While all the focus this coming week will be on who will win next Sunday’s Shamrock Bowl, there are still two matters to be decided before the season is put to rest for 2014.
The Championship games for the IAFA’s two other divisions – IAFL1 and IAFL2 will take place at Navan RFC (home of the Meath Bulldogs) on Sunday 17th August. This is the first time we’ve had championship games for the second and third tiers of football and indeed, this year is only the first year we’ve had a third tier. The games will be played as a double header with the IAFL2 Championship kicking off at 1pm followed by the IAFL1 game at 4pm.
The Cork Admirals victory over the Mullingar Minotaurs in the final regular season game earned them a place in the IAFL1 game against UCD. The winner of the contest will qualify for promotion to the Shamrock Bowl Conference in 2015. Both teams have a similar background – both are former SBC teams who have spent the year reloading in IAFL1. Both also finished with identical 6-2 records.
IAFL2 was formed this season as a response to the influx of a number of new teams playing football for the first time ever. The Tyrone Titans had a brilliant first season finishing unbeaten in the regular season. Even though Dundalk have one regular season fixture remaining – against Galway next Saturday, they have already mathematically qualified as the second finalist. Both teams are expected to be part of an expanded IAFL1 division next season.