Some of the workshop participants discuss options for the 2012 season at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.

On Saturday 17th September 2011, the Irish American Football League (IAFL) held a meeting in Dublin to discuss the structure and timing of the league season going forward. This was a workshop style meeting where the participants discussed a variety of proposals and ideas before deciding on some recommendations.

Key considerations included ensuring that all teams have a competitive schedule, travel costs and future flexibility. There was a strong desire from the participants to recommend a structure that can be flexible going forward in terms of the number of teams participating and can accommodate increases in the number of regular season games played if desired beyond 2012.

The key recommendations of the workshop were as follows:

The IAFL should have two regional divisions of similar standard – IAFL North and IAFL South. Teams should play all their divisional rivals annually with the balance of games being against teams in the other division with opponents determined by the previous season’s rankings.

Consideration should be given to playing the Shamrock Bowl earlier in July, possibly to coincide with 4th July. Depending on the number of games scheduled per weekend, this may mean a earlier start to the season with some games played in February.

DV8s should be played after the end of the IAFL regular season so that more IAFL teams can enter 2nd teams in the DV8s league, thus making it bigger and more competitive.

Youth Kitted football (U19) should be played during the same timeframe as the DV8s to capitalise on synergies and make both more financially viable e.g. ground sharing for games. Initially Youth Kitted will use reduced numbers of players to allow as many teams as possible to participate.

The IAFL Board will be reviewing the recommendations and over the coming weeks and incorporating the feedback into its draft plans for 2012.

Workshop Attendees:
Carrickfergus Knights
Cork Admirals
Craigavon Cowboys
Tullamore Phoenix
West Dublin Rhinos
UL Vikings
IAFL Board Members

Dublin Rebels also forwarded feedback.

Tuesday 30th August 17:00 – 18:00

Wednesday 31st August 00:30 – 01:30

Thursday September 1st 04:00-05:00

IAFL fans are advised to check the Setanta TV schedule closer to these dates in case of changes.

The coverage will feature live commentary by Matt Craig and Chris Biondi. The progamme was produced independently on behalf of the IAFL and IAFA by Viewfinder. This is the second successive year that the game has been broadcast on Setanta. In further developments, as interest in the Shamrock Bowl is growing, EFAF is looking at including next years game on the list of European games to be broadcast by Eurosport in 2012.

Dublin Rebels celebrate winning Shamrock Bowl XXV

The Dublin Rebels won Shamrock Bowl XXV with a nail biting 14-13 victory over the UL Vikings. The decisive TD was scored by RB Sam Hodgins in the 4th quarter. The game was played on front of a large crowd at Morton Stadium, Santry. Rebels Safety Marcus Naylor won the MVP Award.

Shamrock Bowl XXV MVP Marcus Naylor makes a difficult interception

The Shamrock Bowl comes just once a year. The culmination of a season’s workload, it is the pinnacle of the sport in Ireland. It’s an amateur, minority sport after all, and as such, it casts the reason for playing the game into light. The motivations may vary, but all were on display in Morton Stadium on Sunday.

As with any sport, the pursuit of a set goal is often reason enough, but the satisfaction is no doubt amplified in overcoming adversity along the way. For the Dublin Rebels and UL Vikings, adversity has become a given in recent years, irremovable from the goal. This year’s Bowl was no different. In fact, it highlighted the ferocity and competitiveness more than any other final. Just one point separated the teams at the final whistle, the Rebels stealing the title with a 14-13 win. And Limerick’s challenge came from every angle.

On offense QB Marc Ashworth was particularly impressive, looking more settled than ever behind centre after years of service from other positions. He connected for two touchdowns with receivers Breandán Curtin and rookie Seán McGoldrick, the latter making an incredible leaping catch in slippy conditions. Up front, the entire Vikings D-Line caused problems, while in the secondary CB Craig Brouder and veteran safety Liam Ryan picked up an interception each.

