League: International American Football Friendlies

International American Football Friendlies 1986

Report

Irish American Football Teams played four International Friendlies in 1986, the first season of the Irish American Football League. Beginning with two preseason matches involving the Dublin Celts, then Ireland’s only fully kitted team with pads and helmets.

The Celts won their first two games of the season 14-0 versus the Wirral Wolves from Merseyside in England, and 16-14 versus Newcastle Senators in a much closer game.

Following the end of the Irish American Football League season Carrickfergus Cougars took on Scotland’s Ayr Burners in a postseason Bowl Game, losing 8-28.

Then in the last game of the season for Irish teams, the Green Isle All-Stars made up of players from the Dublin Celts, Belfast Blitzers, Craigavon Cowboys, Belfast Giants, Bangor Buccaneers and Dublin Tornadoes played the first ever game against American opposition ever played by an Irish American Football team, going down 0-36 in Kilmacud Crokes GAA ground in Stillorgan, Dublin 18.

REFERENCES

[1] Miriam Lord (1986) “Crunch: but could they handle Moss Keane?” Irish Independent. Monday, March 17, 1986. pg. 7

[2] BritballNow (2017) British and Irish sides Friendly results against foreign opposition [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/UKClubsForeignOppo.html [Accessed 16 November 2017]

[3] James Mulcahy (1986) “Savage Celts” Irish Independent. Thursday, March 27, 1986. pg. 9.

[4] BritballNow (2017) Newcastle Senators [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Britball%20Teams/NEWCASTLESENATORS.htm [Internet] [Accessed 25 June 2021]

[5] Irish American Football League (2002) Other Events [Internet] Available from: http://americanfootball.ie/iafl/otherevents02.htm [Accessed 20 March 2018]

[6] Anon. (1986) “Cowboys into Shamrock Bowl” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, September 29, 1986. Pg. 18.

Past Copies of the Belfast Telegraph are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/

[7] Anon. (1986) “American Football comes to Dublin” Irish Press. Wednesday, November 12, 1986. Pg. 11. [Past Copies of the Irish Press are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

[8] Anon. (1986) “Today’s sport” Irish Press. Wednesday, Friday, November 28, 1986. pg. 22 [Past Copies of the Irish Press are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

[9] Anon. (1986) “Marlboro on the march” Irish Press. Wednesday, Friday, November 28, 1986. pg. 17 [Past Copies of the Irish Press are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

[10] Sean Moloney (1986) “Shamrocks from USA are playing to win” Evening Herald. Saturday, November 29, 1986. pg. 6.

WEBSITES

[11] Britball Now (2016) History of the Game in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/ireland/history-of-the-game-in.html [Accessed 02 October 2016]

[12] Britball Now (2008) UK Clubs Against Foreign Opposition [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/UKClubsForeignOppo.html [Accessed 16 November 2008]

[13] Semi-Pro Football (2017) Eastern Football League Champions [Internet] Available from: http://www.semiprofootball.org/minor/champs/eastfl.htm [Accessed 16 November 2017]

SOURCES

[14] Kevin Sharkey (2020) “The Dublin Celts” Word Document shared by John Gunning on Facebook Messenger with permission.

Green Isle All-Stars vs Marlboro Shamrocks (Mass)

Report

The highlight of any season is the Final match or International matches following the season and for members of 6 Irish American Football teams the first American Football season in Ireland ever to feature home-grown teams finished in Stillorgan on November 29th 1986 with a 36-0 victory for the visiting Marlboro Shamrocks from Massachusetts, USA.

In what was the sternest test for the fledgling league the Green Isle All-Stars, made up of players from the Dublin Celts, Belfast Blitzers, Belfast Giants, Craigavon Cowboys, Bangor Buccaneers and Dublin Tornadoes, kept the scoreline to a modest 36-0 given the Shamrocks, who played in the Eastern Football League, a Semi-Professional League in New England, included players such as Paul Scopetski, who once nearly made it in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns, and who was celebrating his 25th year in the game; Quarterback Tommy Power who could throw for 70 yards, 10 short of New England Patriots QB Tony Eason; and Tackle Tony Wallace who stood 6’8″ tall.

