Time for some Flag Football and week 2 of the IAFA EBC 2019 season.
Week 1 started well with three EBC 2018 playoff teams (Cowboys, Eagles, Mavericks) already 2-0 and scoring a whole 224 of the total 419 points scored on the day. Some teams were not as lucky but still have room to improve for a shot at the playoff.
Week 2 will see collegiate teams kicking off their season. Returning veterans UCD, EBC18 semi-finalists Trinity, and second timer UCC will have a chance to make their mark on the season.
Week 2 will also see some great games to watch for but our pick of the week is the Eagles v Cowboys game at 11am. The two-time and current champions started their season strong with the lowest points scored against them (a total of 3!!). EB IV champions Edenderry Eagles also started strong with a hard fought 50-44 win over EB I champions Westmeath Minotaurs.
You can find all fixtures from this page Flag Football | EBC. Week 2 teams are the Belfast Knights, Belfast Trojans, Craigavon Cowboys, Dublin Bay Raptors, Edenderry Eagles, Meath Bulldogs, UCC, UCD, Trinity and Westmeath Minotaurs.
This week, we had the pleasure to chat with team managers from the three college teams playing this Saturday. We talked to David Healy, team manager of the UCC Raiders; Steven Culligan, team manager of UCD and John Quirke, team manager of Trinity.
UCC - DAVID HEALY, TEAM MANAGER
IAFA: Second appearance in the EBC. You were also short of making the playoff last year. Tell us a bit about how this all sunk in and about your preparation for the EBC 2019 season?
DH: It was obviously really disappointing to miss the playoff last year, especially in the manner that we did as it was so close in the end. We felt like we had a
good shot at winning had we made the playoff but we started out slowly last season so with that in mind, we’ll be aiming to brush the dust off and get off to a better start this year.
IAFA: What is your main goal this season?
DH: All eyes are firmly on the prize this year. At a minimum we expect to make the playoff and anything can happen from there.
IAFA: The EBC is now the premier league of Flag Football in Ireland. How did you approach this new season knowing you were going to compete against the best in teams in the country?
DH: We’ve entered a team in the GBC to allow our squad to grow and develop at
a sustainable rate. This also allows us to take the gloves off and put out our strongest team available in the EBC. We have a plethora of talent in the squad so we’re looking forward to pushing ourselves against the best.
IAFA: Based on the EBC 2018 season, which of the other EBC 2019 teams do you think will give your team the biggest challenge this season?
DH: We’ve got fixtures against current Champions, Cowboys, and EB IV Champions, Eagles, who are always going to be tough. We’re also looking forward to seeing the Raptors again as we’ve had a few good games with them over the last few years.
IAFA: What would make your team have the edge over your other EBC competitors?
DH: We definitely have an impressive level of camaraderie in the group. Every player on the squad is on the same page and everyone’s here to enjoy themselves whilst playing the sport.
IAFA: Who are your players to watch?
DH: Jahn Dasini is one of those players who’s a threat to score anytime they touch the ball, Jack Fagan is one of the top dual threat QBs in the country and James Hogan is really solid on both sides of the ball, they’d be our most prominent players but we’re really happy with the strength in depth that we have.
IAFA: The International Federation of American Football, governing body for everything American football internationally, are increasing their focus on making flag football a bigger part of growing American Football on all continents, and therefore IFAF are spending more time and effort in international events and possibly creating a “champions league” of flag football. Would this be something your club would look forward to if you were to be champions this season?
DH: Absolutely, it’d be an incredible experience and it’d be great to see the standards of play outside of Ireland.
IAFA: With the increased emphasis on having more women involved in playing or managing sport, what are you doing to recruit more female members into your club?
DH: We’ve had a strong female presence in the club since we started out three years ago, and we continue to recruit new members around campus and make them feel welcome on the squad at every available opportunity.
IAFA: With the newly revamped National Programme kicking off for Flag Football this year, will your focus be a little different than just winning the season this time?
DH: I don’t think so, as long as we’re wearing UCC jerseys, every member of the squad is playing for the team. We’ll definitely be encouraging our players to try out for the national program at the end of the season to get some fresh perspectives on the game and compete on a national level.
IAFA: What advice will you give your players before their first game?
DH: Know your job, do your job and enjoy the game.
UCD - STEVEN CULLIGAN, TEAM MANAGER
IAFA: Sixth appearance in the EBC. You were also short of making the playoff last year. Tell us a bit about how this all sunk in and about your preparation for the EBC 2019 season?
SC: Last year was viewed a success for our flag program as we were able to up skill our new rookie players that were added to the team through flag
games versus very good opposition. We had a tough division last year and narrowly missed out on the playoff. We would hope to take a step back into the playoff through the coming year.
