Composite Table 2017-18
| FFI Tournaments 2017-18 | Regular | Bowls | All Games | ||
| Ulster & Connacht | P | W-L-T | W-L-T | W-L-T | Pct |
| Craigavon Cowboys | 10 | 6-4-0 | 0-0-0 | 6-4-0 | .600 |
| Coleraine Elks | 5 | 1-3-1 | 0-0-0 | 1-3-1 | .300 |
| Galway Warriors (C) | 1 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | .000 | |
| Belfast Trojans | 3 | 0-3-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-3-0 | .000 |
| MIdlands | |||||
| Westmeath Minotaurs (B,B,B,C) | 10 | 9-1-0 | 3-1-0 | 12-2-0 | |
| Louth Mavericks | 7 | 1-6-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-6-0 | .143 |
| Meath Bulldogs | 5 | 0-4-1 | 0-0-0 | 0-4-1 | .000 |
| Maynooth University Hurricanes | 5 | 0-5-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-5-0 | .000 |
| Edenderry Eagles | 2 | 0-2-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-2-0 | .000 |
| Dublin & Munster | |||||
| Dublin Bay Raptors (B) | 10 | 8-2-0 | 0-1-0 | 8-3-0 | .727 |
| University College Dublin (B,B) | 7 | 5-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 6-3-0 | .667 |
| South Dublin Panthers | 10 | 7-2-1 | 0-0-0 | 7-3-1 | .750 |
| University College Cork Raiders | 10 | 3-6-1 | 0-0-0 | 3-6-1 | .350 |
Note: The above Table is a composite table, adding the records of each of the teams for the five tournaments. Pct = Winning Percentage over entire season. Teams are Ranked by 1. Number of Wins. 2. Winning Percentage. 3. Number of Losses.
The 2017-18 Flag Football Ireland Season was intended as a break from the League in order to grow the game – it seems to have worked – from 7 teams in the League in 2017 – there were 19 in 2018, and in 2019 there were 25 teams. Westmeath Minotaurs won three of the Bowl Games, including the last one, the Simon Bowl in Dundalk, triumphing 20-13 over Dublin Bay Raptors.
The Tournaments featured a European Team from a US Air Force Base in Germany – Kaiserslautern Screamin’ Eagles – making it an International Tournament like the Celtic Bowl of 2015. I was also Co-ed – men & women could both play.
Bowl Games
| Date | Winners | Runners-Up | ||
| Michael McCormick Cup | Mullingar | |||
| 08.10.2017 | Westmeath Minotaurs | W | Galway Warriors | L |
| Friendly | Westmannstown | |||
| 14.10.2017 | Dublin Bay Raptors | 26 | South Dublin Panthers | 18 |
| Pink Panther Bowl | Westmannstown | |||
| 28.10.2017 | University College Dublin | W | Westmeath Minotaurs | L |
| Jigsaw Bowl | Maynooth | |||
| 25.11.2017 | Westmeath Minotaurs | W ^ | University College Dublin | L |
| Simon Bowl | Dundalk | |||
| 27.01.2018 | Westmeath Minotaurs | 20 | Dublin Bay Raptors | 13 |
Michael McCormack Memorial Cup, 8 October 2017, Mullingar
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts | |
| *Westmeath Minotaurs | |||||||
| *Galway Warriors | |||||||
| *Edenderry Eagles |
Reference: [1][2][4]
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | ||
| Final | ||||
| Westmeath Minotaurs | W | Galway Warriors | L |
Report
____________________________________________________________
Westmeath Minotaurs (Winners) & Galway Warriors (Runners-Up) Michael McCormack Memorial Cup 2017 [3]
Westmeath Minotaurs beat Galway Warriors in the Final in the Michael McCormack Memorial Cup they hosted. [1][2]
Pink Panther Bowl, 28 October 2017 Westmanstown
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pct | |
| *University College Dublin | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | ||
| Westmeath Minotaurs | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | ||
| Craigavon Cowboys | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | ||
| South Dublin Panthers | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | ||
| UCC Raiders | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | ||
| Dublin Bay Raptors | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | ||
