Ireland Defeat Great Britain
|
Oct 20 2005
Ireland have defeated Great Britain in England by 21 points in a game played ahead of the match between the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles. In the match the Dockers defeated the Eagles in a physical encounter.
The final score in the international match was Ireland 8.9.(57) d Great Britain 5.6.(36). This was just the second time the 2 nations have met their previous encounter was at the Atlantic Alliance Cup held in London in 2001 in which Ireland won by 109 points so as you can see the Brits have come a long way.
|
Leeside Lions Crowned Champions of Ireland
|
July 20 2005
Report From the ARFLI website
The Leeside Lions are the 2005 ARFLI Premiers after a toughly contested grand final with the Dublin Demons in Kilkenny last Saturday. The Lions have thus completed a clean sweep of all major honours offered by the ARFLI in 2005.
The Lions came into the final as the form team. Early in the season they had captured the Outback Bar's 10 a side pre-season competition. This was followed up with some impressive performances in the premiership and most notably the comprehensive defeat of an Australian naval side last month. The Demons also approached the final on the back of some inspiring performances - an impressive semi final win over the Eagles in Terenure, ensured that they came into the final brimming with confidence.
Both teams had strong representatives on the Irish team for the upcoming International Cup - the Lions leading the way with nine and the Demons with four. But thoughts of Australia were far from the minds of the assembled players prior to the kick off on Saturday. The aim of both teams was to win the John `Locke' O'Sullivan Cup.
From the first ball up the game was intense, the hits hard and the defences mean - both teams knew early on, they were in a game. The Demons began brightly and Andy Banks was dominating the ruck. However, the Lions defence set about their individual marking tasks with gusto, and the intensity with which man and ball were attacked was to prove to be the foundation of the subsequent Lions victory. John Hayes in particular stood out in the early stages. The Demons forward line seemed a little nervous on the day and rushed kicks and inaccurate shooting saw the Lions ahead at quarter time 5 pts to 3pts. With both defences playing so well it seemed destined to be a low scoring grand final.
The game came to life early in the second quarter. Brian `Stretch' O'Connell began to dominate the ruck contests and ball ups around the ground. This complemented with the roving skills of Ian O'Sullivan and Denis Goggin saw better quality ball coming into the Lions forward line. The Lions appeared to be getting a stranglehold on the game at this point; however, both Denis Goggin and Stretch were lost to injury within a few minutes of each other, half way through the quarter. With the Demons held scoreless for the 2nd quarter the Lions led 2 goals 8 behinds (20 pts) to 3 pts at the turn.
The Demons needed goals early in the third quarter to restart there now faltering challenge. The goals arrived from Shaun “Smurf” Murphy and Mick “Plugger” Currane and with it the finest end-to-end passages of play that occurred during the game. This period was marked by hard tackling and fast passing but throughout the Lions were able to maintain the 20 odd point gap that had been established in the earlier quarters. This period saw fine individual passages of play from Mark Kilgallon, Dave Whelan, Ciaran Keegan for the Lions and Luke Duncan, Shaun Murphy and Ciarán Drummey for the Demons.
As the teams faced into the final quarter the Demons knew that one last massive effort was required to wrestle the lead from the Lions stranglehold. As the quarter progressed the life began to slowly pass from the Demons challenge as bodies that had been battered all day slowly began to realise that final was slipping away from them. But in true Demons spirit they battled to the bitter end. James Flavin kicked the goal, which signalled the beginning of the end for the Demons, and Liam O'Connor kicked the final goal of the day right at the end.
The final whistle saw scenes of jubilation from the Lions bench and supporters and despondence and despair on the Demons bench. Another grand final slips by the Dublin Demons football club and another runners up medal to add to the collection.
Both camps then retired to Dempsey's Bar in the town centre for the presentation of the cup, best on ground and the golden boot. Best on ground went to Ian O'Sullivan while Alan Coomey the Lion's captain received the golden boot for his 19 goals during the season. As he received the cup on behalf of the team Alan paid tribute to the work put in by all the team members during the year. The Lions can now reflect on a season as successful as any to date as they won every competition on offer.
Final Score:
Leeside Lions 7 17 (59)
Dublin Demons 3 9 (27)
|
Irish Announce National Team
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Apr 15 2005
Ireland has become the first country to announce their national team for this years International Cup. Over 60 players where up for selection for the national team, that number has now been narrowed down to 26 plus 4 emergencies. The Final Squad is:
Emergency Players
|
Carlton Draft another O'hAilpin
|
||
Dec 3 2004
carltonfc.com.au
Aisake told carltonfc.com.au.
Anthony often spent extra time with Aisake's brother Setanta developing his skills and recently stayed with O'hAilpin's while holidaying in Ireland with Trent Sporn and Bret Thornton at the end of the 2004 season.
"Anthony lived with our family while he and a few of the other lads were back home for a holiday… I got on with him really well and he is a great person," Aisake added. Aisake and Setanta have also been regulars at the Franchina household in recent weeks, adding to their close friendship.
While Denis Pagan presented him with a number 45 guernsey, it certainly was not the guernsey Aisake will be wearing in 2005. It was Anthony Franchina's guernsey from last season and as Denis pointed out we will need to get a bigger size for Aisake, "it will certainly need to be a lot longer," Denis joked.
