Clicking on Fixtures in the Schedules will bring the reader to the Scorers, Match Reports and Statistics (where known) for each game.

The History books record the Craigavon Cowboys as the first Shamrock Bowl Champions, after an amazing turnaround under new American Coach Chuck Ebron, who was brought in halfway through the season. The Cowboys won the Shamrock Bowl 6-2 versus Dublin Celts thanks to a late Touchdown by Nigel Trimble.

A League on Paper only the NIAFA of 1986 counted Regular Season games among the Northern Ireland members of the Irish American Football League. Belfast Blitzers won all three of their matches in the NIAFA League.

Another Competition on Paper only the Capitol Cup featured two matches between the Dublin Celts and Belfast Blitzers – the first a preseason match which was the first ever game played in Ireland between two fully kitted Irish American Football teams – and the return leg a Regular Season match which was the first time the Celts had ever been beaten. The Celts won 66-31 on Aggregate over the two legs but Belfast Blitzers also won a Trophy for the 2nd Leg victory.

The Festivals included the first of the Big 4th of July American Independence Day matches between Irish teams in Ireland, a highlight of the season ever since, with Dublin Celts again winning against Belfast Blitzers, 13-0 in the Final, with Irish International Rugby Union player, Tony Ward playing as guest kicker for the Celts [Reference: 1986-39]

Belfast Blitzers defeated Dublin Celts 7-0 thanks to a touchdown by Glentoran Soccer player George Neill in the All Ireland Championship Final in Belfast in August. The All Ireland Championship was a single-elimination tournament also known as the Knockout Cup.

The Irish American Football League played its first season in 1986, with a preseason game in Shane Park, Lurgan between Craigavon Cowboys and Belfast Blitzers being the first ever full contact kitted game between two Northern Ireland teams, and possibly the first between two Irish teams.

Belfast Blitzers won that match 46-0 and went on to become the first team to ever beat the Dublin Celts, 24-20 in the 2nd Leg of the Capital Cup, and although they lost the Cup on aggregate having lost the 1st leg 46-7 in Dublin, they were happy with the result of being the first team to ever beat the Celts.

Carrickfergus Cougars joined later on in the season, borrowing kit from Craigavon Cowboys to play their first ever full contact kitted game against Belfast Blitzers as part of the Carrick Festival, losing 6-55. Londonderry YMCA saw the last game of the regular season as Coleraine Chieftains lost 0-33 to Craigavon Cowboys. Belfast Blitzers also won this competition, the NIAFA League.

The Festivals included the first of the Big 4th of July American Independence Day matches between Irish teams in Ireland, a highlight of the season ever since, with Dublin Celts again winning against Belfast Blitzers, 13-0 in the Final, with Irish International Rugby Union player, Tony Ward playing as guest kicker for the Celts [Reference: 1986-39]

Belfast Blitzers defeated Dublin Celts 7-0 thanks to a touchdown by Glentoran Soccer player George Neill in the All Ireland Championship Final in Belfast in August, but the season did not end there as another match was organised by sponsors Jack Daniels to be played in Dublin, called the Shamrock Bowl.

The Shamrock Bowl was to be by invite only and Dublin Celts, winners of the Capitol Cup and Jack Daniels Summer Bowl Independence Day Festival were invited along with Belfast Blitzers, who, having won both the League and All Ireland Championship declined to enter as they considered themselves already Champions.

Craigavon Cowboys took the Blitzers’ place and triumphed 6-2 over the Celts thanks to a late rushing touchdown by Nigel Trimble. The Cowboys amazing turnaround since mid-season was put down to bringing in American Coach Chuck Ebron.

American Football is a North American version of Football, dating back over 100 years and resembling Rugby more than Soccer but played with 11 players on each team on the field at any one time (as in Soccer rather than Rugby). There is unlimited substitution in the Stateside-version of the game and Offense (Attack) and Defense have two entirely separate squads within each team – when the attacking teams’ Offense is on the field the opposing teams Defense is also on the field and vice-versa.

Scoring is by primarily by running or passing the ball into the opposing teams’ Endzone (a 15-yard area at either end of the 100-yard field) to score a Touchdown – worth 7 points – although despite the name and unlike in Rugby when scoring a Try this does not have to be touched down for the score to count – the ball just has to pass the ‘plane’ of the Endzone cleanly – in other words with the scoring players both feet in bounds and in clear possession of the ball). A TD is converted by the choice of either kicking the ball through the uprights (posts) for 1 point or by passing or running it successfully into the endzone for 2 points (this is in addition to the 6 points for the Touchdown (TD).

If a Touchdown appears unlikely during the attacking teams’ ‘Drive’ they can opt to kick a Field Goal worth 3 points. A ‘Drive’ is the cumulated plays of a teams’ single possession, and ends with either a score or a turnover – a change of possession such a pass being intercepted or the ball being ‘fumbled’ (dropped) and being recovered by the opposition. If a team is not within scoring range it may opt to ‘punt’ the ball – kick it back into the opposing teams’ end to gain better field position – and in doing so handing possession back to the opposition.

