Irish American Football League

[Aberdonian Stu]

The 2006 IAFL season kicks off this weekend with the reigning league champions the Belfast Bulls visiting the University of Limerick Vikings. Kick off is at 2pm in the UL Sports Grounds.

Further information is available at www.iafl.info

[Dodge]

Moved it to a new thread. Didn't want it buried in a huge thread. Good luck to all

[Clifford]

Hope to make it down there, looking forward to it. Good luck to all.

[Number9]

Good luck to you all. Have a very successful season.

Just wondering - from what sporting background do most players come to American Football from? Rugby, gaelic??

[Aberdonian Stu]

Major mixed bag, we've a few from rugby, gaa, association football, athletics and of course guys who never played anything at an organised level before.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Today's result:

UL Vikings 20
Belfast Bulls 0

Three rushing touchdowns gave UL victory in the season opener. Two in the first half, the second of which was converted for two, gave the hosts a 14-0 lead at the break before another six-pointer in the second half sealed the win.

Next week:
DCU Saints @ UL Vikings

[Risteard]

Where do the Cork Admirals play?
I always see them training in the famous 'boggy field' but i didn't know there was an organised league.

[Aberdonian Stu]

We have them at home this season so I don't know where exactly they play but according to their website (http://www.corkadmirals.com/) they play at Pfizers Sports club in Ringaskiddy.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Today's result from the UL Sportsground:

UL Vikings 58
DCU Saints 0

A bit of a drubbing but we improved tremendously in the final quarter. For all but two of our players it was their first game ever.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Good man Hayser. Despite the fact that there's a good chance I'll be there I forgot to post it. There should be a few Saints in attendance (hopefully in our jerseys if we actually get them tonight!).

There was an article in the Herald about the Marshalls two nights ago, got a good write up.

Their first league game is away to us on the 9th April (venue tbc).

[Aberdonian Stu]

They're cheerleaders are about 14!!!

They're dancers aren't much older as they're all around 17.

At least the Saints cheerleaders are in college.

Anyway I was at the game today. Marshalls won 20-16.

[pineapple stu]

They're cheerleaders are about 14!!!

They're dancers aren't much older as they're all around 17.
:eek:

[Aberdonian Stu]

My sole excuse for such Trinitonian grammar is that I was knackered after a long day.

Today's result from the UL Sportsground:
UL Vikings 12
Dublin Dragons 0

The Vikings have now played all but one of their home games this season.

The other game scheduled for today between the Belfast Bulls and Dublin Rebels in Belfast was postponed. Further information on what will happen to this fixture will be posted as soon as I have concrete info.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Table on the league site indicates that Rebels were awarded a walkover.

Next Sunday's fixtures:

Cork Admirals @ Carrickfergus Knights (Woodburn Road, Carrickfergus).
UL Vikings @ Dublin Rebels (Sportslink, Santry, Dublin).

The second fixture should be very interesting as Vikes are on a roll and Rebels have yet to actually play although they are the defending champs.

[John83]

My sole excuse for such Trinitonian grammar is that I was knackered after a long day. Based on what I've read, you need to take the occasional short day so. :p

[Aberdonian Stu]

Oh good sir I am offended.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Aberoninan Stu

Being accused of trinitonian grammar did not offend you? :(

[Schumi]

Aberoninan Stu

Being accused of trinitonian grammar did not offend you? :(
He accused himself. I know he's offensive but surely not to the level of offending himself!

[CollegeTillIDie]

He accused himself. I know he's offensive but surely not to the level of offending himself!

Well if he talks to himself that might be possible :D

[John83]

Oh good sir I am offended. Is the poor, nay Trinitonian punctuation also to be blamed on your long hours of work? :p

[Aberdonian Stu]

Back to the football.

This weekend's results

Carrickfergus Knights 23
Cork Admirals 30

and

Dublin Rebels 24
UL Vikings 6

Reports available at www.iafl.info

Upcoming fixtures:
Dublin City Marshals @ DCU Saints
ALSAA, Dublin Airport.

UL Vikings @ Dublin Dragons
Lucan Community College, Co. Dublin

Both games are on Sunday the 9th of April and kick off at 1pm.

The Marshals-Saints game is both the first Dublin derby of the season and first Dublin derby for both sides.