Facing such a challenge, the Rebels soon surrendered their early lead. RB Aaron Smith was the first to cross the plane, but some turnovers for the Vikes soon pinned the Rebels deep in their own territory. Unable to escape, Ashworth set up with good field position and went to the air for two scores in quick succession. Reeling, the Rebels went into halftime trailing 13-6.

Brendan Curtin scores Vikings touchdown

Rebels Colin Keegan (Black) and Vikings Sean Goldrick battle for the ball

But just as goals require obstacles, they also need a driving internal force. It’s true of every sport, but with fringe sports in particular, clubs are only what their members make it. With less money and less people, there are more sacrifices. There are no clubhouses. No toothless old men pining for the good old days, because all of them are still playing. Just as that mentality drove the Vikings’ challenge, so too did it drive the Rebels’ response. And that response came in units, the defence in particular. Of course, individuals stood out. Game MVP Marcus Naylor shifted momentum with an impossible diving interception, Kevin Healy collected two sacks, Bobby Smith made countless tackles. But the response was unified. The defence was simply frightening, and it was fitting that their two-point contribution from a 3^rd quarter safety proved to be the difference.

The offensive response may not have been as pronounced, but crucially, it was enough. Leaning on the legs of RB Sam Hodgins, and the plowing mass of the offensive line, the Rebels jumped ahead early in the 4^th quarter. 14-13. With the defence in such form, the lead, slim as it was, was never threatened. Still, everything churned slowly; the Rebels running game, the clock, the sidelined stomachs.

Rebels RB Aaron Smith carries the ball.

People play for the challenge, the adversity, and for their teammates, huddled together away from the passersby honking their car horns. They also play for pleasure, and never is it greater than in the Shamrock Bowl. There is an atmosphere unlike any other game of the season and the attitude and preparation of both teams improve the quality no end. There is a spectacle. Compared to the regular season, there is a grandeur that could seem artificial. But in reality, there is no delusion with this grandeur, because what is on display is sport in its truest form. A big field of lads killing each other for a glory that is only theirs. Players bettering themselves to win a challenge that few will appreciate, but because they’re so few, the appreciation is all the greater.

Kieran Coen #67 battles with Rebels OL

It’s the beauty of the sport, and the beauty of the Shamrock Bowl. For this year, the Rebels remain champions. The Vikings will return stronger than ever, as will the rejuvenated teams in the North and the improving teams elsewhere in Dublin. For them, there is added motivation in knowing that the Rebels had a far from perfect season. The gap seem to be closing. But until the teams go back to test that theory, the Rebels will celebrate their 7^th Shamrock Bowl victory – their favourite reason to play this game.

Large crowd watches Shamrock Bowl at Morton Stadium

EFAF President Robert Huber, IAFA President Greg Loughran and Referee Michael Smith prepare for the coin toss

SHAMROCK BOWL PICTURE GALLERY:

Pictures supplied by Ariane Boudias.

[Show picture list]

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Morton Stadium

Sunday 31^st July 2011

The Shamrock Bowl is the Championship game of the Irish American Football League (IAFL). Shamrock Bowl XXIV is taking place at Morton Stadium on Sunday 31st July, 2011, kick-off 4pm.

Morton Stadium, Santry.

The Event:

Shamrock Bowl XXV is being run as a family orientated event aimed at people who may never have attended a live game before. Spectators will be able to experience the unique atmosphere of a major American football game – watching on television does not compare with seeing the athleticism and hearing the hitting first hand.  The event will also feature live match commentary. At half time, there will be a flag football demonstration featuring players from the Schools Flag Football Programme.

The event is being run with the support and assistance of National Sports Campus Development Authority, who own and operate Morton Stadium.

Dublin Rebels (black) versus UL Vikings (blue)

The Teams:

Dublin Rebels and University of Limerick Vikings will contest Shamrock Bowl XXV.  They played each other once during the regular season – on March 20th – with the Vikings winning by the narrow margin of 6-3. 

