Finals
| Year | Winners | Runners-Up | ||
| 2013 | South Kildare Soldiers | 0 | Carrickfergus Knights | 0 * |
| 2014 | Craigavon Cowboys | 34 | Carrickfergus Knights | 0 |
| 2015 | Craigavon Cowboys | 3-1 + | South Kildare Soldiers | 3-1 * |
| 2016 | South Kildare Soldiers | 6-0 + | Westmeath Minotaurs | 3-3 |
| 2017 | South Kildare Soldiers | 5-0 + | Westmeath Minotaurs | 1-3 |
| 2018 | Cork Admirals | 36 | South Kildare Soldiers | 16 |
| 2019 | Cork Admirals | 44 | Belfast Knights | 7 |
Note: *Title Shared in 2013 and 2015
Note 2: + Title decided on Wins Percentage from 2015 to 2017 (Wins-Losses Records of Winners and Runners-Up Shown)
Report
The first Irish American Football Association Youth League Final took place in 2013 and was shared between South Kildare Soldiers and Carrickfergus Knights after a 0-0 tie. Craigavon Cowboys won the 2014 edition defeating the Knights 34-0, and repeated in 2015, sharing the title with South Kildare Soldiers after both teams finished with 3-1 wins-losses records.
From 2015 to 2017 the Youth Kitted League was decided on a league basis, with South Kildare Soldiers going undefeated in 2016 and 2017 to win their three-in-a-row. Cork Admirals then won the first two Finals played at the end of a League stage, triumphing 36-16 over South Kildare Soldiers in 2018 and then gaining a big win over Belfast Knights, 44-7, in 2019.
References
Images
[66] American Football Ireland (2020) AFI-Youth-Logo-2 [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AFI-Youth-Logo-2.png [Accessed 17 September 2020]
Websites (2013)
[1] Irish American Football Association (2013) Junior Blitz 2013 – U19 kitted football tournament on 13th October. [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/junior-blitz-2013-u19-kitted-football-tournament-on-13th-october/ [Accessed 17 March 2017]
[2] Irish American Football Association (2013) Carrickfergus & South Kildare share first Youth Kitted Blitz [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/carrickfergus-south-kildare-share-first-youth-kitted-blitz/ [Accessed 17 March 2017]
Social Media (2013)
[3] Tube – Ted Elston (Dec 24 2013) South Kildare Soldiers: Carrickfergus Youth Blitz 15/12/13 [1:10][2:20][3:15] [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crU3eJMqHBk [Accessed 5 November 2017]
[4] Carrickfergus Knights Facebook Page (2013) Post December 15 2013 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/BelfastKnightsNI/photos/a.381190102015434.1073741844.229667953834317/381189848682126/?type=3&theater [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[5] Carrickfergus Knights Facebook Page (2013) Post December 15 2013 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/BelfastKnightsNI/posts/381297688671342 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[6] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2013) Post December 15 2013 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/posts/719403958069803 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
Websites (2014)
[7] Double Coverage – Wayback Machine (2014) Carrickfergus Host First Irish Youth Blitz Tournament [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20140221174435/http://dblcoverage.com/carrickfergus-host-first-irish-youth-blitz-tournament/ [Accessed 4 september 2018]
[8] NFL Ireland (2014) IAFL Weekly – 13/12/14 [Internet] Available from: http://nfl-ireland.com/flag-football/7407-iafl-weekly-131214/ [Accessed 28 February 2017]
[9] NFL-Ireland (2017) IAFL Weekly – 13/12/14. [Internet] Available from: http://nfl-ireland.com/flag-football/7407-iafl-weekly-131214/ [Accessed 28 February 2017]
Social Media (2014)
[10] Irish American Football Association Facebook Page (2017) Post November 9 2014 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/posts/862683297098905 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[11] OTS Irish Gridiron Facebook Page (2017) Post November 28 2014 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishgridiron/posts/1492741517658786 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[12] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2016) Post October 26 2014 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/posts/880722438604620 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[13] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2016) Post October 26 2014 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/posts/880722438604620 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[14] Irish American Football Association Facebook Page (2017) Post November 9 2014 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/posts/862683297098905 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[15] OTS Irish Gridiron Facebook Page (2017) Post November 28 2014 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishgridiron/posts/1492741517658786 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
Websites (2015)
[16] Irish American Football Association (2015) Youth football kicks off this Sunday [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/youth-football-kicks-off-this-sunday [Accessed 17 March 2017]
[17] Irish American Football Association (2015) Junior Kitted Result – 18th October 2015 [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/junior-kitted-results-18th-october-2015/ [Accessed 23 December 2016]
[18] Irish American Football Association – Wayback Machine (2015) 2015 Junior League [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20151218200615/http://www.americanfootball.ie/ [Accessed 4 September 2018]