| Maynooth University Hurricanes | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 |
Table Compiled from Results
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | ||
| Winners Bracket | Round 1 | |||
| 28.10.17 | Maynooth University Hurricanes | 0 | UCC Raiders | 28 |
| 28.10.17 | South Dublin Panthers | 13 | Dublin Bay Raptors | 6 |
| 28.10.17 | Westmeath Minotaurs | 12 | Craigavon Cowboys | 30 |
| Winners Bracket | Semi-Finals | |||
| 28.10.2017 | University College Dublin | 17 | UCC Raiders | 12 |
| 28.10.2017 | South Dublin Panthers | 13 | Craigavon Cowboys | 25 |
| Winners Bracket | Final | |||
| 28.10.2017 | University College Dublin | 13 | Craigavon Cowboys | 6 |
| Losers Bracket | Round 1 | |||
| 28.10.2017 | Maynooth University Hurricanes | 18 | Dublin Bay Raptors | 34 |
| 28.10.2017 | Westmeath Minotaurs | 20 | UCC Raiders | 6 |
| 28.10.2017 | South Dublin Panthers | 22 | Maynooth University Hurricanes | 20 |
| Losers Bracket | Round 2 | |||
| 28.10.2017 | Dublin Bay Raptors | 18 | UCC Raiders | 26 |
| 28.10.2017 | Westmeath Minotaurs | South Dublin Panthers | ||
| Losers Bracket | Semi-Final | |||
| 28.10.2017 | UCC Raiders | 6 | South Dublin Panthers | 15 |
| Losers Bracket | Final | |||
| 28.10.2017 | Craigavon Cowboys | Westmeath Minotaurs | ||
| Pink Panter Bowl | Winners Bracket v Losers Bracket | |||
| 28.10.2017 | University College Dublin | W | Westmeath Minotaurs | L |
[3][4][5][6]
Tournament was Double-Elimination with a minimum of 3 games per team
 |
Jigsaw Bowl, 25 November 2017 Maynooth
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pct | |
| Group A | |||||||
| *University College Dublin | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 12 | 6 |
| South Dublin Panthers | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 21 | 6 |
| Louth Mavericks | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 34 | 0 |
| Maynooth University Hurricanes | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 45 | 0 |
| Group B | |||||||
| *Westmeath Minotaurs | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 7 | 6 |
| Dublin Bay Raptors | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 24 | 6 |
| UCC Raiders | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 44 | 0 |
| Meath Bulldogs | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 73 | 0 |
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | ||
| Final | ||||
| 25.11.2017 | University College Dublin | L | Westmeath Minotaurs | W ^ |
[10]
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | ||
| Group A | ||||
| 25.11.2017 | University College Dublin | 14 | Louth Mavericks | 6 |
| 25.11.2017 | South Dublin Panthers | 19 | Maynooth University Hurricanes | 13 |
| 25.11.2017 | Maynooth University Hurricanes | 6 | University College Dublin | 26 |
| 25.11.2017 | Louth Mavericks | 8 | South Dublin Panthers | 20 |
| Group B | ||||
| 25.11.2017 | Westmeath Minotaurs | 25 | UCC Raiders | |
| 25.11.2017 | Dublin Bay Raptors | 31 | Meath Bulldogs | 18 |
| 25.11.2017 | UCC Raiders | 6 | Dublin Bay Raptors | 19 |
| 25.11.2017 | Meath Bulldogs | 0 | Westeath Minotaurs | 42 |
[7][8][9][10]
Westmeath Minotaurs won the second Flag football tournament of the season in Maynooth, winning both group games and then defeating UCD in the final. After the group stage where each team played twice there was a straight final due to the fading light as the tournament was behind schedule. This left both the Dubliin Bay Raptors and South Dublin Panthers bitterly disappointed as they would be knocked out on points difference despite winning both of their group games like UCD and the Minotaurs.
The Final went into overtime with Westmeath emerging winners with a Niall King touchdown catch. Jack Lynch proved the standout on the day catching 7 TD passes as well as returning an interception for a touchdown.
