Category: American Football Competitions

AFAI American Football Association of Ireland Challenge Games 1986

Standings

AFAI American Football Association of Ireland Challenge 1986

PosTeamWLTPctPFPANet PtsStreak
0East Coast Comets0000.0000000
0Portmarnock0000.0000000

Schedule

AFAI American Football Association Challenge 1986

Note: Exact Date in March of East Coast v Portmarnock game unknown, approximation given above.

Recap

With a squad of about 20-30 players Bray’s East Coast Comets in Co. Wicklow were due to meet a team from Portmarnock in March 1986 in an early game of American Football, which would probably have been a pre-pads version of the game, played with some contact but not Flag Football.

References

[1] Anon. (1986) “American football comes to Bray Area” Wicklow People 14 February 1986. pg. 39.

[2] Jan van Embden (1986) “Your chance to try American football” Wicklow People. Friday, 11 April 1986. pg. 40.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Anton “Pippo” O’Grady.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 16 January 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2022

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

Yankees Pre-AFAI Irish American Football Team 1983

Results

Yankees All-American Festival Result 1983

Match Day All-American Evening
(All-American Evening)
7:15 pm

Redskins vs Yankees

REPORT

An All-American Evening at Rifle Park, Banbridge, Co. Down on Friday Evening, the 19th August, 1983, was to have included an American Football game between two teams of specially-trained Rugby players. The “Redskins” versus “Yankees” was to be the highlight of the evening which also had all the razzamatazz of cheerleaders and bands.

The match, if it actually went ahead, would push back the history of Irish American Football a further year. As it Currently stands the Dublin Celts are the first ever Irish American Football Team, founded in 1984, and the first ever match between two Irish teams (A Flag Football match) took place in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, in 1985, between the Tyrone Tornadoes and Coleraine Chieftains.

It is unlikely the teams were kitted, so it may have been something similar to Ohio League American Football in the USA in the early 20th Century, which would have looked more like Rugby Union or Rugby League than the modern game of American Football.

REFERENCES

[1] Anon. (1983) “Shoot-out at Rifle Park”, Belfast Telegraph. Wednesday, August 17, 1983. pg. 34 [Past editions of the Irish Newspaper Archive are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to David Turner (Belfast Blitzers) and Anton “Pippo” O’Grady.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 3 January 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020-2022

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.

Redskins Pre-AFAI Irish American Football Team 1983

Results

Redskins All-American Evening Festival Team Results 1983

Match Day All-American Evening
(All-American Evening)
7:15 pm

Redskins vs Yankees

REPORT

An All-American Evening at Rifle Park, Banbridge, Co. Down on Friday Evening, the 19th August, 1983, was to have included an American Football game between two teams of specially-trained Rugby players. The “Redskins” versus “Yankees” was to be the highlight of the evening which also had all the razzamatazz of cheerleaders and bands.

The match, if it actually went ahead, would push back the history of Irish American Football a further year. As it Currently stands the Dublin Celts are the first ever Irish American Football Team, founded in 1984, and the first ever match between two Irish teams (A Flag Football match) took place in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, in 1985, between the Tyrone Tornadoes and Coleraine Chieftains.

It is unlikely the teams were kitted, so it may have been something similar to Ohio League American Football in the USA in the early 20th Century, which would have looked more like Rugby Union or Rugby League than the modern game of American Football.

REFERENCES

[1] Anon. (1983) “Shoot-out at Rifle Park”, Belfast Telegraph. Wednesday, August 17, 1983. pg. 34 [Past editions of the Irish Newspaper Archive are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to David Turner (Belfast Blitzers) and Anton “Pippo” O’Grady.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 3 January 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020-2022

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.

All-American Football Games 1983

Schedule

All-American Friendlies

Match Day All-American Evening
(All-American Evening)
7:15 pm

Redskins vs Yankees

Report

An All-American Evening at Rifle Park, Banbridge, Co. Down on Friday Evening, the 19th August, 1983, was to have included an American Football game between two teams of specially-trained Rugby players. The “Redskins” versus “Yankees” was to be the highlight of the evening which also had all the razzamatazz of cheerleaders and bands.