[19] Hogan, Sean (2016) “Kildare’s American football team crowned All Ireland champs”. Kildare Now. 26 October, 2016. [Internet] Available from: https://www.kildarenow.com/gallery/sport/392501/kildare-s-american-football-team-crowned-all-ireland-champs.html [Accessed 30 January 2020]
[20] Craigavon Cowboys (2020) History: Honours [Internet] Available from: https://www.craigavoncowboys.co.uk/history.html [Accessed 13 February 2020]
Videos (2015)
[21] You Tube (2015) Youth game – Published by FelipsDazza on Sep 15, 2015 [4:36] [4:47] [5:55] [8:50] [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oltt9F7mfiM [Accessed 31 October 2017]
[22] You Tube (2015) Craigavon Cowboys Juniors Blitz 1 2015 Highlights [1:33] [2:27] – Published by CannonMedia on Sep 14, 2015 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be3WxXKGil4 [Accessed 24 October 2017]
[23] You Tube (2015) Craigavon Cowboys Juniors Blitz 2 2015 Highlights [1:49] [4:28] – Published by Cannon Media on Oct 29, 2015 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9UNpqtutq4 [Accessed 24 October 2017]
Social Media (2015)
[24] Irish American Football Association Facebook Page (2015) Post November 28 2015 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/posts/1057091924324707 [Accessed 4 September 2018]
[25] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2015) Post September 12 2015 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/photos/a.701990129811186.1073741830.701486486528217/1050487744961421/?type=3&theater [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[26] South Kildare Soldiers Facebook Page (2015) Post October 18 2015 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SouthKildareSoldiers/posts/754465811346366 [Accessed 6 December 2017][Broken Link]
[27] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook (2015) Photo, October 18, 2015″Another hard fought day for our lads in purple today. Despite fantastic performances from all our players,” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/photos/a.659626717382731.1073741828.311169445561795/1073439316001467/?type=3&theater [Accessed 6 December 2017]
Websites (2016)
[28] Irish American Football Association (2016) 2016 Junior Football season Kicked Off [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/2016-junior-football-season-kicked-off/ [Accessed 23 December 2016]
[29] Irish American Football Association – Wayback Machine (2016) Junior Kitted Football Dates Announced. Rules details [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20160304234537/http://www.americanfootball.ie/junior-kitted-football-dates-announced/ [Accessed 4 September 2018]
[30] Irish American Football Association (2016) Junior Football 2016 Champions [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/junior-football-2016-champions/ [Accessed 23 December 2016]
[31] Irish American Football Association – Wayback Machine (2016) Junior Kitted Football Dates Announced. Rules details [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20160304234537/http://www.americanfootball.ie/junior-kitted-football-dates-announced/ [Accessed 4 September 2018]
Social Media (2016)
[32] South Kildare Soldiers Facebook Page (2016) Post September 18 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SouthKildareSoldiers/photos/a.240354999424119.55089.227676250691994/954895121303433/?type=3&theater [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[33] South Kildare Soldiers Facebook Page (2016) Post October 3 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SouthKildareSoldiers/posts/969317006527911 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[34] South Kildare Soldiers Facebook Page (2016) Post October 23 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SouthKildareSoldiers/posts/988006751325603 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[35] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2016) Post September 18 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/photos/a.400391443306261.97658.311169445561795/1287843521227711/?type=3&theater [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[36] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2016) Post October 3 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1300888999923163 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[37] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2016) Post October 23 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1319966001348796 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[38] Republic of Edenderry Facebook Page (2016) Post October 25 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=990627224417147&id=230818513731359 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
Websites (2017)
[39] Irish American Football Association (2017) Junior Football Schedule [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/schedule/junior-football/ [Accessed 23 September 2017]
[40] Cork Admirals [2017] Cork Admirals Youth Team Open Their Season [Internet] Available from: https://www.corkadmirals.ie/single-post/2017/11/06/Cork-Admirals-Youth-Team-Open-Their-Season [Accessed 6 December 2017]
Social Media (2017)
[41] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2017) Post October 15 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1703316189680440 [Accessed 17 October 2017]
[42] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2017) Post October 15 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/posts/1681077225235800 [Accessed 17 October 2017]
