Final Standings
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pct | |
| *Carrickfergus Knights | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 92 | 24 | .750 |
| *Dublin Tigers | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 114 | 34 | .750 |
| Queens University Belfast Broncos | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 158 | .000 |
Playoff Results
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | ||
| Shamrock Bowl XIV | Santry, Dublin | |||
| 15.08.1999 | Dublin Tigers | 22 | Carrickfergus Knights | 6 |
[2]
Regular Season Results
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | ||
| Week 1 | ||||
| 1999 | Carrickfergus Knights | 44 | Queens University Belfast Broncos | 0 |
| Week 2 | ||||
| 13.06.1999 | Dublin Tigers | 14 | Carrickfergus Knights | 0 |
| Week 3 | ||||
| 06.1999 | Queens University Belfast Broncos | 10 | Carrickfergus Knights | 14 |
| Week 4 | ||||
| 27.06.1999 | Dublin Tigers | 66 | Queens University Broncos | 0 |
| Week 5 | ||||
| 30.06.1999 | Carrickfergus Knights | 34 | Dublin Tigers | 0 |
| Week 6 | ||||
| 25.07.1999 | Queens University Broncos | 0 | Dublin Tigers | 34 |
Report
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
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.
In the return game between the Carrickfergus Knights and the Queeens 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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
References
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]
Images
[8] Eirball Facebook (2020) Photo, 6 June 2020: “Poster of Irish American Football Teams Colours 1985-1999. Given to me by Cillian Smith (IAFL Commissioner) around 1999.” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/2226857640959926/photos/a.2235377026774654/2492486431063711/?type=3&theater [Accessed 6 June 2020][Cropped]
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 and World Sports Archive
Last Updated: 22 April 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.