Westmeath Minotaurs – Jigsaw Bowl Champions 2017
Marie Curie Cup, 2 December 2017, Portadown
| Date | Team 1 | Team 2 | ||
| Group | ||||
| 02.12.2017 | Craigavon Cowboys | 58 | Louth Mavericks | 21 |
| 02.12.2017 | Coleraine Elks | 31 | Louth Mavericks | 21 |
| 02.12.2017 | Craigavon Cowboys | 44 | Coleraine Elks | 18 |
[5][6][7]
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts | |
| *Craigavon Cowboys | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 39 | 6 |
| Coleraine Elks | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 65 | 3 |
| Louth Mavericks | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 89 | 0 |
Venue
| Match | Venue |
| Marie Curie Cup | Kernan Playing Fields, Portadown (Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon) |
Craigavon Cowboys won the tournament they hosted in aid of Marie Curie, defeating both the Louth Mavericks and Ulster University Coleraine Elks. the elks would win their first ever match since they were resurrected, 31-21 against Louth Mavericks, who gave them a good game, for second place in the three-team cup.[9]
Simon Bowl, 27 January 2018, Dundalk
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts | |
| Group | |||||||
| *Dublin Bay Raptors | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 77 | 19 | 9 |
| *Craigavon Cowboys | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 78 | 52 | 6 |
| University College Dublin | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 66 | 3 |
| Coleraine Elks | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 65 | 1 |
| Meath Bulldogs | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 51 | 1 |
| Group | |||||||
| *Westmeath Minotaurs | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 27 | 9 |
| *South Dublin Panthers | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 32 | 6 |
| UCC Raiders | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 48 | 4 |
| Louth Mavericks | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 59 | 3 |
| Belfast Trojans | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 60 | 0 |
| Time | Home Team | Away Team | ||
| Semi-Finals | ||||
| 2:30 | Dublin Bay Raptors | W | South Dublin Panthers | L |
| 2:30 | Westmeath Minotaurs | W | Craigavon Cowboys | L |
| Final | ||||
| 3:15 | Westmeath Minotaurs | 20 | Dublin Bay Raptors | 13 |
| Time | Home Team | Away Team | ||
| Group | ||||
| 10:45 | Craigavon Cowboys | 27 | UCD | 13 |
| 10:45 | Coleraine Elks | 8 | Meath Bulldogs | 8 |
| 11:30 | Dublin Bay Raptors | 25 | Craigavon Cowboys | 13 |
| 12:15 | UCD | 19 | Coleraine Elks | 12 |
| 12:15 | Meath Bulldogs | 0 | Dublin Bay Raptors | 25 |
| 1:00 | Craigavon Cowboys | 38 | Coleraine Elks | 14 |
| 1:45 | UCD | 6 | Dublin Bay Raptors | 27 |
| Group | ||||
| 10:45 | South Dublin Panthers | 13 | Belfast Trojans | 6 |
| 11:30 | UCC Raiders | 7 | Westmeath Minotaurs | 35 |
| 11:30 | South Dublin Panthers | 21 | Louth Mavericks | 13 |
| 12:15 | Belfast Trojans | 6 | Westmeath Minotaurs | 27 |
| 1:00 | Westmeath Minotaurs | 29 | Louth Mavericks | 14 |
| 1:00 | UCC Raiders | 13 | South Dublin Panthers | 13 |
| 1:45 | Louth Mavericks | 20 | Belfast Trojans | 9 |
| Inter-Group | ||||
| 1:45 | UCC Raiders | 18 | Meath Bulldogs | 0 |
Westmeath Minotaurs won their second straight Flag Bowl Tournament with a 20-13 victory over the Dublin Bay Raptors in the Final. Held in aid of the Simon Communities Charity for the Homeless, the Minotaurs won all five games, racking up 91 points in three group games behind QB Dermot Corroon
with Jack Lynch and Jason Owens on Offense and Chris Gilbert and David Walsh on Defense also having outstanding days.
The Dublin Bay Raptors won the other group in fine style also, winning all three games, and making sure to rack up the points also after the disappointment of the Maynooth Tournament, winning all three of their games like the Minotaurs.
After despatching the Panthers and Cowboys in the Semi-Finals, the Raptors and Minotaurs would meet undefeated in the Final, in what was a tense game. The Minotaurs would win their second Bowl in a row 20-13 after MVP Conor McGroarty of the Raptors was stopped yards from the line as time ran out.
Friendlies
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | ||
| 14.10.2017 | South Dublin Panthers | 18 | Dublin Bay Raptors | 26 |
Venues
| Tournament | Venue |
| Pink Panther Bowl | Westmanstown RFC, Co. South Dublin (Host: Panthers) |
| Jigsaw Bowl | Maynooth University, Co. Kildare (Host: Maynooth University Hurricanes) |
| Simon Bowl | Dundalk IT, Co. Louth (Host:Louth Mavericks) |
| UCC Bowl | UCC, Cork City (Host: UCC Raiders) |
[18][20]
Awards
_________________________________________________________
| Bowl | MVP |
| Pink Panther | |
| Jigsaw | Jack Lynch (Westmeath Minotaurs) |
| Simon | Conor McGroarty (Dublin Bay Raptors) [17][18] |
Jack Lynch – Jigsaw Bowl MVP 2017 [9]
Conor McGroart – Simon MVP 2017
References
Logos
[1] Irish American Football Association (2017) IAFA Logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/IAFA.jpg [Accessed 1 May 2017]
[2] Flag Football Ireland Facebook Page (2017) Photo October 25 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/FlagFootballIreland/photos/pcb.2083533201870491/2083532171870594/?type=3&theater [Accessed 28 October 2017]
Social Media
Michael McCormick Cup
[3] Westmeath Minotaurs | Facebook (2017) Post October 18, 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1696470917031634 [Accessed 9 March 2018]
[4] Galway Warriors | Facebook (2017) Post: October 9, 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/GalwayWarriorsFootball/photos/a.1369377569785381/1561283250594811/?type=3 [Accessed 26 May 2019]