[43] Cill Dara Crusaders Facebook Page (2017) Post October 29 2017 [Internet] Available from: http://www.facebook.com/CillDaraCrusaders/posts/155163938425523 [Accessed 1 November 2017]
[44] Cill Dara Crusaders Facebook Page (2017) Post November 26 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CillDaraCrusaders/posts/162700431005207 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[45] Cill Dara Crusaders Facebook Page (2017) Post November 26 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CillDaraCrusaders/posts/162725277669389 [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[46] Cork Admirals Facebook Page (2017)Video November 26 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/corkadmiralsAFC/videos/779020282296065/ [Accessed 6 December 2017]
[47] Cork Admirals Twitter Account (2017) Tweet 29 Oct 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://twitter.com/corkadmiralsAFC/status/924637237127667712 [Accessed 1 November 2017]
[48] Cork Admirals Twitter Account (2017) Tweet 29 Oct 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://twitter.com/corkadmiralsAFC/status/924646713591296000 [Accessed 1 November 2017]
[49] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2017) Post November 9 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1728567953821930 [Accessed 15 November 2017]
[50] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2017) Post November 11 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1730985910246801 [Accessed 15 November 2017]
[51] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2017) Post November 24 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1744529465559112 [Accessed 28 November 2017]
[52] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2017) Post November 27 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1747392558606136 [Accessed 28 November 2017]
Websites (2018)
[53] Irish American Football Association (2018) Youth League [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/american-football/youth-league/ [Accessed 15 October 2018]
Social Media (2018)
[54] Irish American Football Association Facebook Page (2018) Post October 29, 2018: “Some great photos from yesterdays youth game by Eddie Smyth!” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/posts/2159617004072188 [Accessed 3 November 2018]
Websites (2019)
[55] Irish American Football Association (2019) Youth Season 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/home/youth-football/youth-kitted/ [Accessed 17 October 2019]
[56] Irish American Football Association (2019) Youth Football [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/home/youth-football/ [Accessed 17 October 2019]
Social Media (2019)
[57] Irish American Football Association | Facebook (2019) Event, October 20, 2019: “Youth Championship Day” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/events/1649354321868116/ [Accessed 21 October 2019]
[58] Irish American Football Association | Facebook (2019) Post, October 20, 2019: “ Congratulations to Cork Admirals American Football Club who are this years IAFA Youth Champions after defeating the Belfast Knights 44-7 in the final! “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/posts/2768526973181185 [Accessed 21 October 2019]
[59] Louth Mavericks | Facebook (2019) Post, October 20, 2019: “ Results are in from Dublin for the Louth Mavericks Youths and we have finished 3rd overall in the country. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/louthmavericks/posts/2484428128341527 [Accessed 21 October 2019]
[60] Cork Admirals| Facebook (2019) Post, October 20, 2019: ” Admirals Youth Team won back to back National Championships with a 44-7 win over Belfast Knights. MVP for the final was Michael Hand. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/corkadmiralsAFC/posts/1218765021654920 [Accessed 21 October 2019]
[61] Cork Admirals| Facebook (2019) Post, October 20, 2019: ” Admirals Youth team won 26-6 in semi final vs South Dublin Panthers. They now take on Belfast Knights in a National Final “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/corkadmiralsAFC/posts/1218675291663893 [Accessed 21 October 2019]
Images
[62] Irish American Football Association (2010) IAFA logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/IAFA.jpg [Accessed 23 February 2017
[63] Irish American Football association (2018) IAFA Youth Logo 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IAFA-Logos-2018_Youth-R-e1565538368665.png [Accessed 13 September 2019]
[64] Hogan, Sean (2016) “Kildare’s American football team crowned All Ireland champs”. Kildare Now. 26 October, 2016. [Internet] Available from: https://www.kildarenow.com/upload/2016/10/26122252/IMG_1564-e1477481286183.jpg [Accessed 30 January 2020]
[65] Irish American Football Association | Facebook (2019) Photo, October 20, 2019: “ Congratulations to Cork Admirals American Football Club who are this years IAFA Youth Champions after defeating the Belfast Knights 44-7 in the final! “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/photos/pcb.2768526973181185/2768526746514541/?type=3&theater [Accessed 21 October 2019]
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Conor Connolly-Mulcahy & Dara Connolly-Mulcahy
About this document
Reaerched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the
Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive
Last Updated: 17 September 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.