Final SBC North Standings

	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pts
SBC North
University College Dublin	8	8	0	0	253	114	16
Belfast Trojans	8	6	2	0	217	115	12
Belfast Knights	8	5	3	0	213	99	10
Trinity College Dublin	8	1	7	0	67	201	-1
Louth Mavericks	8	0	8	0	49	300	0

Results 2018

Week	Date	H/A	Opposition	W/L	Score
3	25.03.18	A	University College Dublin	L	41-42
6	15.04.18	A	South Dublin Panthers	W	3-0
7	22.04.18	H	Louth Mavericks	W	67-6
10	12.05.18	A	Belfast Trojans	W	27-7
12	27.05.18	H	Trinity College Dublin	W	29-7
14	10.06.18	H	University of Limerick Vikings	W	37-0
15	24.06.18	A	Dublin Rebels	L	9-12
18	07.07.18	H	Belfast Trojans	L	0-25
WC	22.07.18	A	Belfast Trojans	L	13-59

Team Roster 2018

Number	Player	Position
	Offense
2	Josh Davis	Quarterback
90	Spencer McDowell	Quarterback
78	Andy Black	Offensive Tackle
73	Darren Harris	Offensive Guard
70	Dave Shaw	Offensive Center / Guard
54	Kris McCombe	Offensive Center / Guard
77	Matt Moody	Offensive Tackle
68	Reggie McGaughey	Offensive Guard
66	Thomas Conlon	Offensive Guard
21	Alastair Nixon	Running Back
7	Cris Carson	Running Back
19	Cormac Quinn	Running Back
11	Michael Kane	Wide Receiver
48	Phil Henson	Full Back
84	Chris Ireland	Wide Receiver
82	John McCrystal	Wide Receiver
97	John Savage	Wide Receiver
20	Jordan Clinton	Wide Receiver
88	Marty Caskey	Wide Receiver
17	Michael Harland	Wide Receiver
	Defense
37	Aaron Kelly	Defensive End
15	Aaron McNaughton	Defensive Line
99	Conor Beckett	Defensive Line
53	Darren Montgomery	Defensive Line
41	George Brand	Defensive Line
4	Mark Hunter	Defensive End
91	Robbie Alexander	Defensive Line
79	William Boal	Defensive Line
10	Aaron Klewchuk	Linebacker
72	Colin McNaughton	Linebacker
57	Dean Henderson	Linebacker
90	Spencer McDowell	Linebacker
40	Zed Ceginskas	Linebacker
5	Harry Cleary	Cornerback
43	John McCambridge	Defensive Utility
80	Kenny McClean	Cornerback
37	Matt Neeson	Cornerback
33	Matthew Irvine	Cornerback
13	Paul Crothers	Cornerback
44	Sean Quinn	Cornerback
87	Stephen Davison	Safety

Coaches / Management

Number	Coach / Manager	Name
	Coaches
14	Adam Devenney	Head Coach
15	Aaron McNaughton *	Defensive Line
56	Phil Gunning *	Offensive Coach
78	Andy Black *	Special Teams Coach
	John Wayland	Defensive Backs Coach
	Non-Players
	Stevie McCrystal	Board Member
	Robbie Jennings	Team Assistant
	Keith McBurney	Team Photographer
	MIchael Barber	Photographer

Report

The Belfast Knights moved to their new grounds in Shaw’s Bridge Sports Association in Belfast in 2018, after leaving their home since 1993 in Woodburn Road, Carrickfergus. They finished third in the SBC North with a 5-3 Record, losing their first game of the season 41-42 to UCD in a thriller, before winning five in a row against South Dublin Panthers (3-0) , Louth Mavericks (67-6), Belfast Trojans (27-7) , Trinity College Dublin (29-7) and University of Limerick Vikings (37-0).

They came up against tougher opposition after that, losing 9-12 to Dublin Rebels and 0-25 to the Belfast Trojans at home, before meeting the Trojans again in the Wildcard Round of the Playoffs, losing 59-13.

References

Websites

[2] Irish American Football Association (2018) IAFL Shamrock Bowl Conference Standings [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/american-football/shamrock-bowl-conference/ [Accessed 26 July 2018]

[3] Irish American Football Association Facebook Page (2018) IAFA shared an Album – 20 August 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/posts/2060236584010231 [Accessed 20 August 2018]

[4] Belfast Knights (2018) Roster [Internet] Available from: http://belfastknights.com/roster/ [Accessed 10 October 2018][Broken link – available on the Wayback Machine Internet Archive at: https://web.archive.org/web/20180824202924/http://belfastknights.com/roster/ [Accessed 18 May 2020]

Images

[1] Carrickfergus Knights – Vimeo (2018) Portrait [Internet] Available from: https://i.vimeocdn.com/portrait/482449_300x300 [Accessed 22 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. Thanks also to Conor Connolly-Mulcahy.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 18 May 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.