The match, if it actually went ahead, would push back the history of Irish American Football a further year. As it Currently stands the Dublin Celts are the first ever Irish American Football Team, founded in 1984, and the first ever match between two Irish teams (A Flag Football match) took place in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, in 1985, between the Tyrone Tornadoes and Coleraine Chieftains.

It is unlikely the teams were kitted, so it may have been something similar to Ohio League American Football in the USA in the early 20th Century, which would have looked more like Rugby Union or Rugby League than the modern game of American Football.

References

[1] Anon. (1983) “Shoot-out at Rifle Park”, Belfast Telegraph. Wednesday, August 17, 1983. pg. 34 [Past editions of the Irish Newspaper Archive are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to David Turner (Belfast Blitzers) and Anton “Pippo” O’Grady.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 5 September 2021

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020-2021

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.

Irish American Football Association Pick-Up Games 1985-86

Teams

TeamsPWLTPFPAPct
Kitted
Dublin Celts Green100166.500
Dublin Celts Orange100166.500
Non-Kitted
University College Dublin
Marlay Chargers
[References: 1-2]

Results

DateHome TeamAway Team
Week 1St. Paul’s Park Raheny
05.01.1986Dublin Celts Green6Dublin Celts Orange6
[References: 1-2]

Report

In the early days of American Football in Ireland, before pads and helmets, pick-up games were organised in University College Dublin, Marlay Park (Rathfarnham) and St. Paul’s Park, Raheny. Dublin Celts became the first team in Ireland to become fully kitted in 1985, and while not playing International matches against Wirral Wolves and Newcastle senators from England, played matches among their own members in Raheny. One such match, just after New Years Day in 1986, featuring Irish Press reporter Sean Mannion, ended one Touchdown each.

References

Social Media

[1] Enda Mulcahy Facebook Page (2021) Replies to Post by Enda Mulcahy, 26 January 2021 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2479329725708056&id=100008931583156&notif_id=1611665913335201&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif[Accessed 26 January 2021]

Newspapers

[2] Sean Mannion (1986) “Touchdown, Dublin Celts” Irish Press. Monday, January 6, 1986. pg. 9.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Brian Manning & Anthony “Pippo” O’Grady

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 26 January 2021

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2021

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

Irish American Football League All-Star Games 1986-Present

All-Star Games 1986-Present

DateWinnersRunners-Up
02.07.1988Republc of Ireland Allstars21Northern Hordes13
24.05.1992Dublin Tornadoes32IAFL All_Stars13
27.07.1997Ulster All-Stars38Leinster All-Stars15
28.09.2003North7South0
Irish American Football League All_Star Games 1986-Present [Reference: ]

References

Sources

[1] Anon.(1988) “Incredible Hulks – just like a herd of Buffalo” Irish independent Monday, July 4, 1988. pg. 3.

[2] Anon. (1988) “Sports Diary | American Football” Sunday Independent Sunday, July 2, 1989. pg. 29.

[3] Naughton, Lindie (1992) “Tornadoes bow out gallant All-Stars” Evening Herald. Friday, May 29, 1992. pg. 64 [Irish Newspaper Archive: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ [Accessed 13 October 2018]

[4] Traynor, Jonathan (1997) “American Football | Knights are drawing in…” Sunday Life. August 2, 1997. pg. 47

Internet Archive

[5] Irish American Football Association | Wayback Machine (2003) North wins All-Star Game [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20031013013216/http://www.irish-american-football.org/allstar2003.htm [Accessed 27 January 2020]

Internet Archive

[6] BritballNow Wayback Machine (2016)Historical Results [1988][Friendlies] [Internet] Available from:https://web.archive.org/web/20161021181851/http://britballnow.co.uk/history-index/results-section.html [Accessed 13 January 2021]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Sean Douglas (Dublin Rebels & University College Dublin)

About this document

Prepared and maintained by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 27 January 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.

American Football Association of Ireland | Pre-Season Friendlies 1992

Pre-Season Table

PWLTPFPAPct
Mourne Conference
Belfast Spartans1100701.000
Antrim Bulldogs101003.000
Craigavon Cowboys000000.000
Tara Conference
Dublin Tornadoes1100301.000
Drogheda Vikings101007.000
Dublin Celts000000.000
Lee Valley Steelers000000.000

Reference: Compiled from [1-2]

Week 1 – 5 April 1992

Drogheda Vikings 0 Belfast Spartans 7 – A more experience Belfast Spartans took the honours in a Pre-Season game with newcomers the Drogheda Vikings. The game was closer than many had predicted with Belfast scoring early on a John Melville Touchdown, but good spoiling play by the Vikings meant two Field Goal attempts later on were no good for the Spartans. 

