Management and Promotions, which lasted until 2001.

References

Sources

[2] Naughton, L. (1991) “Minority Report: Tornadoes are flying”, Evening Herald. Thursday, April 18, 1991, pg. 56.

[3] Naughton, L. (1991) “Minority Report: Look out for the Dublin Tornadoes”, Evening Herald. Thursday, May 9, 1991, pg. 55.

[4] Anon. (1991) “TODAY: AMERICAN FOOTBALL”, Irish Press. Saturday, May 11, 1991, pg. 46.

[5] Naughton, L. (1991) “Minority Report: Spartans supreme”, Evening Herald. Thursday, May 16, 1991, pg. 62.

[6] Naughton, L. (1991) “Minority Report: Tornadoes all the way”, Evening Herald. Thursday, June 13, 1991, pg. 60.

[7] Naughton, L. (1991) “Minority Report: Defensive Tornadoes do it”, Evening Herald. Thursday, June 27, 1991, pg. 59.

[8] Naughton, L. (1991) “Minority Report: CELTS STAY UNBEATEN”, Evening Herald. Thursday, July 25, 1991, pg. 55.

[9] Naughton, L. (1991) “Minority Report: Tornadoes toppled!”, Evening Herald. Thursday, August 15, 1991, pg. 44.

[10] Naughton, L. (1991) “Minority Report: CELTS TOP LEAGUE”, Evening Herald. Thursday, August 22, 1991, pg. 53.

[11] Naughton, L. (1991) “Minority Report: Tip-toe around American grid!”, Evening Herald. Thursday, September 26, 1991, pg. 91.

[12] Traynor, Jonathan (1991) “American Football: Clash of Titans!” Sunday Life May 28, 1991. pg. 46

[13] Anon. (1991) “Scoreboard: Gridiron” Sunday Life June 2, 1991. pg. 53

[14] Anon. (1991) “Gridiron: Antrim Dawgs go for walkies” Sunday Life June 9, 1991. pg. 41

[15] Anon. (1991) “American Football: Rows spoil Irish scene” Sunday Life July 28, 1991. pg. 43

[16] Berry, Lee (1992) “Moon Ready to Belt the Celts” First Down March 28, 1992. pg. 18 [Available on the Internet at Dublin Celts | Facebook (2019) Post to Page by Dermot Connolly September 8, 1992 “Blast from the past… clearing out the attic” [Internet] available from: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10219514768330762&set=pcb.975213116205143&type=3&theater&ifg=1 [Accessed 5 October 1992]

[17] Lucky Show (2016) Irish American Football [Internet] Available from: http://www.luckyshow.org/football/Shamrock%20Bowl.htm [Accessed 5 June 2017]

[18] Anon. (1990) Cowboys Riding High Sunday Life August 5, 1990. pg. 43

Newspapers

[19] Anon. (1992) “IRISH CHAMPION CELTS STUNG BY BULLDOG SPIRIT”, First Down. July 11, 1992, pg. 17.
[20] Naughton, L. (1992) “Minority Reports: U.S. Football”, Evening Herald. Thursday, July 2, 1992, pg. 65
[21] Anon. (1992) “Sad Celts are Torn to shreds”, First Down. July 18, 1992, pg. 16.
[22] Naughton, L. (1992) “Minority Reports: Celts blown away”, Evening Herald. Thursday, July 9, 1992, pg. 66
[23] Naughton, L. (1992) “Minority Reports: U.S. Football”, Evening Herald. Thursday, July 16, 1992, pg. 69
[24] Anon. (1992) “Dublin Celts still winless”, First Down. July 25, 1992, pg. 19.
[25] FD Reporter. (1992) “At last! It’s the Dub-win Celts!”, First Down. August 15, 1992, pg. 17.
[26] Anon. (1992) “IRISH RESULTS”, First Down. August 29, 1992, pg. 17.
[27] Naughton, L. (1992) “Minority Reports: Vikings ready to invade Tallaght”, Evening Herald. Thursday, August 13, 1992, pg. 66
[28] Naughton, L. (1992) “Minority Reports: Tornadoes ko Vikings”, Evening Herald. Thursday, August 20, 1992, pg. 61
[29] Naughton, L. (1992) “Minority Reports: U.S. Football”, Evening Herald. Thursday, August 27, 1992, pg. 61
[30] Naughton, L. (1992) “Minority Reports: U.S. Football”, Evening Herald. Thursday, September 3, 1992, pg. 94
[31] Anon. (1992) “Vikings Victory”, Drogheda Independent. Friday, September 4, 1992, pg. 11
[32] Naughton, L. (1992) “Minority Reports: U.S. Football”, Evening Herald. Thursday, September 10, 1992, pg. 70
[33] Naughton, L. (1992) “Minority Reports: Gridiron grief for Dubs!”, Evening Herald. Thursday, September 17, 1992, pg. 76
[34] Naughton, L. (1992) “Minority Reports: U.S. Football”, Evening Herald. Thursday, October 8, 1992, pg. Sport 7