IAFL Division 1 2002

	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pts
*University of Limerick Vikings	6	5	1	0	72	64	10
*Carrickfergus Knights	6	4	2	0	167	46	8
Dublin Dragons	6	2	4	0	54	95	4
Dublin Rebels	6	1	5	0	40	128	2

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Shamrock Bowl XVI
16.06.02	UL Vikings	0	Carrickfergus Knights	66

Regular Season

Week 2, 24 March 2002

UL Vikings 12 Carrickfergus Knights 6 – In Week 2, two runs from Thomas Conneely gave UL Vikings victory over Carrickfergus Knights. QB Stephen McDowell opened the scoring in the first quarter for the Knights, leading them on an impressive drive, ending a short Touchdown pass to Ian McIlroy. The Knights threatened throughout the first half but the Vikings managed to keep them from scoring again. The Limerick students were much better in the second half, putting together an 80-yard drive to set up a 12-yard Touchdown run by Tommy Conneely, who scored again with a 66-yard run this time, after a Knights punt gave the Vikings back the ball. Defense held strong for the Vikings, led by American Beau D’Arcy, who intercepted the ball on his own 15-yard line to prevent an equalising score from Carrickfergus. [17]

At University of Limerick	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Carrickfergus Knights	6	0	0	0	6
University of Limerick Vikings	0	0	12	0	12

Team	Scorers	Score
	1st Quarter
CAR	Ian McIlroy 17yd Pass from Stephen McDowell	6-0
	3rd Quarter
ULV	Tommy Conneely 8yd Run	6-6
ULV	Tommy Conneely 66yd Run	6-12

Week 5, 21 April 2002

Carrickfergus Knights 18 Dublin Dragons 6 – At Woodburn RFC, Carrickfergus -Carrickfergus Knights got started in week 5, winning 18-6 over the Dragons, scoring with an Ian McIlroy Pass from Stephen McDowell, Run from Pete Watt and Interception Return from Harris in a total team performance.

At Woodburn RFC, Carrickfergus	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Dublin Dragons	0	6	0	0	6
Carrickfergus Knights	6	6	6	0	18

Team	Scorers	Score
	1st Quarter
CAR	Mark Harris, Fumble Return	0-6
	2nd Quarter
CAR	Pete Watt 6yd Run	0-12
DRA	Ulli Zinnecker 4yd Run	6-12
	3rd Quarter
CAR	Ian McIlroy 37yd Pass from Stephen McDowell	6-18

Week 7, 5 May 2002

Carrickgfergus Knights 36 Dublin Rebels 6 – At Woodburn RFC, Carrickfergus – In Week 7, Carrickfergus Knights let rip against the Rebels, scoring on two TD Passes from McDowell to McIlroy, and three rushing TDs, from McDowell, Shaw and Watt, with the Rebels only mustering a single TD from Brian Dennehy in reply.

At Woodburn RFC, Carrickfergus	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Dublin Rebels	0	0	6	0	6
Carrickfergus Knights	8	14	8	6	36

Team	Scorers	Score
	1st Quarter
CAR	Pete Watt 6yd Run, C.McDowell 2xpt	0-8
	2nd Quarter
CAR	Ian McIlroy 40 yd Pass from Stephen McDowell, C. McDowell 2xpt	0-16
CAR	McIlroy 1yd Pass from Stephen McDowell	0-22
	3rd Quarter
REB	Dennehy 1yd Run, 2xpt good	8-22
CAR	Stephen McDowell 1yd Run, Watt 2xpt	8-30
	4th Quarter
CAR	Shaw Run	8-36

Week 8, 12 May 2002

UL Vikings 14 Carrickfergus Knights 6 – At UL Sports Grounds, Limerick – Week 8 was another close UL Vikings – Carrickfergus match-up with Wesley Galt opening the scoring for the Vikings on a 36 yard Pass from Dutter. Pete Watt’s run levelled the scores with both TDs converted for two points. The winning score came in the fourth quarter, Cosgrave going in for UL.

