League: Irish American Football League Championship

Craigavon Cowboys American Football

Craigavon Cowboys season Report 1986

The Craigavon Cowboys played their first ever fully kitted game with pads and helmets in Shane Park, Lurgan, on May 19 1986 in the first ever fully kitted games in Northern Ireland between two Irish teams. Craigavon Cowboys lost that match 0-46 in what was an inauspicious start for a season that ended in triumph.

Another defeat in the American Independence Day Summer Bowl Festival in Dublin on August 6 followed, where they lost to Dublin Celts in the Semi-Finals of a four team Tournament played with a rolling clock and 20 minute quarters.

They again lost heavily to Belfast Blitzers in the Final Week on September 1, 0-40 but on September 27 they defeated Coleraine Chieftains 33-0 which enabled them to advance to the Shamrock Bowl, which was arranged after the season had ended. There they won 6-2 versus the Dublin Celts with a Touchdown by Nigel Trimble with only four minutes remaining, having gone 2-0 down in the first half having conceded a safety.

The Cowboys thus went down in history as the first winners of the Shamrock Bowl, Ireland’s Super Bowl. The turnaround was largely attributed to Chuck Ebron, a new Coach brought in from USA for the second half of the season.

Note: For the Standings (as is currently known by Eirball) for the 1986 season please see below the References Section.

Craigavon cowboys IAFL Season Results 1986

Note: Please Click on the relevant matches to be brought to a page detailing the Scores, scorers, and players lists as well as a Match Reports.