[5] Galway Warriors | Facebook (2017) Photo: October 9, 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22448113_1561283250594811_7091649429993987275_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=0088d4d51831dcb15aa8b6e21c6acef6&oe=5D6139B6 [Accessed 26 May 2019]
[6] Edenderry Eagles | Facebook (2017) Post to page by Ken Farrell, September 6, 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/341452022587512/permalink/1422419601157410/ [Accessed 9 March 2018]
Websites
Pink Panther Bowl
[7] Dublin Bay Raptors Facebook Page (2017) Post October 24 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/dublinraptors/posts/2024612384475865 [Accessed 28 October 2017]
[8] Dublin Bay Raptors Facebook Page (2017) Post to Page by Enda Mulcahy October 28 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1738886779752358&set=p.1738886779752358&type=3&theater [Accessed 28 October 2017]
[9] South Dublin Panthers Facebook Page (2017) Post October 28 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/southdublinpanthers/posts/856969844481750 [Accessed 28 October 2017]
[10] UCD American Football Facebook Page (2017) Post October 30 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/UcdAmericanFootball/posts/1346543658789249 [Accessed 29 January 2018]
Jigsaw Bowl
[11] Dublin Bay Raptors Facebook Page (2017) Post to Page by Enda Mulcahy November 28 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/dublinraptors/posts/2040665322870571 [Accessed 28 November 2017]
[12] Dublin Bay Raptors Facebook Page (2017) Post to Page by Enda Mulcahy November 28 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/dublinraptors/posts/2040665626203874 [Accessed 28 November 2017]
[13] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2017) Photo November 25 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/photos/pcb.1745556515456407/1745556455456413/?type=3&theater [Accessed 28 November 2017]
[14] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2017) Post November 25 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1745556515456407 [Accessed 29 January 2018]
Marie Curie Cup
[15] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2018) Post December 2, 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/posts/1729161883760667 [Accessed 9 March 2018]
[16] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2018) Post December 2, 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/posts/1729220250421497 [Accessed 9 March 2018]
[17] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2018) Photo December 2, 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/photos/a.733872649956267.1073741832.701486486528217/1729278603748995/?type=3&theater [Accessed 9 March 2018]
[18] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2018) Photo November 29, 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/photos/gm.2054850618070078/1722021407808048/?type=3&theater [Accessed 9 March 2018]
[19] Ulster University Elks American Football Facebook Page (2018) Post December 2, 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/UUCAF.Elks/posts/1487981657986410 [Accessed 9 March 2018]
Simon Bowl
[20] Dublin Bay Raptors Facebook Page (2017) Post to Page by Enda Mulcahy January 28 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/dublinraptors/posts/2070560146547755″> [Accessed 28 January 2018]
[21] Dublin Bay Raptors Facebook Page (2017) Post to Page by Enda Mulcahy January 28 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/dublinraptors/posts/2070560266547743 [Accessed 28 January 2018]
[22] Dublin Bay Raptors Facebook Page (2017) Post to Page by Enda Mulcahy January 28 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/dublinraptors/posts/2070560406547729 [Accessed 28 January 2018]
[23] Dublin Bay Raptors Facebook Page (2017) Post to Page by Enda Mulcahy January 28 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/dublinraptors/posts/2070560499881053 [Accessed 28 January 2018]
[24] Dublin Bay Raptors Facebook Page (2018) Post to Page by Enda Mulcahy January 28 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/dublinraptors/posts/2070560576547712 [Accessed 28 January 2018]
[25] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2018) Post January 27 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1813957288616329 [Accessed 29 January 2018]
[26] Flag Football Ireland Facebook Page (2018) Photo January 27, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/FlagFootballIreland/photos/pb.1583160178574465.-2207520000.1520237570./2130974623793015/?type=3&theater [Accessed 5 March 2018]
[27] Flag Football Ireland Facebook Page (2018) Post January 29, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/FlagFootballIreland/posts/2130976280459516 [Accessed 5 March 2018]
[28] Dublin Bay Raptors Facebook (2018) Post to page by Todd Zboyan, 15 October 2018: [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/dublinraptors/posts/2020663898204047 [Accessed 31 January 2021]
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Todd Zboyan, Decy Maher, Ken Jackson & Brianna Wallace, Tom Gallagher, Anton “Pippo” O’Grady and Jonathan Spielberg, Sean Douglas, Jonathan Spielberg, Joe Grey (Dublin Bay Raptors).
About this document
Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the
Eirball | Irish North American & World Sports Archive
Last Updated: 31 January 2021
(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2018-2021
You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.