A third way of scoring is by a Safety – usually a defensive score whereby the ball carrier is tackled in his own Endzone. A Safety is Worth 2 Points.

Each game is 60 minutes long – divided into 4 quarters of 15 minutes – although unlike Rugby, Soccer or GAA there is no running clock, with the clock being stopped every time the ball is ‘dead’ – in other words goes out of the playing area or in other cases such as a score, incomplete pass or change of possession. Each game thus lasts up to 3 hours 30 minutes or sometimes more.

The National Football League (NFL) in USA is the Major Professional League and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Football programmes are also very big in USA.

[20] Vector — Labeled Color Map of Districts of Northern Ireland, United Kingdom Copyright: lara2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.123rf.com/photo_144615978_labeled-color-map-of-districts-of-northern-ireland-united-kingdom.html?vti=lnoo9k86jx77fg2u6b-1-21 [Accessed 10 January 2022] Superimposed on Vector — Map of Ireland administrative divisions on counties level Copyright: lesniewski [Internet] Available from: https://www.123rf.com/photo_51580818_map-of-ireland-administrative-divisions-on-counties-level.html?vti=lnoo9k86jx77fg2u6b-1-1 [Accessed 10 January 2022] Combined with 1987 Irish American Football Team Logos by Enda Mulcahy for Eirball.ie [10 January 2022]

[IAFL-1] Dublin Celts American Football Team Facebook Page (2016) Photo by Joseph Greene August 28, 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1421158977901127&set=gm.269427200117075&type=3&theater&ifg=1 [Accessed 3 July 2018]

[IAFL-2] Coleraine Chieftans (2002) Coleraine Chieftans: Chief Image [Internet] Available from: http://www.thecolerainechieftans.freeservers.com/images/chief.gif [Accessed 18 July 2018]

[IAFL-4] Belfast Blitzers Facebook (2023) Profile Image, January 25, 2023 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=482004857456761&set=a.482004844123429 [Last Accessed 12 October 2025]

[IAFL-5] Craigavon Cowboys – Twitter Account (2018) Profile Picture [Internet] Available from: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/864100166680424448/TCauLbnj_400x400.jpg [Accessed 22 July 2018]

[IAFL-6] Neil Robertshaw (1987) “Irish Eyes Are Smiling” Gridiron, June 1987, Issue 36. pg. 48-49. Published by Gridiron, High Street, Christchurch, Dorset. Executive editor: Bob Goddard. Editor: Nick Halling (1987)

Based on Robertshaw’s article – the most likely logo utilised by Carrickfergus Cougars is Princeton Tigers’ Logo from 1974-1977 as per Helmethistory.com [Reference L-2] or 1984-2004 as per Chris Creamer’s Sports Logos [Reference: L-3]. As per the article by Robershaw, the Cougars’ received more than 38 full kits from Yale starting quarteback Kelly Ryan, gathered from old Princeton Tigers, Yale and Harvard University kit, including as per photograph of Cougars president Mervyn Robinson decked out in the full kit in the article: Princeton Helmets and Shirts, Yale shoulder pads and Harvard pants and shoes. Note: The Logo utilised here on eirball.ie is downloaded from Chris Creamer’s SportLogos.net – As per request citation is given. Logo has been amended with an orange background for eirball.ie by Enda Mulcahy on 15 September 2025. Please purchase Chris’ brilliant SportsLogo illustrated history books, of which the author of eirball.ie has purchased a number of. This request is unsolicited and unpaid for, and is a small bit of gratitude for providing such a wonderful resource. 

[IAFL-6B] Helmethistory.com (2025) Princeton [Internet] Availbale from: https://www.helmethistory.com/princeton.html [Accessed 15 September 2025]

[IAFL-6C] Chris Creamer’s SportsLogos (2025) Princeton Tigers Primary Logo 1984-2004 [Internet] Available from: https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/ganu2ck9p7ihrigny8hv/Princeton-Tigers-Logo/1984/Primary-Logo [Accessed 15 September 2025]

[1] Anon. (1986) “Stylish motors take to the roads” Belfast Telegraph. Saturday, May 31, 1986. pg. 22. [Past Copies of the Belfast Telegraph are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

[2] Miriam Lord (1986) “Crunch: but could they handle Moss Keane?” Irish Independent. Monday, March 17, 1986. pg. 7

[3] BritballNow (2017) British and Irish sides Friendly results against foreign opposition [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/UKClubsForeignOppo.html [Accessed 16 November 2017]

[4] James Mulcahy (1986) “Savage Celts” Irish Independent. Thursday, March 27, 1986. pg. 9.

[5] BritballNow (2017) Newcastle Senators [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Britball%20Teams/NEWCASTLESENATORS.htm [Internet] [Accessed 25 June 2021]

[6] Irish American Football League (2002) Other Events [Internet] Available from: http://americanfootball.ie/iafl/otherevents02.htm [Accessed 20 March 2018]

[7] Anon. (1986) “Cowboys into Shamrock Bowl” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, September 29, 1986. Pg. 18.

