Team Profile: Ireland Warriors
By Chelsea Roffey
AFL website
26 July, 2008
Country snapshot
IRELAND is a small nation occupying most of the island of Ireland (one-sixth is Northern Island), west of Great Britain.
Slightly larger than Tasmania, Ireland consists of 26 counties and has a population of around four million people. The Irish are known to love horse-racing, rugby, Gaelic football, and hurling – all washed down with a several pints of Guinness (which leads to another type of hurling).
Famous for: U2, drinking, leprechauns, potatoes, the Blarney Stone, the shamrock, Jimmy Stynes, Riverdance, The Cranberries, Danny Boy, Peter O’Toole, Sinead O’Connor, Oscar Wilde, luck and Shane MacGowan's teeth..
Australian football history
The Australian Rules Football League of Ireland was formed in October, 2000, a year after footy sides formed in Dublin and Belfast. The league has expanded to seven clubs.
The first national Irish team was fielded in 2001 for the Atlantic Alliance Cup in London, where the side took out the championship after convincingly beating teams from Great Britain, the United States, Denmark and Canada.
In 2002 Ireland won the inaugural International Cup, defeating Papua New Guinea in the final. They finished fourth in 2005.
National jumper
Green and white.
Secret weapon
Warrnambool. Apparently many great Aussie players have landed in Dublin from Warrnambool, taking up footy with the Ireland league. The Irish Warriors are hoping to have a barrage of support at their home-away-from-home in the 2008 International Cup.
Irish are naturals at footy because…
Many of the positions in Australian football are similar to those in Gaelic Football. You say ‘back pocket’, they say ‘corner back’. Martin Clark, Colm Begley, Tadhg Kennelly, the O’hAilpins – there must be something in it.
Meet the team
James ‘Rambo’ O’ Byrne is the one in headgear. Brian ‘Stretch’ O’ Connell – well, you won’t miss him. Sean ‘Terrior’ Fallon is a compact little package, but is also known as the hardest player on the team who will, quote: “bite your ankles”.
James ‘Goose’ Flavin, is the dependable one, a great wingman – like Goose from Top Gun. Mick ‘Plugger’ Currane just likes to score goals. And move over Placedo Domingo – David ‘Mingo’ Walsh sang all day on the tube as the team travelled from Dublin to London for a match. There’s always one!
Ireland’s Mr Football
Dublin Demons star Michael ‘Plugger’ Currane set up and ran the Irish league in the beginning. He’s been playing since the first season, was pivotal in setting up the Atlantic Alliance Cup and gaining sponsorship for the league, including assisting with funds for the 2002 International Cup win.
The hardest thing about playing footy in Ireland is…
Getting access to playing fields, which can be a real stretch for small clubs with limited funds and resources.
Then there’s the blasted rain!
Source: http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=64211
By Chelsea Roffey
AFL website
26 July, 2008
Country snapshot
IRELAND is a small nation occupying most of the island of Ireland (one-sixth is Northern Island), west of Great Britain.
Slightly larger than Tasmania, Ireland consists of 26 counties and has a population of around four million people. The Irish are known to love horse-racing, rugby, Gaelic football, and hurling – all washed down with a several pints of Guinness (which leads to another type of hurling).
Famous for: U2, drinking, leprechauns, potatoes, the Blarney Stone, the shamrock, Jimmy Stynes, Riverdance, The Cranberries, Danny Boy, Peter O’Toole, Sinead O’Connor, Oscar Wilde, luck and Shane MacGowan's teeth..
Australian football history
The Australian Rules Football League of Ireland was formed in October, 2000, a year after footy sides formed in Dublin and Belfast. The league has expanded to seven clubs.
The first national Irish team was fielded in 2001 for the Atlantic Alliance Cup in London, where the side took out the championship after convincingly beating teams from Great Britain, the United States, Denmark and Canada.
In 2002 Ireland won the inaugural International Cup, defeating Papua New Guinea in the final. They finished fourth in 2005.
National jumper
Green and white.
Secret weapon
Warrnambool. Apparently many great Aussie players have landed in Dublin from Warrnambool, taking up footy with the Ireland league. The Irish Warriors are hoping to have a barrage of support at their home-away-from-home in the 2008 International Cup.
Irish are naturals at footy because…
Many of the positions in Australian football are similar to those in Gaelic Football. You say ‘back pocket’, they say ‘corner back’. Martin Clark, Colm Begley, Tadhg Kennelly, the O’hAilpins – there must be something in it.
Meet the team
James ‘Rambo’ O’ Byrne is the one in headgear. Brian ‘Stretch’ O’ Connell – well, you won’t miss him. Sean ‘Terrior’ Fallon is a compact little package, but is also known as the hardest player on the team who will, quote: “bite your ankles”.
James ‘Goose’ Flavin, is the dependable one, a great wingman – like Goose from Top Gun. Mick ‘Plugger’ Currane just likes to score goals. And move over Placedo Domingo – David ‘Mingo’ Walsh sang all day on the tube as the team travelled from Dublin to London for a match. There’s always one!
Ireland’s Mr Football
Dublin Demons star Michael ‘Plugger’ Currane set up and ran the Irish league in the beginning. He’s been playing since the first season, was pivotal in setting up the Atlantic Alliance Cup and gaining sponsorship for the league, including assisting with funds for the 2002 International Cup win.
The hardest thing about playing footy in Ireland is…
Getting access to playing fields, which can be a real stretch for small clubs with limited funds and resources.
Then there’s the blasted rain!
Source: http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=64211