Preseason Standings
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pct | |
| Tara Conference | |||||||
| Craigavon Cowboys | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Belfast Spartans | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 14 | .000 |
| Bangor Buccaneers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 33 | .000 |
| Dublin Celts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Jordanstown Jaguars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Belfast Giants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Mourne Conference | |||||||
| East Side Jets | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 1.000 |
| Carrickfergus Cougars | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 13 | 1.000 |
| Aldergrove Hawks | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .000 |
| Dublin Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Belfast Blitzers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Coleraine Chieftains | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Preseason Results
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | ||
| PS Week 1 | ||||
| Aldergrove Hawks | 0 | East Side Jets | 6 | |
| PS Week 2 | ||||
| 15.03.1987 | East Side Jets | 7 | Bangor Buccaneers | 2 |
| PS Week 3 | ||||
| 05.04.1987 | Craigavon Cowboys | 26 | Bangor Buccaneers | 0 |
| PS Week 4 | ||||
| 12.04.1987 | Carrickfergus Cougars | 14 | Belfast Spartans | 13 |
Report
The East Side Jets, from Castlereagh in East Belfast, made a successful start to their Irish American Football preseason, winning 6-0 on their debut against Aldergove Hawks, at RAF Aldergrove in Antrim, before defeating Bangor Buccaneers 7-2 on their home debut, with a fourth quarter touchdown from Mark Dunwoody, who ran in from 25 yards out.
The Craigavon Cowboys won 26-0 against Bangor Buccaneers, with Shamrock Bowl I MVP (Most Valuable Player) from 1986, Nigel Trimble scoring a 21-yard run, which John Mulally added to with a reception from QB Geoff Donaghy. There was a second passing TD in the second half as Brendan McAleese added a reception, and then Stanley Kingsmill finished off the scoring with a 9 yard run. McAleese also scored two extra points.
In the final Preseason match of 1987, Carrickfergus Cougars came from behind to defeat Belfast Spartans. Hollowell had put the Spartans 7-6 up with a TD which was converted, and then Hollowell put the Spartans further ahead with a second touchdown just after halftime. With only two minutes left on the clock, the Cougars struck back, with a TD, adding a two-point conversion, to lead 14-13, which they held despite a late Spartans drive, which left them in Field Goal position. the Cougars managed to block the FG, though, to seal the win.
References
[1] Anon. (1987) “Successful start by Belfast Jets” Belfast Telegraph. Tuesday, March 17, 1987. pg. 21 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.
[2] Anon. (1987) “Cowboys in runaway win” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, April 6, 1987. pg. 17 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.
[3] Anon. (1987) “Cougars hit back – snatch late victory” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, April 13, 1987. pg. 21 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to David Turner & Billy Graham (Belfast Blitzers) and John Malone, Tony Meenaghan, Declan Mulvey & Paul O’Reilly.
About this document
Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the
Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive
Last Updated: 6 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 Resereved.