At UL Sports Grounds, Limerick	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Carrickfergus Knights	0	0	8	0	8
University of Limerick Vikings	8	0	0	6	14

Team	Scorers	Score
	1st Quarter
ULV	Galt, 36yd Pass from Dutter, Conneely, 2xpt	0-8
	3rd Quarter
CAR	Watt, 2yd Run, McDowell 2xpt	8-8
	4th Quarter
ULV	Cosgrave, 1yd Run	8-14

Week 10, 26 May 2002

Carrickfergus Knights 46 Dublin Rebels 6 -Pete Watt was the outstanding player in the Week 10 game between Carrickfergus Knights and the Dublin Rebels, scoring four TD Runs as the Knights were beginning to stamp their dominance on the league, winning 46-6.

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Dublin Rebels					6
Carrickfergus Knights					46

Team	Scorers	Score
CAR	Pete Watt Run
CAR	Pete Watt Run
CAR	Pete Watt Run
CAR	Pete Watt Run
CAR	Dimple Pass from Stephen McDowell
CAR	Clint McDowell Pass from Stephen McDowell
CAR	Ian McIlroy 2xpt
CAR	Paul McKillop 2xpt

Week 11, 2 June 2002

Carrickfergus Knights 53 Dublin Dragons 0 – Carrickfergus again showed why they were noew the team to be reckoned with as they thrashed the Dublin Dragons 53-0 in Week 11. Clint McDowell scored on two Runs, McIlroy ran in two TDs and caught another, while McKillop, Robinson and Dimple also got on the scoresheet.

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Dublin Dragons	0	0	0	0	0
Carrickfergus Knights	20	14	0	19	53

Team	Scorers	Score
	1st Quarter
CAR	Clint McDowell 41yd Run	0-6
CAR	McKillop 28yd Pass from Stephen McDowell	0-12
CAR	Dimple 13yd Run, Clint McDowell 2xpt	0-20
	2nd Quarter
CAR	Clint McDowell 45yd Run	0-26
CAR	Safety – Punt snapped out of endzone	0-28
CAR	Ian McIlroy 34yd Run	0-34
	4th Quarter
CAR	Ian McIlroy 15yd Run	0-40
CAR	Ian McIlroy 21yd Pass from Stephen McDowell, Stephen McDowell xpt kick	0-47
CAR	Scott Robinson 27yd Int Return	0-53

Final League Table

	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
*University of Limerick Vikings	6	5	1	0	72	64	10
*Carrickfergus Knights	6	4	2	0	167	46	8
Dublin Dragons	6	2	4	0	54	95	4
Dublin Rebels	6	1	5	0	40	128	2

[7][9]

Shamrock Bowl XVI

UL Vikings 0 Carrickfergus Knights 66 – University Bowl, Limerick The Shamrock Bowl was a blowout, Carrickfergus Knights winning 66-0, with Clint McDowell scoring three TDs, Paul McKillop and Shaw two each, and Watt and McIlroy also Running into the Endzone for TDs. The Carrickfergus defence also got in on the scoring two safeties.

University Bowl, Limerick	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Carrickfergus Knights	20	26	18	2	66
University of Limerick Vikings	0	0	0	0	0

Team	Scorers	Score
	1st Quarter
CAR	Willian Shaw 12yd Run, Pete Watt 2xpt	8-0
CAR	Clint McDowell 34yd Run	14-0
CAR	Clint McDowell 15yd Pass from Stephen McDowell	20-0
	2nd Quarter
CAR	Clint McDowell 53yd Run, Pete Watt 2xpt	28-0
CAR	Pete Watt. 7yd Run	34-0
CAR	Willian Shaw 16yd Run	40-0
CAR	Paul McKillop 1yd Pass from Stephen McDowell	46-0
	3rd Quarter
CAR	Ian McIlroy 4yd Run, Pete Watt 2xpt	54-0
CAR	Paul McKillop 6yd Run, Pete Watt 2xpt	62-0
CAR	Mark Banks Safety	64-0
	4th Quarter
CAR	Spencer McDowell Safety on Punt	66-0

Team Roster 2002

Number	Name	Position
12	Stephen McDowell	Quarterback
22	Mark Warbey	Free Safety
23	Clint McDowell	Running Back
24	Mark Pollock	Cornerback
26	Ian McIlroy	Wide Receiver
33	Neil Osborne	Tight End
34	Ron Smyth	Tight End
35	Paul McKillop	Wide Receiver
37	Adam Devenney	Free Safety
38	Pete Watt	Full Back
39	Mark Harris	Linebacker
40	Jonathan Beattie	Wide Receiver
42	Mark Banks	Linebacker
43	Keith McBurney	Running Back
50	Scott Robinson	Linebacker
56	Russell Fulton	Guard
63	Alan Kelley	Tackle
65	Chris Davidson	Cornerback
68	Andrew Hudson	Guard
80	William Shaw	Wide Receiver
86	Josh Crawford	Cornerback
94	Robert Elliott	Linebacker
99	Derek Mayne	Defensive End