UL Vikings:

2011 has been a year of change and growth at the University of Limerick Vikings. The coaching staff have been bolstered by the addition of Mark Thompson (O-Line) & Paul Gilhool (Running Backs). There were changes on the field too with the usual high quality injection of new talent. The 2011 Rookie class has provided several starters. The changes didn’t stop there. The Vikings launched a new look offence. A variant of the Flexbone, it has proved a huge success, taking UL to the top of scoring chart in the IAFL. The new system has allowed veteran players to rediscover old form & new players to blend into the scheme seamlessly. Offensive Tackle Eoin O’Sullivan has been of the players to benefit from this change, holding down a starting role onthe line throughout the season. James Twomey’s transformation from full back  to slot back has increased his impact on the game. A rotation of full-backs are the heavy armor in the attack. Glen Carr, Ian Cahill, Joe Nolan & Darrin Gleeson bring a variety of skill sets to the position and have provided many of the highlights for the Vikings in 2011. The Vikings Defense has long been one of the best in the IAFL. This year it surpassed all expectation leading the league conceding a stingy 17 points in 8 games. The average of less than 3 points per game is a mark that will be very hard to beat. The defense is led by an All-Star defensive line. Alan O’Carroll, Glen Carr, Kieran Coen & James Lorden. The Linebackers of Limerick carry on a tradition of aggressive and relentless pursuit of the football. The depth at this position must give UL’s coaches a real headache when it comes to naming the roster. The Vikings secondary is led by Liam Ryan, one of the country’s all-time great players. With Seamus Hogan returning from the US and Brouder and Sheehy settling into the cornerback roles, this must be the strongest defense ever fielded by a Vikings team.

Dublin Rebels:

Since the reformation of the IAFL in 2001 the Dublin Rebels have won seven League Titles and six Shamrock Bowls – both league records. They competed in nine of the past 11 Shamrock Bowls, narrowly losing to UL in 2008 and 2009. Last year, the Rebels won their sixth Bowl with a perfect 10-0 record, beating UL 15-0 in the championship game. This year’s 5-3 regular season record is the Rebels’ worst in recent memory, but a resurgent performance in the semi-finals showed that they are still a force in Irish football.  Balance is the cornerstone of the Rebels’ success. On offense, they combine finesse with physicality, utilising the speed and power of their offensive weapons and operating efficient running and passing games. Running-backs Aaron Smith and Sam Hodgins are both tenacious runners who threaten to score on every play. Behind the crushing blocks of the Rebels’ Offensive Line, led by Left Tackle Steve Wilson, both backs have had great seasons. Quarterback Andy Dennehy is known for his tactical mind, plus his ability to connect with favourite receiver Barry Flinn. At 6’5”, with great speed and sure hands, Flinn is the prototypical Wide Receiver – UL must figure out how to stop him. On defense, the Rebels also have a heady mix of power and speed. The über-aggressive quartet of defensive linemen Ciaran Tighe, Fergal O’Hanlon, Mark Van Headley and Paul Smyth takes on the battle in the trenches. Behind this maelstrom, the speed of players like LBs Kevin Finnegan and Javier Benavente gives the Rebels the balance they need to compete in the IAFL’s flagship game. After dominant performances throughout last season, three of last year’s Rebels left Dublin to play semi-pro football in Germany’s GFL2 league – one to the Lübeck Cougars, joining two former Rebels teammates, and two to the Berlin Rebels. Coincidentally, those two teams clash today in a crucial game that could send one team into GFL1 to play at the highest possible level in Europe.

Irish American Football League (IAFL):

The IAFL is Ireland’s national American football league. Ten teams contested the 2011 season, which commenced in March – Belfast Trojans, Carrickfergus Knights, Cork Admirals, Craigavon Cowboys, Dublin Dragons, Dublin Rebels, Trinity College, UCD, Univ Limerick Vikings & West Dublin Rhinos.

American football is one of the most rapidly growing sports in Ireland. The Irish American Football Association, which is the sports governing body, currently has c.1,200 members. The standard of play is increasing all the time to the extent that the IAFL is now one of the strongest amateur leagues in Europe. There are 40 national leagues and c.150,000 players in Europe.