IAFA: What are your goals for this season?
SC: Our goals for the season remain the same. To win as many games as we can, grow the sport through our player base and hope everyone takes the football skills learned to our contact team.
IAFA: The EBC is now the premier league of Flag Football in Ireland. How did you approach this new season knowing you were going to compete against the best in teams in the country?
IS: From a preparation standpoint we
begin the year with so many new athletes that we have to teach the basics. We are confident that our young, hungry group of rookies will step up and support our established flag players in making a playoff push.
IAFA: Based on last season records, which of the other EBC 2019 teams do you think will give your team the biggest challenge this season?
SC: The Dublin Bay Raptors are always a fun team to play. Highly competitive and a great bunch of lads.
IAFA: What would make your team have the edge over your other EBC competitors?
SC: A new group of young hungry players.
IAFA: Who are your players to watch?
SC: Our players to watch would be our rookies, see how the perform and adapt to the sport. It is early at the minute but there are some young stars that are sure to emerge from the group.
IAFA: The International Federation of American Football, governing body for everything American football internationally, are increasing their focus on making flag football a bigger part of growing American Football on all continents, and therefore IFAF are spending more time and effort in international events and possibly creating a “champions league” of flag football. Would this be something your club would look forward to if you were to be champions this season?
SC: Of course we would be interested in a champions league. The idea of competing against the best of the best is an appeal to any athlete of any sport.
IAFA: With the newly revamped National programme kicking off for Flag Football this year, will your focus be a little different than just winning the season this time?
SC: Our emphasis is on developing sound football players so in that regard nothing will change. If they perform well enough I am sure selectors will take notice. These things tend to look after themselves.
IAFA: What advice will you give your team before their first game?
SC: Have fun, don’t be afraid to make mistake (what are a few flags anyway) and try your best. The rest will look after itself.
TRINITY - JOHN QUIRKE, Team Manager
IAFA: Second appearance in the EBC. You also fell short to making the Emerald Bowl 5 game last year. Tell us a bit about how this all sunk in and about your preparation for the EBC 2019 season?
JQ: We were obviously all gutted with how last season ended. We didn’t adjust well enough in-game to a lot of
the kitted football seasons. As such we struggled to maintain a consistent squad of players with dedicated assignments and well drilled out plays. A lot of things had to be adjusted to on the fly and at times this really showed.
IAFA: What are your goals for this season?
JQ: Same as everyone else in the EBC, win the bowl.
IAFA: The EBC is now the premier league of Flag Football in Ireland. How did you approach this new season knowing you were going to compete against the best teams in the country?
JQ: We’re delighted with the restructure. We only want to compete against the best. Iron sharpens iron and all that.
IAFA: Based on last season records, which of the other EBC 2019 teams do you think will give your team the biggest challenge this season?
JQ: We want to compete against the best, and at the moment that’s the holders, the Craigavon Cowboys. They’re the top team that we’re yet to face off against, so that should be a fun matchup in a couple of weeks time.
IAFA: What would make your team have the edge over your other EBC competitors?
JQ: We have a great ball hawking defense. In the regular season last year we had more picks than TDs conceded, which is something we’re proud of.
IAFA: Who are your players to watch?
JQ: Offensively we’re looking forward to seeing how Franklin Ume Obiekwe and Jamie Bolger get on after successful full kit rookie seasons. On the defensive side of the ball, Ger O’Halloran has been top quality for years and is looking even better this year.
IAFA: The International Federation of American Football, governing body for everything American football internationally, are increasing their focus on making flag football a bigger part of growing American Football on all continents, and therefore IFAF are spending more time and effort in international events and possibly creating a “champions league” of flag football. Would this be something your club would look forward to if you were to be champions this season?
JQ: Absolutely. We were trying to participate in an European tournament over the summer but unfortunately it didn’t work out. A Champions League style tournament would be great for the sport and definitely something we’d be interested in.
IAFA: With the increased emphasis on having more women involved in playing or managing sport, what are you doing to recruit more female members into your club?
JQ: Most of our recruitment is done over the course of freshers week on campus, so this year was the first time there was an emphasis on recruiting both men and women into the club.
IAFA: With the newly revamped National programme kicking off for Flag Football this year, will your focus be a little different than just winning the season this time?
JQ: Our sole focus will be on winning each and every game. If we have some standout players who end up getting call ups – fantastic!
IAFA: For any potential volunteers considering joining an American football team, what roles would you have available?
JQ: We have few roles that we would like to fill such as director of social media and recruitment officer.
IAFA: What advice will you give your team before their first game?
JQ: Do your job.