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IRELAND
TRIALS IN DUBLIN
April
10th 2004.
Venue: Islandbridge, Dublin.
Coach
DeMonte instructs players at the trials.
Trials
for the Irish National program took place
in Dublin on Saturday 10th April. Players
from Belfast Bulls, Cork Admirals, Dublin
Dragons, Dublin Rebels and UL Vikings turned
up for the trials that were open to all
registered players in the Irish American
Football League. Ireland Head Coach, Phil
DeMonte presided over the trials and was
assisted by Belfast Head Coach, Barry Magee.
Trials began at 10am in the morning and
concluded with a controlled scrimmage late
in the afternoon. Coach DeMonte said that
he is pleased with the performance of the
players who attended, most of whom will
form the nucleus of the side to face John
Carroll University in May. The next training
session for the team will be held in Cork
over the May bank holiday weekend.
Coach
Magee instructs a group of defensive players.
The
Ireland team (IAFL Allstars) is due to play
John Carroll University in Ireland on Sunday
30th May. John Carroll, from Ohio, are one
of the top teams in NCAA Division III and
will probably be the best team ever to play
against Irish opposition in Ireland. The
squad selected for the game includes 10
returning starters from the squad that had
a winning record in 2003 and made the playoffs
in 2002. On September 4th, Ireland will
travel to Leeds to play against the Great
Britain Bulldogs. A game against the New
York Police Department (NYPD) football team
is also being arranged for October.
Players
huddle around for instruction.
Earlier
this week, Mr. Peter O'Rourke who was part
of the Dublin Celts management during their
EuroBowl years was named as the new General
Manager for the Irish National Program.
Mr. Paul Whelan, a recently retired player
who spent 16 seasons with various teams
and Mr. John Durrad, Manager of Dublin Dragons
were named as the teams Assistant General
Managers. Mr. Andy Flynn of Dublin Rebels
will be the event organizer for the John
Carroll game.
The
scrimmage part of the trials.
Coach
DeMonte monitors performance in offensive
drills.
IAFA
Board members in attendance.
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