UL, who have already completed half their programme, will be within touching distance of a playoff spot if they win away to the Dragons.

Current table:
Team...........................W L T Pts
UL Vikings.....................3 1 0 6
Dublin Rebels..................2 0 0 4
Cork Admirals.................1 0 0 2
Carrickfergus Knights.......0 1 0 0
Dublin Dragons...............0 1 0 0
DCU Saints....................0 1 0 0
Belfast Bulls..................0 2 0 0
Dublin City Marshals........0 0 0 0

[Aberdonian Stu]

By the Marshals? I'll wait and see.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Today's results:

DCU Saints 41
Dublin City Marshals 45

Dublin Dragons 6
UL Vikings 6

[Aberdonian Stu]

No fixtures next week due to Easter break. Three games down for the weekend of 22/23rd April.

Saturday 22nd April
UL Vikings @ Dublin City Marshals
Venue/Time*
A win for the injury riddled Vikings would make them the first team to secure a place in the end of season playoffs.

Sunday 23rd April
Carrickfergus Knights @ DCU Saints
ALSAA, Dublin, 2pm

Cork Admirals @ Dublin Dragons
Lucan Community College, Dublin, 2pm
This is an interesting tie as the offense heavy Admirals travel to a Dragons team with a defence that has conced just 18 points in its first two games of the season.

*On the list this should be an evening game in Morton but the front page of the IAFL site says it's at 2pm in UL. If/when I know what the story is I'll post it.

Was too knackered to comment on Saints-Marshals game yesterday. The report on the IAFL site gets the score right but the sequence slightly off (Saints scored their second TD before Marshals scored their second).

Was a good bruising encounter. Disappointed in defeat especially after such an epic comeback. Got some good blocks in but we all need to raise our game from the opening kickoff. That said there were some clear improvements and I'm confident for the future.

Current table
Team.................................W...L...T...P ts
Univ of Limerick Vikings......3...1...1...7
Dublin Rebels......................2...0...0...4
Cork Admirals...................1...0...0...2
Dublin City Marshals.............1...0...0...2
Dublin Dragons..................0...1...1...1
Carrickfergus Knights............0...1...0....0
Dublin City Univ Saints.......0...2...0....0
Belfast Bulls........................0...2...0....0

[shedite]

How come there wasa tie? There hasn't been one of them in about 30 years in NFL, do they not play overtime?

Also, are there no P.A.T.'s in Irish American Football?

[Aberdonian Stu]

There was actually a tie in the NFL about five or six years ago between the New York Giants and Washington Redskins, ended 7-7.

I assume that the score in the Dragons-Vikings game was level after overtime (or else there may not have been any, I'm unsure of the situation), Vikings only tied it fairly late.

As for PATs they are in the league but are less common than 2 point attempts. In the Saints-Marshals game both sides completed their sole attempts at a PAT.

[Dodge]

Whats the standard of kicking like Stu? I presume there'd be no 'specialist' kickers as more likely to play football, rugby or gaa?

[Aberdonian Stu]

Generally the standard of kicking across the league isn't great. To the best of my knowledge last year's Shamrock Bowl champions, the Rebels, didn't go for a regular PAT once all season.

[Dodge]

I see an oppurtunity...

[Dodge]

YOu've never seen my american football style kicking

[Aberdonian Stu]

This weekend's results:

Saturday:
Dublin City Marshals 6
UL Vikings 22

Sunday:
DCU Saints 14
Carrickfergus Knights 36

Dublin Dragons 6
Cork Admirals 6

I think UL's win means they are now guaranteed a playoff spot.

Today's defeat was a bit hard to take. We were 15-14 down at the break and had them on the ropes but we were missing several starters (I counted around 5 on offence) due to work/illness and this limited our attacking options.

Having said that the Knights are considered the second best team in the country so giving them a good run for their money in only our third game shows promise.

[CollegeTillIDie]

The Dragons got a draw I notice is that their first non-defeat of the country.

[Aberdonian Stu]

That sentence did make a lot of sense to me (of the country:confused: ) but that's their second 6-6 draw this season.

[CollegeTillIDie]

The Dragons got a draw I notice is that their first non-defeat of the century.

Should have been century!

[Dodge]

Jesus, CTID, leave the grammar corrections out, will you?

Keep it to the UCD forum if they don't mind (sic)

[Aberdonian Stu]

Today's results.

