Final Standings

Week 1 –

Queens University Belfast Broncos 0 Carrickfergus Knights 44 – The year began with the Carrickfergus Knights starting where they left off with a shutout win over the Queens University Belfast Broncos. The Knights defense dominted the entire game., winning 34-0

Week 2 – 13 June 1999

Dublin Tigers 14 Carrickfergus Knights 0 – In week 2, the Dublin Tigers took the initiative from the start, closing down the Knights and helped by running back Brian Dennehy. the deadlock was broken in the third quarter when Head Coach and Quarterback Don Cade dove over from the 2-yard line. Minutes later a second touchdown sealed the game for the Tigers.

Week 3 – 20 June 1999

Carrickfergus Knights 14 Queens University Belfast Broncos 0 –

In the return game between the Carrickfergus Knights and the Queens University Broncos, the Knights were a shadow of the team that won convincingly to start the season. The Offense gave up a safety early in the game, and they were plagued by timing errors and unforced errors, but still ended up winning 14-10.

Week 4 – 27 June 1999

Dublin Tigers 66 Queens University Belfast Broncos 0 – In Week 4, the Tigers scored on the opening drive through a Brian Dennehy run, and never looked back, with Dennehy scoring five touchdowns in all as the Tigers won 66-0.

Week 5 – 30 June 1999

Dublin Tigers 0 Carrickfergus Knights 36 – The Carrickfergus Knights inflicted the heaviest defeat on the Dublin Tigers in the Tigers two year history in the return match, winning 34-0, scoring four times in the first half, but held scoreless in the second until late in the fourth quarter when Wide Receiver Maxwell ran in for their fifth.

Week 6 – 25 July 1999

Queens University Belfast Broncos 0 Dublin Tigers 34 – For the second year in succession the Tigers and Carrickfergus had to be separated by points scored at the end of the regular season, as the Tigers also finished on 3-1 with a commanding performance by their entire Offensive Line, who won a combined Most Valuable Player award. the OL’s performance allowed Brian Dennehy score three touchdowns and QB Don Cade pass for a fourth. Feargal O’Donnchu won his third defensive MVP award for “outstanding leadership and superb tackling”.

Shamrock Bowl – 15 August 1999

Carrickfergus Knights 6 Dublin Tigers 22 – With the Dublin Tigers and Carrickfergus Knights both finishing the season on level terms as in 1998, and a rematch of the Shamrock Bowl, won the previous season by Carrickfergus, the final itself proved to show the two teams evenly matched over the two seasons. The Dublin Tigers gained revenge in Shamrock Bowl XIV, winning 22-6, to win their first Shamrock Bowl.

Reference

Websites

[1] Irish American Football Association (2019) Shamrock Bowl Winners [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/home/kitted-football/shamrock-bowl-history/ [Accessed 11 August 2019]

Newspapers

[2] Naughton, L. (1999) Tigers roar. Evening Herald. Saturday, 21 August 1999, pg. 111.

[3] Naughton, L. (1999) Tigers maul the Knights. Evening Herald. Saturday, 19 June 1999, pg. 27.

[4] Naughton, L. (1999) Tigers roar!. Evening Herald. Saturday, 3 July 1999, pg. 25.

[5] Naughton, L. (1999) Tigers spring into final. Evening Herald. Saturday, 31 July 1999, pg. 24.

[6] Anon. (1999) “Factfile and Greyhound Racing: American Football” Irish Independent. Wednesday, July 21, 1999. pg. 22. [Internet] Available from: the British Newspaper Archive at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/print/bl/0001715/19990721/257/0022 [Accessed 22 April 2020]

Internet Archive

[7] Carrickfergus Knights | Wayback Machine (1999) News [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/19990824010758/http://www.sugarcube.co.uk/knight/ [Accessed 23 March 1999]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Cillian Smith, Michael Smith 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 and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 13 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.

Final Standings

Week 1, 30 September 2001

Week 2, 7 October 2001

Week 3, 14 October 2001

Dublin Dragons 0 Dublin Rebels 12 – The Rebels moved to 2-0 and the Dragons fell to 0-2 after this “hard-fought defensive encounter” went the Rebels way with two touchdowns – the first in the second Quarter from Brian Martin, and the second in the fourth quarter from Jason Shaw. Brian Dennehy was a standout for the Rebels on both defense and offense, and the stars for the Dragons were Ulli Zinneker and John Durrad on defense.