At Co. Louth GAA Grounds, Drogheda Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
Drogheda Vikings 0 0 0 0 0
Belfast Spartans 7 0 0 0 7
Scorers Score
1st Quarter  
BEL – John Melville TD (PAT Good) 0-7
2nd Quarter  
No Scoring 0-7
3rd Quarter  
No Scoring 0-7
4th Quarter  
No Scoring 0-7

Reference: [2] Date: [1]

Week 2 –  26 April 1992 – Trinity Bowl

Dublin Tornadoes 3 Antrim Bulldogs 0 – The Dublin Tornadoes snatched victory in the first ever American Football match played at Ireland’s hallowed Trinity College. They won with a Field Goal from Tony Fox in the last five seconds after Tony Degonia came on and started a move which pushed the Bulldogs back to their 10 yard line. Despite the low score it was an all action packed match, with both offenses moving the ball upfield and only tight defense preventing any break-through. This was a new-look Tornadoes with linebacker at the top of their game and Mark Nicholls, their Running-Back playing a superb game.

At College Park, Trinity College Dublin Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
Dublin Tornadoes 0 0 0 3 3
Antrim Bulldogs 0 0 0 0 0
Scorers Score
1st Quarter  
No Scoring 0-0
2nd Quarter  
No Scoring 0-0
3rd Quarter  
No Scoring 0-0
4th Quarter  
TOR – Tony Fox FG 3-0

Reference: [3] Date:[1]

Week 3 – 24 May 1992

At Athy, Co. Kildare Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
Dublin Tornadoes          
Lee Valley Steelers          
Scorers Score
   

Reference: [3]

Reference

_______________________________________________________

Sources

[1] Naughton, Lindie (1992) “U.S. Football” Evening Herald. Thursday, April 2, 1992. pg. 72

[2] Naughton, Lindie (1992) “U.S. Football” Evening Herald. Thursday, April 16, 1992. pg. 63

[3] Naughton, Lindie (1992) “U.S. Football” Evening Herald. Thursday, April 30, 1992. pg. 70

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Cillian Smith, Michael Smith and Ralph Schmeer of the Irish American Football Association and Irish American Football Officials Association, and Sean Douglas, Dublin Rebels.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 20 May 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019

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

Irish American Football League | July 4th Festival Matches 1986-2019

Results

DateVenueTeam 1Team 2
Summer Bowl
1986Belvedere
1987BelvedereDublin Celts26Belfast Blitzers0
1988BelvedereDublin CeltsNorthern Hordes
1989Belvedere
American Festivals
2010BlarneyCork Admirals40Dublin Dragons6
2012MoneygallTrim Bulldogs28Drogheda Lightning26

References: [1-8]

References:

Sources

[1] Anon. (1986) “New Ball-Game for Tony Ward” Irish Press Tuesday, July 1, 1986. pg. 16.

[2] Anon. (1987) “American Football” Irish Press. Monday, July 6, 1987, pg. 13.

[3] Anon.(1988) “Incredible Hulks – just like a herd of Buffalo” Irish independent Monday, July 4, 1988. pg. 3.

[4] Anon. (1988) “Sports Diary | American Football” Sunday Independent Sunday, July 2, 1989. pg. 29.

Websites

[5] Irish American Football Association | Wayback Machine (2018) Blarney Bowl, 4th July, Cork [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20180624071104/https://www.americanfootball.ie/blarney-bowl-4th-july-cork/ [Accessed 24 June 2018]

[6] Irish American Football Association (2010) 2010 IAFL Standings/Schedule [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/iafl-standings/2010-iafl-standingsschedule/ [Accessed 24 March 2014]

[7] Monegall GAA (2012) Trim Bulldogs v Drogheda Lightning [Internet] Available from: http://www.moneygall.gaa.ie/club-news-1/2012-Archived-News/trimlightningvdroghedabulldogs [Accessed 30 July 2018]