Craigavon Cowboys IAFL Preseason Results 1986

Craigavon Cowboys IAFL Festival Results 1986

Note: Non-Regular season 4th of July American Independence Day Tournament

Craigavon Cowboys IAFL Regular Season Results 1986

Craigavon Cowboys IAFL Playoffs 1986

Standings 1986

PosTeam
1
2
2
2Aldergrove Hawks
2
2
2Ashbourne Stags
2
2
2
2Ayr Burners (Sco)
2BI Academy
2Bailey Joe Allen Hall
2
2Ballina
2
2Ballynahinch
2
2
2Bangor Buccaneers
2Barrack St.
2Barrack St.
2Beat Around Debuchy
2
2
2
2Belfast Giants
2
2
2Belgium
2Blazers
2Bruckless
2Campbell College Belfast
2Campbell College Belfast
2Canada
2
2
2Carrickfergus Cougars
2Cathal Brugha
2
2
2
2Claremorris
2Clashmore
2Clonard
2
2
2Clontarf
2
2
2
2
2
2Cork Constitution
2
2Corrib
2
2
2
2Cory in the House FC
2Craigavon Aztecs U21
2Craigavon Aztecs U21
2
2Cuchulainn Hurling Club
2Céide Lámh Dhearg
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2Derrynoose
2
2
2
2
2
2
2Dublin City University
2
2Dublin Spartans B
2
2Dublin University
2
2
2Dynamo L Apero
2
2Enniskillen Blockbusters U21
2Enniskillen Blockbusters U21
2Exeter Softly FC
2Fanatical Dodgers
2Fiji
2France
2
2
2
2
2Garryowen
2Glenalbyn
2Grads
2Great Britain
2Green Isle All-Stars
2Green Swifts Rockhill
2
2
2IT Carlow
2
2IT Sligo
2Inchicore College
2Inter Bens Bike
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2Iremany
2Is Your Motherwell
2It's about to get Messi
2Jordanstown Jaguars
2KADCA (Badminton)
2Kamikazee
2
2Kinsalebeg
2Kinsalebeg
2Landsdowne
2Larne Grammar School
2
2Letterkenny
2Letterkenny
2Lifford
2
2Loco Polo
2
2Malta
2Marian
2Marian
2
2
2Mariners Baseball B
2Marlboro Shamrocks (Mass)
2Maynooth University
2Middletown Na Fianna
2Milford A
2Milford A
2Milford B
2Milford B
2Moleicester City
2
2
2Naomh Moninne
2Nauru
2
2New Collection
2New St.
2New Zealand
2Newcastle Senators (Eng)
2North Dublin
2
2
2
2
2
2
2Obi 1 Kenobi 0
2
2Papua New Guinea
2Pintmen FC
2
2
2Republic of Ireland
2
2
2Romania
2
2
2
2Sean Treacy’s Hurling Club
2Setanta
2Skinny Jeans & thongs
2Sligo City BC
2Smack my Bilic Up
2Snorting Lisbon
2Sombrero Gaels
2South Africa
2Spastic Hawks
2Spirish Wildcats
2St. Vincent's
2
2
2
2Straight to Town
2Taking the Mkhitaryan
2
2
2Terenure College
2The All Blacks
2The Tribe 2.0
2The Warriors
2Timova FC
2Touraneena
2
2
2
2Tristar A Castlederg
2Tristar B Castlederg
2Tristar Castlederg
2Twin Towns
2Twin Towns A
2Twin Towns B
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2United States of America
2University College Cork
2University College Cork (IRFU Rugby Union)
2University College Dublin
2
2University College Dublin (IRFU Rugby Union)
2University of Limerick
2West Bondage Albion
2West St.
2Wirral Wolves
2Wolves of university street
2Woolly Jumpers Carrick
2Young Munster
242
PosTeam
1
2
2
2Aldergrove Hawks
2
2
2Ashbourne Stags
2
2
2
2Ayr Burners (Sco)
2BI Academy
2Bailey Joe Allen Hall
2
2Ballina
2
2Ballynahinch
2
2
2Bangor Buccaneers
2Barrack St.
2Barrack St.
2Beat Around Debuchy
2
2
2
2Belfast Giants
2
2
2Belgium
2Blazers
2Bruckless
2Campbell College Belfast
2Campbell College Belfast
2Canada
2
2
2Carrickfergus Cougars
2Cathal Brugha
2
2
2
2Claremorris
2Clashmore
2Clonard
2
2
2Clontarf
2
2
2
2
2
2Cork Constitution
2
2Corrib
2
2
2
2Cory in the House FC
2Craigavon Aztecs U21
2Craigavon Aztecs U21
2
2Cuchulainn Hurling Club
2Céide Lámh Dhearg
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2Derrynoose
2
2
2
2
2
2
2Dublin City University
2
2Dublin Spartans B
2
2Dublin University
2
2
2Dynamo L Apero
2
2Enniskillen Blockbusters U21
2Enniskillen Blockbusters U21
2Exeter Softly FC
2Fanatical Dodgers
2Fiji
2France
2
2
2
2
2Garryowen
2Glenalbyn
2Grads
2Great Britain
2Green Isle All-Stars
2Green Swifts Rockhill
2
2
2IT Carlow
2
2IT Sligo
2Inchicore College
2Inter Bens Bike
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2Iremany
2Is Your Motherwell
2It's about to get Messi
2Jordanstown Jaguars
2KADCA (Badminton)
2Kamikazee
2
2Kinsalebeg
2Kinsalebeg
2Landsdowne
2Larne Grammar School
2
2Letterkenny
2Letterkenny
2Lifford
2
2Loco Polo
2
2Malta
2Marian
2Marian
2
2
2Mariners Baseball B
2Marlboro Shamrocks (Mass)
2Maynooth University
2Middletown Na Fianna
2Milford A
2Milford A
2Milford B
2Milford B
2Moleicester City
2
2
2Naomh Moninne
2Nauru
2
2New Collection
2New St.
2New Zealand
2Newcastle Senators (Eng)
2North Dublin
2
2
2
2
2
2
2Obi 1 Kenobi 0
2
2Papua New Guinea
2Pintmen FC
2
2
2Republic of Ireland
2
2
2Romania
2
2
2
2Sean Treacy’s Hurling Club
2Setanta
2Skinny Jeans & thongs
2Sligo City BC
2Smack my Bilic Up
2Snorting Lisbon
2Sombrero Gaels
2South Africa
2Spastic Hawks
2Spirish Wildcats
2St. Vincent's
2
2
2
2Straight to Town
2Taking the Mkhitaryan
2
2
2Terenure College
2The All Blacks
2The Tribe 2.0
2The Warriors
2Timova FC
2Touraneena
2
2
2
2Tristar A Castlederg
2Tristar B Castlederg
2Tristar Castlederg
2Twin Towns
2Twin Towns A
2Twin Towns B
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2United States of America
2University College Cork
2University College Cork (IRFU Rugby Union)
2University College Dublin
2
2University College Dublin (IRFU Rugby Union)
2University of Limerick
2West Bondage Albion
2West St.
2Wirral Wolves
2Wolves of university street
2Woolly Jumpers Carrick
2Young Munster
242

Note: The NIAFA was a League on Paper only that included only Regular Season Matches played by Northern Ireland teams amongst themselves – no extra matches were played. It is like a “Northern Conference” Table.