Last Years Game:

The 2010 game was played on front of a crowd of 1,700 people at Tallaght Stadium and was also televised on Setenta Ireland and Setanta 1. The Dublin Rebels defeated the UL Vikings 15-0.

Teams face each other at Tallaght Stadium last year.

Ticket Prices:

Tickets are available from any Ticketmaster outlet nationwide or online at www.ticketmaster.ie. Tickets will also be available at the stadium on game day. Stadium capacity for the event is 3,000 spectators.

Prices: Main Stand Seating €6, Terracing €3

Location & Transport:

Morton Stadium, Santry is on Dublin’s Northside and is adjacent to the M50/M1 interchange, making it readily accessible to the entire country. It is also close to Dublin Airport and is on the main route for public transport and taxis from the City Centre. Please see map linked to below with details of the exact location:

http://www.mortonstadium.ie/#/location/4540763049

The following bus routes stop directly outside Morton Stadium:

16a  Dublin Airport to Lower Rathfarnham (Nutgrove Avenue) 

27b  Eden Quay Towards Harristown 

33  Lower Abbey St. to Balbriggan 

41  Lower Abbey St. to Swords Manor 

41b  Lower Abbey St. to Rolestown 

41c  Lower Abbey St. to Swords Manor 

See www.dublinbus.ie for further information.

Parking:

There is no parking provided at the stadium or on street immediately outside. People driving to the game are advised to park at Omni Park shopping centre – located a 5min walk from the stadium.

Shamrock Bowl XXV will feature the UL Vikings and the Dublin Rebels after both teams won their semi-finals today. Shamrock Bowl XXV will be played at Morton Stadium on Sunday 31st July, kick-off 4pm.

Tickets for Shamrock Bowl XXV are available from www.ticketmaster.ie.

Semi Final Results:

Craigavon Cowboys 8-21 Univ Limerick Vikings

Dublin Rebels 22-6 Carrickfergus Knights

Morton Stadium is Ireland’s National Athletics Stadium and has a capacity of 5,000.   It is located on the Swords Road in North Dublin near to the M50/M1 interchange and is equally accessible from Dublin Airport and the City Centre (exact location).

There are currently 5 teams in contention for the Shamrock Bowl:

1. UL Vikings (IAFL South Winners)
2. Carrickfergus Knights (IAFL North Winners)
3. Dublin Rebels (IAFL Central Winners)
4. Belfast Trojans (Wildcard team)
5. Craigavon Cowboys (Wildcard team)

Tickets will cost €6 (plus €1 service charge/postage if purchased online). Tickets can be purchased online on Ticketmaster.ie or in one of the many Ticketmaster box offices around the country. IAFA Members can purchase tickets at a discount price of €4 (plus €1 service charge/postage if purchased online) using a discount code which can be obtained from their club/organisation. The tickets on sale from Ticketmaster are for the Main Stand seating in Morton Stadium. Please purchase early as, based on last years attendance figures, these tickets are likely to sell out in advance of the event.

Click on the Ticketmaster logo below to purchase tickets.

The winner of the Wildcard game will travel to Limerick to play the UL Vikings on 17th July in the Semi-Finals. The UL Vikings earned the No. 1 seed in the play-offs having finished the season with a perfect 8-0 record. The Vikings did not meet either of the Wildcard teams in the regular season, however, their seeding and consequential home field advantage should install them as favourites for the game.

The other Semi-Final features IAFL Central winners Dublin Rebels at IAFL North Winners Carrickfergus K nights. There is a long standing rivalry between these two teams, who have met in the Shamrock Bowl on a number of occasions. The Knights have homefield advantage for the tie due to having won one more game than the Rebels during the regular season.

The Semi-Final Winners will meet in Shamrock Bowl XXV, which will be played at Morton Stadium, Santry on Sunday 31st July.