Past Copies of the Belfast Telegraph are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/

[8] Anon. (1986) “American Football comes to Dublin” Irish Press. Wednesday, November 12, 1986. Pg. 11. [Past Copies of the Irish Press are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

[9] Anon. (1986) “Today’s sport” Irish Press. Wednesday, Friday, November 28, 1986. pg. 22 [Past Copies of the Irish Press are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

[10] Anon. (1986) “Marlboro on the march” Irish Press. Wednesday, Friday, November 28, 1986. pg. 17 [Past Copies of the Irish Press are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

[12] Sean Moloney (1986) “Shamrocks from USA are playing to win” Evening Herald. Saturday, November 29, 1986. pg. 6.

[13] Britball Now (2016) History of the Game in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/ireland/history-of-the-game-in.html [Accessed 02 October 2016]

[14] Britball Now (2008) UK Clubs Against Foreign Opposition [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/UKClubsForeignOppo.html [Accessed 16 November 2008]

[15] Semi-Pro Football (2017) Eastern Football League Champions [Internet] Available from: http://www.semiprofootball.org/minor/champs/eastfl.htm [Accessed 16 November 2017]

[16] Belfast Blitzers Facebook Page (2019) Post, August 12, 2019 at 1:31 PM [Internet] Available from:  https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/posts/2244208692356940?notif_id=1565921781157641&notif_t=comment_mention [Accessed 17 August 2019]

[17] Kevin Sharkey (2020) “The Dublin Celts” Word Document shared by John Gunning on Facebook Messenger with permission.

[18] Anon (1986) “Crunch: but could they handle Moss Keane?” Irish Independent. Monday, March 17, 1986. pg. 7

Past copies of the Irish Independent are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/

[19] Britball Now (2016) Results Section [1986] [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/results-section.html [Accessed 23 March 2017]

[20] Britball Now (2016) Bangor Buccaneers [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Britball%20Teams/BangorBuccaneers.htm [Accessed 23 March 2018]

[21] Irish American Football Association (2018) Shamrock Bowl History [Internet] Available from: hhttp://www.americanfootball.ie/american-football/shamrock-bowl-history/ [Accessed 23 March 2018]

[22] Britballnow.co.uk (2019) 1986 Results [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/results-section.html [Accessed 17 August 2019]

[23] Craigavon Cowboys | Wayback Machine (2017) Charles ‘Chuck’ Ebron Interview [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20170514064407/http://www,craigavoncowboys.co.uk:80/news [Accessed 10 October 2018]

[24] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Comments on Post by David Turner, August 12-17, 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/posts/2244208692356940 [Accessed 17 August 2019]

[25] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Comments on Post by David Turner, September 7, 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/posts/2286790341432108?comment_id=2287705898007219&reply_comment_id=2292185984225877&notif_id=1568031304420635&notif_t=feed_comment [Accessed 9 September 2019]

[26] Anon. (1986) “A cracking good show for grid-iron fans” Belfast Telegraph. Tuesday, September 23, 1986. pg. 24 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[27] Anon. (1986) “American flavour” Belfast Telegraph. Friday, August 8, 1986. pg. 26 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[28] Anon. (1986) “Cowboys into ‘Shamrock Bowl’” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, September 29, 1986. pg. 18 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[29] Anon. (1986) “Cowboys triumph’” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, October 6, 1986. pg. 19 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[30] Anon. (1986) “Picture caption’” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, August 11, 1986. pg. 30 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[31] Anon. (1986) “Picture by Rick Hewitt’” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, August 11, 1986. pg. 30 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[32] Anon. (1986) “Cowboys to meet Celts’”Belfast Telegraph. Saturday September 27, 1986. pg. 24 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[33] Anon. (1986) “Blitzers turn the tables”Belfast Telegraph. Tuesday June 24, 1986. pg. 28 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[34] Anon. (1986) “Cowboys into Shamrock Bowl’”Belfast Telegraph. Saturday September 29, 1986. pg. 18 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[35] Anon. (1986) “Sport in Brief: American Football” Sunday Press. August 17th, 1986. pg. 25.

[36] Anon. (1986) “Dublin Celts are Blitzed” Sunday Press. August 17th, 1986. pg. 25.

[37] BBC Sport NI Facebook (2020) Video, May 20, 2020 [Comment by player at 1:00-1:10] [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/BBCSPORTNI/videos/693338128160962 [Accessed 30 August 2020]

[38] Belfast Blitzers Facebook Page (2019) Post, August 12, 2019 at 1:31 PM [Internet] Available from:  https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/posts/2244208692356940?notif_id=1565921781157641&notif_t=comment_mention [Accessed 17 August 2019]

[1986-39] Gridiron UK (1986) “Champion Celts” Gridiron UK, September 1986, Issue 27. pg. 31. Published by Special Publications Division, Southern Newspapers PLC, Christchurch, Dorset. 

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 12 October 2025. First Published: 3 January 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.

Eirball is an Archive of Irish, North American and World Sports Results and Statistics, with a focus primarily on the sports’ respective leagues in Ireland and Irish-born players abroad. It is the work of Enda Mulcahy. Eirball.ie is the Gridiron Football (American Football) subsite of the Eirball.sport main landing site.