Cork Admirals
Encyclopedia
The Cork Admirals are an American Football
team that play in the Irish American Football League
(IAFL
). The team is based in Bishopstown
, Cork
in the newly constructed CIT Stadium.
The team was formed in 2002, playing along with 4 other teams that year.
Since then the Admirals have become one of the best teams in the IAFL, appearing in the semi-finals of the playoffs numerous times.
The teams also holds a reputation for a lot of records in the IAFL
mostly in points in a game and rushing.
in an 8-a-side challenge match. Despite the loss the performance held encouraging signs for the team, and increased enthusiasm in the club.
The team stepped up to 11-a-side for the next two friendly matches. Unfortunately both games resulted in defeat for the Admirals, going down 26-12 to the Dublin Rebels and 8-0 to the Dublin Dragons
.
In the 2003 season, the clubs first season of IAFL league play, the team managed only a 1-5 record. The first victory came in the spring of 2003, defeating the UL Vikings in an 8-a-side contest. The club would get its first 11-a-side victories against the same side that winter in two challenge games.
The following year saw the Cork Admirals improve to a 3-5 record in the expanded IAFL. Despite this the Dublin Dragons
, with a similar 3-5 record beat the Admirals to the final playoff spot. The final game of that season was the Admirals best performance, beating the Dublin Dragons 68-20 at Pfizer Sports Grounds.
The Admirals held a recruitment drive in the Autumn of 2004, adding starting players and depth alike. Many of the current Admirals players were found in this recruitment drive. A victory against Limerick
in a November challenge game introduced the rookies to Admirals football and prepared them for the season ahead.
The Admirals season got off to a poor start when the U.L. Vikings recorded their first ever win over the Cork side. This started a four game losing spell for the Admirals, despite some encouraging performances and close losses, as injuries and low squad numbers took their toll. The Summer brought about improved play from the Admirals and the results followed. The Admirals won three of their final four contests of the season, including two home wins to clinch a playoff spot, and return the Admirals to playoff contender status.
The Belfast Bulls
, league winners in 2005, proved too strong for the Admirals, however, ending the Admirals hopes for a Shamrock Bowl berth that season.
Shamrock Bowl XXI
In 2007, the Admirals made their first Shamrock Bowl
with a victory over the Dublin Rebels
8-6 in the Semi finals. The team faced IAFL South division rivals, the UL Vikings. In a very tight contest, the Admirals were unable to beat the Vikings. The game finished 22-14. Good individual efforts by players gave the Admirals high hopes going into the 2008 IAFL season.
Alain Pezeron has broken records for most points scored by a single player at 34 points and rushing touchdowns in a single game at 5.
Keith O'Callaghan has been named Offencive Player of the Year for the Admirals the past six years in a row. O'Callaghan is the starting runningback most games and gets most of the hand offs. He is one of the leagues highest scoring players.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team that play in the Irish American Football League
Irish American Football League
The Irish American Football League is a fully kitted American football league in Ireland. Founded in 1984, it consists of 14 teams, with 2 having joined the league in 2010. The league generally runs from March through to August, ending with two teams competing for the Shamrock Bowl...
(IAFL
IAFL
IAFL may refer to:* The Irish American Football League* The International Association of Forensic Linguists...
). The team is based in Bishopstown
Bishopstown
Bishopstown is a southwestern suburb of Cork, Ireland with a population of 24,136 people. Baile an Easpaig, anglicised Bishopstown, consists of two townlands which are Ballineaspigmore and Ballineaspigbeg...
, Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
in the newly constructed CIT Stadium.
The team was formed in 2002, playing along with 4 other teams that year.
Since then the Admirals have become one of the best teams in the IAFL, appearing in the semi-finals of the playoffs numerous times.
The teams also holds a reputation for a lot of records in the IAFL
IAFL
IAFL may refer to:* The Irish American Football League* The International Association of Forensic Linguists...
mostly in points in a game and rushing.