Week 4, 21 October 2001

Week 5, 28 October 2001

Week 6, 4 November 2001

Week 7, 11 November 2001

Week 8, 18 November 2001

Week 9, 25 November 2001

Week 10, 2 December 2001

University of Limerick Vikings 12 Dublin Dragons 8 –

Week 11, 11 December 2001

Final Standings

Shamrock Bowl XV

Carrickfergus Knights 7 Dublin Rebels 28 – The Carrickfergus Knights were appearing in their sixth Shamrock Bowl in seven seasons, and the Rebels, a merger of the Greystones Rebels and Dublin Tigers, were appearing in their first, although many, including Brian Dennehy saw Shamrock Bowl action in 1998 and 1999 for the Tigers.

The teams were evenly matched throughout the season, both finishing on 5-1 Won-Loss Records, with the Rebels giving up Home Field Advantage with a loss on the final day of the regular season to the Knights. The Shamrock Bowl, however, was to be a Rebel victory, as Running Back Brian Dennehy scored with a 90-yard Kickoff Return from the first whistle, and then ran in the two-point conversion. Carrickfergus didn’t get a hand on him until the one-yard line and never recovered.

Rebels Quarterback Paddy Blood played the game of his life, returning from injury. With the Dublin defense winning the ball back, he drove the offense the length of the field, sweeping behind the offensive line, and finishing with a 20-yard Touchdown pass to Paraic Reddington.

The Knights recovered their composure momemtarily, as they recovered the ball from a blocked punt and Quarterback Stephen McDowell drove to the 10-yard line, where he connected on an out pattern to Wide Receiver Ron Smyth to bring them back to within one touchdown. The Extra-Point Kick was successful, making the score 14-7.

That was as close as the Knights would get for the rest of the afternoon, as the momentum was still with the Rebels. They scored again just before halftime on a half back option, as Dennehy connected with Wide Receiver Brian Martin for a 30-yard touchdown. Paddy Blood then hooked up with Dennehy for the two-point conversion.

Both teams stepped up on defense, as the Rebels hung on, comfortable and composed but not complacent. Michael Finucane and Steve Porteous were punishing Carrickfergus from the Defensive Line, and the Knights defense, playing tight as a unit, managed to halt the Rebels offense.

The Knights decided to switch to an aerial attack for the remainder of the game in the third quarter, and completed passes to Smyth and Paul McKillop. Two goal-line stands by the Rebels, with Free Safety Marcus Naylor making a crucial acrobatic tackle kept the Knights out in what was a nail-biting time for the Rebels.

The game was sealed late in the third quarter as Dennehy kept the ball for most of a 70-yard drive that culminated in him seeping in from two-yards out, making the score 28-7. That was the way the score stayed throughout the fourth quarter, as the Rebels celebrated their first Shamrock Bowl win, in a game which bode well for the future of Irish American Football, in its first season since 1999, and with a new Spring League just around the corner in 2002.

Reference

Websites

[1] Irish American Football Association (2001) 2001 IAFL Standings/Schedule [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/iafl-standings/2001-iafl-standingsschedule [Accessed 24 March 2014]

Internet Archive

[10] UL Vikings (2001) – Wayback Machine [2002/08/06] Ul Vikings 12 – 8 Dublin Dragons [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20020806223911/http://www.ulvikings.com/ [Accessed 13 October 2018]

[10] UL Vikings (2010) – Wayback Machine [2010/04/29] Vikings History: 2001 [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20100429042500/http://www.ulvikings.ie/index.php/vikings-history [Accessed 27 June 2018]

Sources

[4] Anon. (2001) Irish League: Dublin Rebels 12 Dublin Dragons 0 First Down. October 18-24, 2001. Pg. 28.

[14] Andrew Dennehy (2001) “Rebels’ yell dims lights for Knights” First Down December 20-26, 2001. Pg. 27

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Cillian Smith, Michael Smith 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: 13 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.