Coaches and Management 2002

Coach / Manager *	Name
Head Coach	Mark Harris
Chairman	Derek Mayne
Vice Chairman	Scott Robinson

Season Report

The Carrickfergus Knights won their third Shamrock Bowl with a record 66-0 victory over the University of Limerick Vikings. They had started the sason with a 12-6 loss to the Vikings, before beating the Dublin Dragons 18-6 and the Dublin Rebels 36-8. In the second half of the season theyy lost again to the Vikings 14-8, before again winning against the Rebels 46-6 and the Dragons 53-0, setting up the Showdown with the Vikings in Shamrock Bowl XVI. The Vikings, however, were without their star American students, who had returned to the United States of America after the College year had ended, and were no match for the on-fire Knights.

Reference

Sources

[1] Anon. (2002) Sports Round-Up: American Football The Irish Times – Monday, May 13, 2002 – Page 30. [Internet] Available from: https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2002/0513/Pg030.html#Ar03000

[2] Anon. (2002) Sports Round-Up: American Football The Irish Times – Monday, June 10, 2002 – Page 35. [Internet] Available from: https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2002/0610/Pg035.html#Ar03501

Websites

[3] Britball Now (2002) 2002 Irish News [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/match-reports-and-archived/archived-news/2002-irish-news.html [Accessed 20 March 2018]

[9] Irish American Football Association (2002) 2002 IAFL Standings/Schedule [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/iafl-standings/2002-iafl-standingsschedule/ [Accessed 24 March 2014]

Internet Archive

[4] Irish American Football Scene – Wayback Machine (2002) Vikings 12 at Knights 6 [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20020604080912/http://www.iafs.co.uk/index.php?page=02vikingsatknights.php [Accessed 12 October 2018]

[5] Dublin Dragons – Wayback Machine (2002) News [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20021008135754/http://www.geocities.com/dublindragons_usafootballnews.htm/ [Accessed 11 October 2018]

[6] Irish American Football Scene – Wayback Machine (2002) Knights Slay Dragons [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20021215080618/http://www.iafs.co.uk/index.php?page=02dragonsatknights.php [Accessed 12 October 2018]

[8] University of Limerick Vikings – Wayback Machine (2002) News [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20020806223911/http://www.ulvikings.com/ [Accessed 13 October 2017]

[12] Irish American Football Scene – Wayback Machine (2002) Knights Strike Back [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/200200601093737/http://www.iafs.co.uk/index.php?page=02knightsatdragons.php [Accessed 12 October 2018]

[13] Irish American Football Scene – Wayback Machine (2002) Knights Pass All Over Rebels [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20021016150228/http://www.iafs.co.uk/index.php?page=02knightsatrebels.php [Accessed 12 October 2018]

[15] Irish American Football Scene – Wayback Machine (2002) Shamrock Bowl XVI: Knights Wipe Out Vikings [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20021016151918/http://www.iafs.co.uk/index.php?page=02shamrockbowlxvi.php [Accessed 12 October 2018]

[16] Irish American Football Scene – Wayback Machine (2002) Shamrock Bowl XVI: Knights Wipe Out Vikings [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20021015080618/http://www.iafs.co.uk/index.php?page=02dragonsatknights.php [Accessed 12 October 2018]

Sources:

[17] Anon. (2002) “UL Vikings masters in American football” Limerick Leader. Saturday, March 30, 2002. pg. 21

Internet Archive

[18] Carrickfergus Knights | Wayback Machine (2002) Roster [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20020603060603/http://www.carrickfergusknights.com/roster.htm[Accessed 18 May 2020]

Images

[19] Carrickfergus Knights (1999) Team Helmet [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20000818150658im_/http://www.sugarcube.co.uk/knight/graphics/helm1X.gif [Accessed 24 March 2020]

[20] Irish American Football League (2002) Shamrock Bowl XVI – Carrickfergus Knights team Photo [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/iafl/images/pics/shamxvi1.gif [Accessed 18 May 2020]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Cillian Smith, Michael Smith, Michael Brophy and Ralph Schmeer 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 & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 18 May 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.

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