Shamrock Bowl XXV American football
Morton Stadium
Sunday 31st 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.
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.
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.
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.