Aisake said his parents who are still back in Ireland were ecstatic when he told them the big news. "They were rapt…. We have both known the whole time that they totally support what we are doing."
Aisake has been training with Carlton since arriving in Australia in November for a holiday with his brother. An invitation to train with Carlton was the first step for Aisake. "I wanted to come down and see what it was like, as soon as I walked through the doors I loved it, all the lads were great and I knew straight away this is what I wanted to do." Aisake said.
"Like Setanta I have a real desire to become a full-time professional athlete, something we cannot do in Ireland," Aisake added.
Meanwhile Setanta is over the moon that his brother has joined him at Carlton. "I really want to thank all the staff here for giving Aisake the opportunity and rewarding him with a place on the rookie list," Setanta told carltonfc.com.au
Carlton coach Denis Pagan said "Sure we have taken a bit of a gamble but the fact we were not able to participate in the first two round so the National Draft in 2002 and 2003 really hurt the Club and we needed to look at all options. We have been prepared to look left field and there are not to many people around that are around 6 foot 6 or 7 and can run like these boys can."
When asked what Carlton fans can expect from Aisake in 2005, Denis said, "Who knows, we hope he develops in the VFL and learns a lot about AFL football we just don't know. Go back 12 months ago who would have believed the progress made by Setanta last year, it was amazing, so who knows what to expect from Aisake. One thing is for sure they are two quality young men from a quality family and they have the desire and dedication to succeed. We certainly look forward to watching Aisake's development in his first year as well as the continued development of Setanta."
No doubt the O'hAilpin family is all smiles back home in County Cork, Ireland, in particular big brother and All Ireland hurling star Sean Og who has encouraged his brothers to make the most of this opportunity. The Blues and the Northern Bullants can expect plenty of support from the local Irish community in 2005.
|
Ireland finally defeated
|
||
Oct 27 2004
to much as the ran out easy winners.
This Saturday saw the first Dublin International Festival of Australian Rules. The festival brought together the best Aussie Rules players to be found in Ireland, Scotland and England. Ireland was represented by the National Side, which is currently being finalised for a trip to defend their world title in Australia next year.
But the tournament will best be remered for two thing, Scotland playing their first ever internationals and the Irish national teams losing their first ever match however it was not to another national side but a club side.
The first match saw the Scottish Puffins take on the West London Wildcats, this was Scotlands first international and the skill of the mostly Australian Wildcats side proved to much as the ran out easy winners.
Next up was the Irish national team taking on the Wildcats, this was Ireland's first game since they won the International Cup in 2002. The Irish got off to a strong start kicking the first goal of the game, things evened u after that and the game was on a knifes edge for the whole of the first half. The Wildcats started the second half strongly kicking 2 goals to zero and in what was a low scoring match it proved to be the difference as Ireland where defeated 6.5.(41) to 3.7.(25).
In the final game of the day Ireland and Scotland took on each over for the first time. Scotland are the new kids on the block on the international scene and where not expected to be much competition for the stong Irish side and alhough Scotland where never really in the game they put in a stong performance. Ireland decided to rotate the bench and put in a strong team performance to run out winners 10.8.(68) to 3.1.(19).
So it was the West London Wildcats who claimed the title to finish off a great year for them in which they also won the London premiership. For Scotland it was a great experience for them as they look to the future and hopefully their first international victory will not be to far away. As for Ireland it was good to see them back playing again after such a long break, this tournament was seen as an important build up leading into next years International Cup but the good news for the rest of the world is that they now know that Ireland can be defeated so come next year the International Cup is anyones tournament.
|
South Dublin Crowned Champions of Ireland
|
Sep 16 2004
The South Dublin Eagles beat their cross town rivals the Dublin Demons to secure their first silverware at St.Annes Park Raheny. There was a terrific atmosphere at the ground as both teams brought a large and vocal support to the venue. The Eagles established an early lead in the 1st quarter with the best of the goals being scored by Snowy. The Demons were quite wasteful with their chances as they kicked 4 behinds. The Eagles on the other hand kicked 2.3 in reply. The remainder of the half was dominated by the Demons as they kicked 5.5 to the 5.2 in the second quarter, the best of the goals coming from Hooli right at the death of the half. So with just eight points in it it was all to play for. In the third quarter, the Demons again struggled kicking into the southern end, and it was this quarter that proved the championship quarter for the Eagles as they kicked 3.1 to the Demons 0.3. All this despite a fairly even contest in terms of possession. The final quarter was very finely balanced. Smurf kicked the first goal of the quarter after 2 minutes. Best and fairest winner Mullett got one back almost immediately for the South Dublin team, but the Demons weren't to be deterred and following three more goals from Jason Kelly, Grant Cox and Shaun Murphy again there was only a kick in the game. The Demons fight back courageous as it was, was not to be rewarded with just seconds remaining the Eagles Nico slipped in for the last score of the game to leave two clear goals between the sides.
|
New Website
|
Mar 19 2004
Ireland launched their new website today, you can check it out at www.arfli.com
|
