American Football Ireland 2024 Season Preview
For a lot of American football fans in Ireland, the end of the NFL season is a sad moment – No more football until August. For the vast majority though, it’s an exciting time of year because the start of the Irish American Football season is just around the corner! American football has experienced massive growth in Ireland in recent times, meaning this is probably one of the most anticipated domestic seasons to date. And with the newly condensed league format, it’s undoubtedly going to be one of the most competitive seasons as well!
The action kicks off with an epic “Super Sunday” style slate of fixtures on March 3rd. Of these, the clash between the Dublin Rebels and UCD is sure to be the most watched. This will be a rematch of the 2023 Shamrock Bowl, and could also quite well be a preview of the 2024 final. After a truly dominant 10-0 run last season, the Rebels are the clear favorites for another title. Ty Henry and Co. were all but unstoppable in 2023, and there is no sign of them slowing down. A combination of powerful rushes and on point deep passes from the QB coupled with a ferocious defense proved to be a potent formula, and it will be hard for any side to stop that. As for the runners up, they are not without capable playmakers either. However, they will be missing one vital piece in 2024: Sean McVeigh. The super talented second year player rushed for over 1000 yards while accounting for 20 touchdowns last season, and will now be taking his skillset to the Zurich Renegades. While this is definitely a massive loss for the students, Arun Mooney still has plenty of targets to rely on and will still be able to find success through the air and on the ground.
American Football Ireland Opening Weekend also features the newly promoted University of Limerick Vikings, who will face 2023 semi finalists Cork Admirals in an All Munster matchup. As Division One Champions last season, the Vikings earned a promotion and will be playing in the top flight for the first time in quite a while. While still a relatively young side, they are not lacking in talent and the likes of Quarterback Fin O’Donovan will allow them more than a decent shot at being competitive. For Cork, it almost feels like a Shamrock Bowl or bust kind of season in 2024. The Leesiders have made the playoffs in consecutive seasons, but have been incapable of punching their ticket to the final. Cork are well capable of winning, they just need to find a way to do so consistently and when it matters.
Outside of the presumed top four of the Rebels, UCD, Cork and the Trojans, we can also expect the Minotaurs and the Panthers to build on strong performances from 2023. The Panthers were unfortunate with injuries and could push on further by bolstering their squad depth, while Westmeath had a very respectable season for their first year in the Premier Division. The Trojans however will know they have work to do. Despite making the playoffs, they were clearly not firing on all cylinders last season and that should provide plenty of motivation.
Moving to Division One, and the amalgamation of Division 2 certainly provides a more compelling and inspiring outlook on the season ahead. Week One gets underway with the meeting of Louth and Wexford, as the Mavericks and Eagles square off in what should be a fantastic fixture. As last year’s Division One runners up, the Mavericks will have a stiff test on their hands. Wexford proved their mettle in their own final, remaining resolute for victory against a stiff Causeway Giants side. The joining together of the lower leagues just makes so much sense, both logistically and competitively and should provide greater consistency in the standard of football on display this season.
It will also be very interesting to see how the addition of the Craigavon Cowboys to the mix impacts on the outcomes. The Cowboys dropped down after a tough season last year, but should be well in contention for a title shot in 2024, along with the Cill Dara Crusaders who fell just short of the final in 2023.
It is absolutely fantastic to see how quickly American Football is growing on our little Island, and the high level of talent displayed by the athletes who play. As the game becomes more and more mainstream, we can expect to see more people taking it up, which in turn will only serve to improve the quality of our own league. It’s an exciting time to be involved in Irish American Football, and we wish every team the best of luck in 2024!
Image: GMU Photography