The American team were made up of students, mechanics, bankers, construction workers, engineers and data processors, and the Evening Herald noted it had one African-American in the team, then rare enough in Ireland to be considered worth mentioning. Paul Scopetski joked that they were here to play Football, and not hurling, which he thought was more dangerous than Ice Hockey!”. The Shamrocks were also Champions of the Eastern Football League that year.

SOURCES

[1] Anon. (1986) “American Football comes to Dublin” Irish Press. Wednesday, November 12, 1986. Pg. 11. [Past Copies of the Irish Press are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

[2] Anon. (1986) “Today’s sport” Irish Press. Wednesday, Friday, November 28, 1986. pg. 22 [Past Copies of the Irish Press are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

[3] Anon. (1986) “Marlboro on the march” Irish Press. Wednesday, Friday, November 28, 1986. pg. 17 [Past Copies of the Irish Press are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

[4] Sean Moloney (1986) “Shamrocks from USA are playing to win” Evening Herald. Saturday, November 29, 1986. pg. 6.

WEBSITES

[3] Britball Now (2016) History of the Game in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/ireland/history-of-the-game-in.html [Accessed 02 October 2016]

[4] Britball Now (2008) UK Clubs Against Foreign Opposition [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/UKClubsForeignOppo.html [Accessed 16 November 2008]

[5] Semi-Pro Football (2017) Eastern Football League Champions [Internet] Available from: http://www.semiprofootball.org/minor/champs/eastfl.htm [Accessed 16 November 2017]

SOURCES

[6] Kevin Sharkey (2020) “The Dublin Celts” Word Document shared by John Gunning on Facebook Messenger with permission.

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Carrickfergus Cougars vs Ayr Burners (Sco)

Carrickfergus Cougars entertained the Ayr Burners from Scotland at Musgrave Park in this International American Football Friendly on September 28, 1986. Despite as touchdown by Mervyn Robinson, after which D. Moran ran in for the two extra points, the Cougars  found the Burners too hot to handle, losing 28-8.

References

[1] Anon. (1986) “Cowboys into Shamrock Bowl” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, September 29, 1986. Pg. 18.

Past Copies of the Belfast Telegraph are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/

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Dublin Celts vs Newcastle Senators (Eng)

Two weeks after defeating Wirral Wolves of Liverpool in a Friendly match at Stradbrook, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, the Dublin Celts narrowly defeated Newcastle Senators 16-14 at Wanderers FC Rugby Club in Ballsbridge, Dublin. to continue their winning streak versus English American Football Teams.

References

[1] James Mulcahy (1986) “Savage Celts” Irish Independent. Thursday, March 27, 1986. pg. 9.

[2] BritballNow (2017) British and Irish sides Friendly results against foreign opposition [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/UKClubsForeignOppo.html [Accessed 16 November 2017]

[3] BritballNow (2017) Newcastle Senators [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Britball%20Teams/NEWCASTLESENATORS.htm [Internet] [Accessed 25 June 2021]

[4] Irish American Football League (2002) Other Events [Internet] Available from: http://americanfootball.ie/iafl/otherevents02.htm [Accessed 20 March 2018]

Past copies of the Irish Independent are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com

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Dublin Celts vs Wirral Wolves (Eng)

Glen Webster had the honour of scoring the first ever touchdown in an Irish International American Football match played in Ireland when he scored against Wirral Wolves from Liverpool in a 14-0 victory at Stradbrook Rugby Grounds, Blackrock, Co. Dublin on the day before St. Patrick’s Day in 1986

References

[1] Miriam Lord (1986) “Crunch: but could they handle Moss Keane?” Irish Independent. Monday, March 17, 1986. pg. 7

[2] BritballNow (2017) British and Irish sides Friendly results against foreign opposition [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/UKClubsForeignOppo.html [Accessed 16 November 2017]

[3] James Mulcahy (1986) “Savage Celts” Irish Independent. Thursday, March 27, 1986. pg. 9.

[4] Irish American Football League (2002) Other Events [Internet] Available from: http://americanfootball.ie/iafl/otherevents02.htm [Accessed 20 March 2018]

Past copies of the Irish Independent are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/

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