[35] (1993) “Tornadoes Bowl Glory”, First Down, October 9, 1993, pg. 20

[36] Carrickfergus Knights (1994) Knights American Football Club Carrickfergus Shamrock Bowl Programme. Belfast. Aldine Print

[37] Anon. (1994) Dublin Clinch Crown. First Down. 8 October1994. p. 22

[38] Anon. (1994) Scoreboard. First Down. 16 July 1994. p. 19

[39] Anon. (1994) Scoreboard. First Down. 9 July 1994. p. 19

[40] Anon. (1994) Lurgan Blank Belfast. First Down. 9 July 1994. p. 20

[41] Anon. (1994) Scoreboard. First Down. 2 July 1994. p. 19

[42] Anon. (1994) Scoreboard. First Down. 18 June 1994. p. 19

[43] Anon. (1994) Full Round-Up of BAFA’s Divisions Two and Three. First Down. 7 May 1994. pg. 21

[44] Anon. (1994) Chicago Knights maintain challenge. Carrick Times. 6 June 1994. pg. 60

[45] Naughton, L. (1994) Tornadoes hit!. Evening Herald. Thursday, 21 April 1994 . pg. 54

[46] Naughton, L. (1994) American Football. Evening Herald. Thursday, 5 May 1994 . pg. 91

[47] Naughton, L. (1994) American Football. Evening Herald. Thursday, 26 May 1994 . pg. 68

[48] Naughton, L. (1994) Tornadoes turn up the power. Evening Herald. Thursday, 28 July 1994. pg. 55

[49] Naughton, L. (1994) American Football. Evening Herald. Thursday, 11 August 1994. pg. 44

[50] Naughton, L. (1994) Tornadoes blow Knights away!. Evening Herald. Thursday, 25 August 1994. pg. 50

[51] Naughton, L. (1994) American Football. Evening Herald. Thursday, 22 September 1994. pg.78

[52] Naughton, L. (1994) US Football. Evening Herald. Thursday, 29 September1994. pg.58

[53] Anon (1995) Tornadoes breeze past Carrickfergus to claim third straight Irish title. First Down. 7 October 1995, pg. 21.

[54] (1996) “US Football”, Evening Herald, Thursday, September 19, 1996, pg. 79

[55] Anon. (1992) “Cowboys take on Bulldogs” Sunday Life. September 20, 1992. pg. 52

Websites

[56] Dublin Tornadoes (1996) Irish American Football League 1995: The League Schedule ’95 / Results in ’95 [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/19961115060654/http://fiachra.ucd.ie/~alan/american_football.html#main_menu [Accessed 5 July 2017]

[57] Britball (2016) Shamrock Bowl Results www.britball.co.uk/history-index/ireland/shamrock-bowl-results-1986.html [Accessed 2 October 2016]

[58] Irish American Football Association (2018) Shamrock Bowl History [Internet] Available from: hhttp://www.americanfootball.ie/american-football/shamrock-bowl-history/ [Accessed 23 March 2018]

Social Media

[59] Dublin Celts American Football Team Facebook Page (2016) Post by Kevin Sharkey, August 27, 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/259540917772370/permalink/268518076874654/ [Accessed 6 June 2018]

Websites

[60] Dublin Tornadoes (1996) Irish American Football League 1995: The League Schedule ’95 / Results in ’95 [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/19961115060654/http://fiachra.ucd.ie/~alan/american_football.html#main_menu [Accessed 5 July 2017]

[61] Dublin Tornadoes (1997) Shamrock Bowl [Internet] Available from: www.connect.ie/users/tornadoes/Shamrock.html [Accessed 6 April 2001]

[62] Dublin Tornadoes (1997) Irish League and Shamrock Bowl [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/19980520033318/http://connect.ie:80/users/tornadoes/Shamrock.htm [Accessed 5 July 2017]

Images

[63] Irish American Football Association (2018) Nostalgia – A look a some pictures from the archives [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/20171016_165339-1024×768.jpg [Accessed 3 July 2018]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Cillian Smith, Michael Smith, Ralph Schmeer and Michael Brophy of the Irish American Football Association and Irish American Football Officials Association.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 22 April 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

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