History
The Admirals first game was in December 2002. In a rain soaked game the Admirals lost 28-18 to the Dublin RebelsDublin Rebels
The Dublin Rebels are the most successful team in Irish American Football League history with seven National Championships , four league titles, two European crowns and registering the perfect season with no defeats in 2006 and again in 2010.They are members of the IAFL Central division, and have...
in an 8-a-side challenge match. Despite the loss the performance held encouraging signs for the team, and increased enthusiasm in the club.
The team stepped up to 11-a-side for the next two friendly matches. Unfortunately both games resulted in defeat for the Admirals, going down 26-12 to the Dublin Rebels and 8-0 to the Dublin Dragons
Dublin Dragons
Dublin Dragons is an American Football team based in Lucan, Dublin, Ireland. They currently compete in the IAFL league, Southern Division....
.
In the 2003 season, the clubs first season of IAFL league play, the team managed only a 1-5 record. The first victory came in the spring of 2003, defeating the UL Vikings in an 8-a-side contest. The club would get its first 11-a-side victories against the same side that winter in two challenge games.
The following year saw the Cork Admirals improve to a 3-5 record in the expanded IAFL. Despite this the Dublin Dragons
Dublin Dragons
Dublin Dragons is an American Football team based in Lucan, Dublin, Ireland. They currently compete in the IAFL league, Southern Division....
, with a similar 3-5 record beat the Admirals to the final playoff spot. The final game of that season was the Admirals best performance, beating the Dublin Dragons 68-20 at Pfizer Sports Grounds.
The Admirals held a recruitment drive in the Autumn of 2004, adding starting players and depth alike. Many of the current Admirals players were found in this recruitment drive. A victory against Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
in a November challenge game introduced the rookies to Admirals football and prepared them for the season ahead.
The Admirals season got off to a poor start when the U.L. Vikings recorded their first ever win over the Cork side. This started a four game losing spell for the Admirals, despite some encouraging performances and close losses, as injuries and low squad numbers took their toll. The Summer brought about improved play from the Admirals and the results followed. The Admirals won three of their final four contests of the season, including two home wins to clinch a playoff spot, and return the Admirals to playoff contender status.
The Belfast Bulls
Belfast Bulls
The Belfast Bulls were an American football team based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The team closed down operations in 2008 due to financial problems.-Overview:Coached by HC Rod Thompson, the team was founded in 2002...
, league winners in 2005, proved too strong for the Admirals, however, ending the Admirals hopes for a Shamrock Bowl berth that season.
Shamrock Bowl XXIShamrock Bowl XXIShamrock Bowl XXI was played on July 29, 2007 at UL Sports Ground, Limerick to decide the Irish American Football League champion following the 2007 regular season. This Shamrock Bowl hosted two teams from the IAFL South division, the University of Limerick Vikings and the Cork Admirals...
In 2007, the Admirals made their first Shamrock BowlShamrock Bowl
The ‘’’Shamrock Bowl’’’ is the championship game of the Irish American Football League , the highest level of professional American football in Ireland, culminating a season that begins in March of the current calendar season. The Shamrock Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather than...
with a victory over the Dublin Rebels
Dublin Rebels
The Dublin Rebels are the most successful team in Irish American Football League history with seven National Championships , four league titles, two European crowns and registering the perfect season with no defeats in 2006 and again in 2010.They are members of the IAFL Central division, and have...
8-6 in the Semi finals. The team faced IAFL South division rivals, the UL Vikings. In a very tight contest, the Admirals were unable to beat the Vikings. The game finished 22-14. Good individual efforts by players gave the Admirals high hopes going into the 2008 IAFL season.
Alain Pezeron and Keith O'Callaghan runningback duo
The Admirals are known to have one of the most punishing ground attacks in the IAFL. Pezeron and O'Callaghan have broken numerous records in the league.Alain Pezeron has broken records for most points scored by a single player at 34 points and rushing touchdowns in a single game at 5.
Keith O'Callaghan has been named Offencive Player of the Year for the Admirals the past six years in a row. O'Callaghan is the starting runningback most games and gets most of the hand offs. He is one of the leagues highest scoring players.