2025 AFI Season Preview
Cover Photo: Ian Humes
For many Irish American football fans, the end of the NFL season is a bittersweet time of year. There’s a long, empty stretch ahead without our weekly fix of tackles and touchdowns. But for a certain cohort, the first few weeks of February heralds the beginning of something that’s long been circled on the calendar – the start of the American Football Ireland schedule.
Last season was one of the most thrilling editions of the Irish American football league yet, in which UCD claimed their second Shamrock Bowl title in the space of three years with a dominating display over the Dublin Rebels. We also saw the Craigavon Cowboys lift the inaugural Harp Bowl trophy, gaining promotion to the top flight in the process. Both games took place as part of a Championship game doubleheader in Athlone, a format that worked exceptionally well. With under a month to go until the opening weekend, we take a look at how the league is shaping up for 2025 and how the sport of American football is poised to grow massively here in the coming months.
The biggest question on everyone’s mind heading into the 2025 American Football Ireland season is: can anyone stop UCD? The student’s high octane offense largely obliterated opponents in 2024, resulting in a 9-1 record overall and a Shamrock Bowl victory. Their title defense gets underway on March 1st with a heavyweight bout against the Rebels – a game that in all likelihood will set the tone for the season. Despite the departure of their signal caller and talisman Ty Henry (more on that later) the Rebels should still pose the biggest challenge to the throne, providing of course they can fill the gaping hole at Quarterback. They have plenty of talent on either side of the ball and a great coach in Shane Campbell. The only piece they’re missing is someone to pull it all together. If anyone is going to slow down Arun Mooney and Co.’s quest for the double, it’s going to be the Rebels.
But the south Dublin outfit aren’t alone in their quest for Shamrock Bowl glory. The Trojans, Admirals, Panthers and even the Knights showed plenty of potential last season, and could all be back in the running this go around. Cork in particular have an extremely talented young side in the likes of Jake Kennedy and his brother Ben, along with Declan May and Matt Sibanyoni to name just a few. Once these lads gain a bit more experience and maturity they should be a force to be reckoned with. The Knights are also a team currently going through a phase of growth and development, and are worth keeping an eye on for the future. And it was after all the Trojans who gave a rusty post exam break UCD side a run for their money in Deramore last May, in a game that eventually finished with a 6 point victory by the students.
Let’s not forget about the newly promoted Craigavon Cowboys either! After an emphatic victory in the newly christened “Harp Bowl” (AKA Division One championship game) the orange men are back in the top flight of Irish American Football, and are my dark horse for a postseason push in their return to the premier division. But they could equally end up in a scrap with the likes of the UL Vikings to keep their spot in the premier division. It’s going to be absolutely fascinating to see how it all unfolds and which team, if any, can usurp the reigning champs.
Speaking of Division One, last year’s edition was arguably more exciting and entertaining than the premier! Adding this title tilt to a double header with the Shamrock Bowl seemed to really bring out the best in teams by motivating them to up their respective performance levels. Coincidentally, the decider was actually a rematch of the 2018 IAFL – 1 final, when the Rhinos overpowered the Cowboys down in Gorey to claim their first and only trophy to date. With the Cowboys now departed, I expect to see a tussle between the Mavericks, Rhinos, Minotaurs, Crusaders and Eagles for the status of top dog. This power struggle is going to be fascinating to observe, due to the fact that each of these outfits has the potential to come out on top. The Eagles and Crusaders have always been bubbling just below the surface, and I expect at least one of them to be in a playoff spot come July.
The Mavericks cost themselves a spot in the bowl game last season as a result of a poor playoff performance that was rife with self inflicted blunders, and with a living legend now running things in Dundalk, they will be hell bent on making it back to the bowl. Ty Henry’s move to the North East caught a lot of us off guard, but he seems to have already made an impact with his new team. They won’t have an easy go of it though. With Westmeath back in the mix and a Rhinos squad that will be eager to avenge last year’s loss, it really is anyone’s to win. Well, out of the teams I mentioned above anyway.
The rest of the division is a bit more puzzling. On the one hand you have experienced sides such as the Vipers and Giants who have the talent and heart but never really seemed to challenge long term. The Giants did make the last Division 2 Bowl game a while back, losing a close battle against the Eagles. But that was the extent of it. And I think the last time the Vipers won anything it was their first year of existence! As for the Stags, you always hate to see teams folding but at least something positive has come from the demise of the Razorbacks and Jets. We still know very little about them but wish them all the best just the same!
(By the way, did anyone hear that rumour that Trinity are coming back?! Now that would be mad!)
Another exciting football related development to monitor closely this season is the official arrival of the NFL in Ireland. The Pittsburgh Steelers are slated to touchdown in Dublin for a regular season game later this year, and American football fever has well and truly spread throughout the island. This was the moment we had all been waiting for – a real life NFL game in Ireland, and the knock on effect for the growth of the game here should be monumental. With a younger generation getting interested in the sport, taking up flag football and then eventually progressing to kitted, the sport has never had more attention or buzz about it. I could write a whole article on the opportunities for promoting Irish American football that this landmark year presents the league with. I just hope they realise the magnitude of this moment and fully capitalize upon it.
With the 2025 Irish American Football season just around the corner, I cannot wait to get back on the road to bring you closer to the action and continue growing the sport I love. If you spot me make sure to say hello and don’t forget to follow us on social media – @gaelicgridiron!