From Victoria Park, Belfast:
Dublin City Marshals 38
Belfast Bulls 40

From the UL Sports Ground, Limerick
Cork Admirals 0
UL Vikings 20

The win for Limerick means they have 11 points from a possible 14. Victory in Carrickfergus would guarantee a home semi-final. Even with a defeat it would be a surprise at this stage if they finish below 2nd.

Bulls win means they join Marshals on a 1-2 record. Combined with Cork's defeat it makes the playoff picture very interesting indeed.

UL are in the semis, given their start to the season I would expect the Rebels to join them but after that it's hard to say.

I'll post and updated table when the IAFL do.

[Aberdonian Stu]

And here's the table:

Team......................... W..L..T..Pts
Univ of Limerick Vikings...5..1..1..11
Dublin Rebels................2..0..0...4
Cork Admirals................1..1..1..3
Dublin Dragons..............0..1..2..2
Carrickfergus Knights......1..1..0..2
Dublin City Marshals.......1..2..0..2
Belfast Bulls.................1..2..0..2
Dublin City Univ Saints...0..3..0..0

[Aberdonian Stu]

This week's results

Saturday
Dublin Dragons w/o
Dublin City Marshals scr.
Marshals failed to provide an ambulance on time resulting in their forfeiting. Dragons awarded a 30-0 win

With 4 points from 4 games the Dragons are in pole position for the fourth and final playoff place. Marshals are now second bottom having lost 3 in a row.

Sunday
UL Viking 12
Carrickferus Knights 18
at Woodburn Road Carrickfergus

Vital win for Knights means the battle for homefield advantage in the playoffs could go down to the wire. They now face tough trips away at the Rebels and Cork.

A win for UL would have guaranteed them 2nd at worst. Instead they finish the regular with 11 points from 16 and must rely on other teams taking points off Carrickfergus and the Rebels.

Dublin Rebels 42
DCU Saints 12
at ALSAA, Dublin Airport

A poor start for the Saints saw them go 26-0 down before scores either side of the break brought them to within 2 TDs at 26-12. Two further Rebels TDs killed off the contest and in truth flattered the victors.

Rebels remain on course for top spot with a maximum 6 points from their 3 games. With five games to go in their regular season, including games against both northern teams, they have a long way to go yet.

Saints remain bottom yet despite losing all of their opening four games still aren't out of the playoff hunt yet. They face a tough task though as they must win all their remaining games to progress.

Team Ireland
The next two weeks are bye weeks to allow for Team Ireland events. First off there is a training weekend in ALSAA on the 13th and 14th followed by a game the next week. The fixture is:

Ireland vs Southampton University (British Collegiate Champions)
Saturday 20th of May, 2pm in Sportslink, Santry.

Southampton have a very strong squad and will provide a very stern test indeed.

Upcoming fixtures
Sunday 28th of May
Dublin City Marshal @ Cork Admirals
Carrickfergus Knights @ Dublin Rebels

Sunday 4th of June
Dublin Dragons @ Belfast Bulls
Carrickfergus Knights @ Cork Admirals

Table........................W...L...D...Pts
Univ of Limerick Vikings.5...2...1...11
Dublin Rebels..............3...0...0...6
Carrickfergus Knights....2...1...0...4
Dublin Dragons............1...1...2...4
Cork Admirals..............1...1...1...3
Belfast Bulls................1...2...0...2
Dublin City Marshals.....1...3...0...2
Dublin City Univ Saints..0...4...0...0

[Aberdonian Stu]

Ireland lost 32-0.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Results from Sunday the 28th of May:

Carrickfergus Knights 0
Dublin Rebels 34

Rebels go 4 for 4 and need 3 points from their last 4 games to guarantee top spot.

Knights drop to fifth must now win all their remaining games to take second place from Limerick and with it a home tie in the semi finals. Their tie with the Dragons could prove decisive in the playoff hunt.

North Dublin Marshals 8
Cork Admirals 66

The Marshals, having changed back from their Dublin City moniker, suffered their heaviest defeat of the season against a resurgent Cork.

The Admirals are now up to third and look god for a playoff spot having lost just once, to UL.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Result from Sunday:

Cork Admirals 6
Carrickfergus Knights 24

Carrickfergus moved to third with this win. For only the third time in league history a touchdown conversion was returned by the defending team for a score.