2011 Play-Off Seedings:

1. UL Vikings – IAFL South Winners.

2. Carrickfergus Knights - IAFL North Winners.

3. Dublin Rebels – IAFL Central Winners.

4. Belfast Trojans – Best record of non-division winner.

5. Craigavon Cowboys – 2nd best record of non-division winner.

2011 Play-Off Fixtures

Week 1	Away Team		Score			Home Team		Venue
Jul 10	Craigavon Cowboys		17	@	14		Belfast Trojans	Malone RFC, Belfast, 2pm
Week 2
Jul 17	Dublin Rebels		22	@	6		Carrickfergus Knights	Carrickfergus RFC, 2pm
Jul 17	Craigavon Cowboys		8	@	21		UL Vikings	UL Sports Grounds, 2pm
Week 3
Jul 31	Dublin Rebels		14	@	13		UL Vikings	Morton Stadium, Santry, 4pm

View of Main Stand at Morton Stadium

Shamrock Bowl XXV, the Championship game of the Irish American Football League (IAFL) will take place on Sunday 31st July 2011, Kick-off 4pm at Morton Stadium in Santry, Dublin.

The game was originally scheduled to take place at Tallaght Stadium, however the stadium is unavailable on the IAFLs preferred dates due to Shamrock Rovers Champions League commitments. Fortunately, the National Sports Campus Development Authority has agreed to facilitate the silver jubilee game at Morton Stadium.

Morton Stadium is in Santry in north Dublin, close to where Trinity College and Dublin Rebels play their home games.  It has a capacity of over 5,000 spectators. It is the national athletics stadium and will be hosting the National Athletics Championships the weekend after the Shamrock Bowl. It is also the principal training base for Ireland’s High Performance Athletes. Up to recently, it was the home ground of League of Ireland soccer team – Sporting Fingal. The stadium received a number of upgrades in 2010 and a new electronic scoreboard has been installed in recent weeks. The stadium has all the necessary facilities to host high profile American football games and will be hosting Division 3 NCAA and US High School regular season games in September 2012 as part of the GIFT 2012 event.

It is hoped that this years game will build on the success of last years fixture at Tallaght Stadium, which saw the Dublin Rebels win on front of a record crowd. Tickets are expected to go on sale within the next few days.

View of pitch at Morton Stadium

Rebels and Vikings in action at last years game in Tallaght

The Irish American Football League (IAFL) is pleased to announce that Shamrock Bowl XXV will take place in Tallaght Stadium on Saturday 6th August 2011. The decision to return to Tallaght was not a difficult one due to the success of last years event and the support of South Dublin County Council who own Tallaght Stadium. Shamrock Bowl XXIV, which was contested between the Dublin Rebels and UL Vikings, attracted a record crowd.

Tallaght Stadium is one of Ireland’s premier sporting venues and has excellent facilities. It hosts Shamrock Rovers League of Ireland and European games plus many other important sporting events.

Shamrock Bowl XXV marks an important milestone in the sport in Ireland as it is the silver anniverary of the game.

Tickets are expected to go on sale next month, though the participants will not be known until after the IAFL play-offs which take place in July.

Record crowd enjoys last years game at Tallaght Stadium.

For the first time in Irish American football history, the Shamrock Bowl will have its own programme broadcast on National and International television.  Sports fans in Ireland and abroad will be able to watch the Dublin Rebels and the UL Vikings in Shamrock Bowl XXIV, played at Tallght Stadium on Saturday 7th August.

A one hour long extended highlights programme, commissioned by the IAFL, will be shown on both Setanta Ireland and Setanta 1 on several occasions over the next couple of weeks.  Setanta Ireland is Ireland’s premier sports channel and is received in most households in Ireland. Setanta 1 is a satellite/subscription service available to an International audience.

Setanta has confirmed that the game will be broadcast at the following times/dates:

Setanta Ireland:

Sunday 22nd August 1:30-2:30pm

Monday 23rd August 4:30-5:30pm

Setanta 1:

Friday 20th August 16:30-17:30pm

Sunday 22nd August 18:00-19:00pm

Monday 23rd August 22:30-23:30pm

Further broadcast dates will be added over the next few days.

As the IAFL owns the rights to the programme, it will be offered to other TV stations for broadcast over the coming weeks – check your local listings for details.

Rebels running back Aaron Smith (#13) carries the ball.