[8] Meath Bulldogs Fan Group | Facebook (2012) Post by Garland Drake, July 9, 2012 “ Trim Bulldogs win a dramatic exhibition game against Drodghea Lighting in Moneygall 28-26 “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/132480496798326/permalink/412879918758381 [Accessed 24 February 2019]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Todd Zboyan & Brianna Wallace (Dublin Bay Raptors)

About this document

Prepared and maintained by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 18 July 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019

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

Trinity Bowl 1992 Poster

American Football Association of Ireland Trinity Bowl 1992-1995

Trinity Bowl 1992 Poster [Reference: 1]

Trinity Bowls 1992-1995

DateWinners Runners-Up 
26.04.1992Dublin Tornadoes3Antrim Bulldogs0
25.04.1993Dublin Tornadoes22Antrim Bulldogs0
1994Dublin Tornadoes45Belfast Spartans6
1995Dublin Tornadoes44Dublin Lightning22

Report

The Trinity Bowl was a pre-season game played in Trinity College Dublin from 1992 to 1995, and although not involving College teams, were the first American Football events played in Universities in Ireland. The first Trinity Bowl was in 1992, and was the first game of American Football ever played in Trinity’s College Park, although an unconfirmed report has a game being played there in the late-19th Century.

Dublin Tornadoes won all four Trinity Bowls versud the Antrim Bulldogs (1992 and 1993), Belfast Spartans (1994) and Dublin Lightning (1995). The first Trinity Bowl was only decided by a last-second Field Goal, the only score of the match, whereas in the other three Bowls the Tornadoes ran out easy winners, by 20 or more points.

References

Images

[1] Trinity Bowl 1992 Poster (Personal Collection of Author).

Newspapers

[2] Naughton, L. (1993) “Tornadoes top dogs!” Evening Herald. Thursday, April 29, 1993. pg. 103 (59)

[3] Naughton, L. (1993) “US Football” Evening Herald. Thursday, April 15, 1993. pg. 100.

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

[5] Naughton, L. (1994) “US Football: Tornadoes blow hot” Evening Herald. Thursday, April 28, 1995. pg. 68.

Internet Archive

[6] Irish American Football Association – Wayback Machine Web Archive (2016) A brief History of American football in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20071118171931/http://americanfootball.ie/history.htm [Accessed 6 July 2017]

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 American Football Archive

Last Updated: 21 January 2021

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019-2021

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

Irish American Football Association | College Championship 2011-2018

Finals

DateWinnersRunners-Up
2011TCD7UCD0
2012TCDWUL VikingsL
2013TCD12UL Vikings0
2014UCD26TCD20
2015
2016
2017UCDWUL VikingsL
2018*UCD8TCD6

Reference: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Note: *Deciding Game: Championship played on Round-Robin basis.

References

_________________________________________________________

Websites

[1] Irish American Football League (2011) Trinity Players visit Temple Street Hospital [Internet] Available from: http://americanfootball.ie/trinity-players-visit-temple-street-hospital/ [Accessed 15 October 2017]

[2] Trinity News (2014) DUAFC triumph over Limerick Vikings [Internet] Available from: http://trinitynews.ie/duafc-triumph-over-limerick-vikings/ [Accessed 27 March 2018]

[3] NFL-Ireland (2014) College Championship Final result [Internet] Available from: http://nfl-ireland.com/iafl/7347-iafl-weekly-271114/ [Accessed 31 October 2017]

[4] NFL Ireland (2015) INtervarsities 2015 – Report by McDonnell, Steve [Internet] Available from: http://nfl-ireland.com/iafl/9756-inter-varsities-2015/ [Accessed 2 November 2017]

Social Media

[5] UCD American Football Facebook Page (2017) Post November 19, 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/UcdAmericanFootball/posts/1363605657083049 [Accessed 28 November 2017]

[6] Trinity College Dublin American Football Facebook Page (2017) Post November 18, 2018: “
FINAL SCORES FROM IV’S:

UCD American Football 8-6 Trinity
Trinity 28-18 UL Vikings”
[Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/TCDAmericanFootball/posts/2222858881057845 [Accessed 3 December 2018]

[7] University College Dublin American Football Facebook Page (2017) Post November 19, 2018: “UCD have won the College Championships two years in a row! “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/UcdAmericanFootball/posts/1771978026245808 [Accessed 3 December 2018]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Cillian Smith of the Irish American Football Association

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: Eirball 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019

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