With the scored tied at 6-6 David Wright returned Cork's 2 point attempt all the way to the opposite endzone and the Knights never looked back.

Carrickfergus still need maximum points to guarantee second place and a home semi final. For Cork this defeat drags them back down into the dogfight for the final playoff spot.

Fixtures for Sunday 11th of June:
Dublin Dragons @ Belfast Bulls
Belfast, 2pm.
Victory for the Dragons would see them leapfrog Cork into fourth while a Bulls win would draw them level with the Dragons with a game in hand.

DCU Saints @ North Dublin Marshals
Iveagh Grounds, Dublin, 2pm.
The Saints must win to retain a mathematical chance of reaching the playoffs. A win for the Marshals would put them back in contention for fourth.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Yesterday's results:

DCU Saints 44
North Dublin Marshals 32

After suffering 4 defeats in their opening 4 games the Dublin City University Saints came from behind to record their first ever victory in the IAFL.

The Saints started well driving inside the Marshals redzone before an interception ended the drive. The hosts scored on their first drive and on their next four to take a 32-16 in the fourth quarter.

Then the unthinkable happened. A Saints passing TD (well it was only our third all season). Buggle to Prendergast and a 2 point conversion made it 24-32.

The lead was cut to 2 with a McMahon TD before the Saints took the lead with Buggle's third rushing TD of the day. The 2 point conversion gave them a six point lead with 3 minutes left.

A fumble recovery on the Marshals next drive gave the Saints the ball back with 2 minutes to go. McMahon's second TD of the day, a 32 yard run, put the result beyond doubt.

The result means the Marshals become the first team to officially fall out of the playoff race. The Saints face an uphill task as they require 3 wins from their final 3 games to qualify.

Dublin Dragons 6
Belfast Bulls 32

Who said the Bulls were a spent force? Having got off to a slow start the Bulls beat one of their main rivals for the final playoff spot in convincing fashion.

The Dragons are known as a team with a good defence but the Bulls were rampant scoring 5 TDs.

Belfast are now level with the Dragons on 4 points but have a game in hand. They trail fourth place Cork by a solitary point but have a game in hand over them as well.


With the Admirals facing the unbeaten Rebels and Belfast facing local rivals Carrickfergus next week the battle for the playoffs is set to hot up very soon.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Sorry it's been a while since the last update...

The Rebels finished the regular season with a perfect record to take the league title and more importantly top seeding for the semi-finals.

Carrickfergus beat the Dragons 13-7 on the last day of the regular season to do just enough to take second spot and home advantage for their semi final.

That defeat for the Dragons coupled with Cork's victory over Belfast means the Admirals take the fourth and final playoff spot.

The final league table reads:

Team...............................W...L...T...Ps
Dublin Rebels......................8...0...0...16
Carrickfergus Knights...........6...2...0...12
UL Vikings..........................5...2...1...11
Cork Admirals......................4...3...1...9
Dublin Dragons....................2...4...2...6
Belfast Bulls.......................3...5...0...6
DCU Saints.........................1...7...0...2
North Dublin Marshals...........1...7...0...2

This means the semi finals are thus:

Cork Admirals @ Dublin Rebels
The Rebels, seeking their fourth consecutive Shamrock Bowl, won the earlier meeting between these sides 20-6.

UL Vikings @ Carrickfergus Knights
In their earlier meeting this season the Knights won 18-12.

The winners of these ties will contest the national championship game, the Shamrock Bowl.

Shamrock Bowl XX
Sportslink, Santry
Sunday, 20th of August, 2pm

[Aberdonian Stu]

Today saw the IAFL semi finals take place the results are

Cork Admirals 22
Dublin Rebels 58
at Sportslink, Santry
The defending champions won a high scoring encounter to give them a shot at a fourth straight Shamrock Bowl win.

UL Vikings 30
Carrickfergus Knights 25
at Woodburn Road, Carrickfergus
The Vikings overcame the odds to set up a Shamrock Bowl meeting with the Rebels. The Knights defeat means the national championship game will be ithout northern representation for the first time in over a decade.

That means that the fixture for the big one reads:

Shamrock Bowl XX
Dublin Rebels vs UL Vikings
at Sportslink, Santry
Sunday 20th of August
Kickoff at 2pm