PosTeam
1
2
2
2Aldergrove Hawks
2
2
2Ashbourne Stags
2
2
2
2Ayr Burners (Sco)
2BI Academy
2Bailey Joe Allen Hall
2
2Ballina
2
2Ballynahinch
2
2
2Bangor Buccaneers
2Barrack St.
2Barrack St.
2Beat Around Debuchy
2
2
2
2Belfast Giants
2
2
2Belgium
2Blazers
2Bruckless
2Campbell College Belfast
2Campbell College Belfast
2Canada
2
2
2Carrickfergus Cougars
2Cathal Brugha
2
2
2
2Claremorris
2Clashmore
2Clonard
2
2
2Clontarf
2
2
2
2
2
2Cork Constitution
2
2Corrib
2
2
2
2Cory in the House FC
2Craigavon Aztecs U21
2Craigavon Aztecs U21
2
2Cuchulainn Hurling Club
2Céide Lámh Dhearg
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2Derrynoose
2
2
2
2
2
2
2Dublin City University
2
2Dublin Spartans B
2
2Dublin University
2
2
2Dynamo L Apero
2
2Enniskillen Blockbusters U21
2Enniskillen Blockbusters U21
2Exeter Softly FC
2Fanatical Dodgers
2Fiji
2France
2
2
2
2
2Garryowen
2Glenalbyn
2Grads
2Great Britain
2Green Isle All-Stars
2Green Swifts Rockhill
2
2
2IT Carlow
2
2IT Sligo
2Inchicore College
2Inter Bens Bike
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2Iremany
2Is Your Motherwell
2It's about to get Messi
2Jordanstown Jaguars
2KADCA (Badminton)
2Kamikazee
2
2Kinsalebeg
2Kinsalebeg
2Landsdowne
2Larne Grammar School
2
2Letterkenny
2Letterkenny
2Lifford
2
2Loco Polo
2
2Malta
2Marian
2Marian
2
2
2Mariners Baseball B
2Marlboro Shamrocks (Mass)
2Maynooth University
2Middletown Na Fianna
2Milford A
2Milford A
2Milford B
2Milford B
2Moleicester City
2
2
2Naomh Moninne
2Nauru
2
2New Collection
2New St.
2New Zealand
2Newcastle Senators (Eng)
2North Dublin
2
2
2
2
2
2
2Obi 1 Kenobi 0
2
2Papua New Guinea
2Pintmen FC
2
2
2Republic of Ireland
2
2
2Romania
2
2
2
2Sean Treacy’s Hurling Club
2Setanta
2Skinny Jeans & thongs
2Sligo City BC
2Smack my Bilic Up
2Snorting Lisbon
2Sombrero Gaels
2South Africa
2Spastic Hawks
2Spirish Wildcats
2St. Vincent's
2
2
2
2Straight to Town
2Taking the Mkhitaryan
2
2
2Terenure College
2The All Blacks
2The Tribe 2.0
2The Warriors
2Timova FC
2Touraneena
2
2
2
2Tristar A Castlederg
2Tristar B Castlederg
2Tristar Castlederg
2Twin Towns
2Twin Towns A
2Twin Towns B
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2United States of America
2University College Cork
2University College Cork (IRFU Rugby Union)
2University College Dublin
2
2University College Dublin (IRFU Rugby Union)
2University of Limerick
2West Bondage Albion
2West St.
2Wirral Wolves
2Wolves of university street
2Woolly Jumpers Carrick
2Young Munster
242

Note: No Official Standings were kept for all games played over the course of the 7 different competitions or stages of the 1986 IAFA season, this is a Composite Table calculated automatically by Eirball.

Roster 1986

RankPlayerTeamPosition
1E. ByrneKinsalebeg
2G. KeoghKinsalebeg
3G. PowerKinsalebeg
4A. NorthKinsalebeg
5M. NorthKinsalebeg
6Fergal KirbyIreland
7Adrian HannaIreland
8S. FlynnKinsalebeg
9M. FoleyKinsalebeg
10E. AllenKinsalebeg
11M. BarronKinsalebeg
12T. PowerTouraneena
13T. O’MearaTouraneena
14M. QuinlanTouraneena
15B. KeaneTouraneena
16Rev. Fr. B. CrowleyTouraneena
17J. FraherTouraneena
18N. ButlerTouraneena
19J. DaltonTouraneena
20M. GleesonTouraneena
21K. O’RourkeClashmore
22C. O’RourkeClashmore
23T. GuiryClashmore
24B. RocheClashmore
25J. O’KeeffeClashmore
26M. SheehanClashmore
27Cian SmithNorth Dublin
28Luka VuksicNorth Dublin
29Eoin DoyleIreland
30Barry MurphyIreland
31Ciaran WalsheIreland
32Christopher DevlinIreland
33Matthew HynesIreland
34Adam CaulfieldIreland
35Stiofan McMahonIreland
36Maximus ConnollyIreland
37Eoin BridgemanIreland
38Mark FitzgeraldIreland
39Aidan MullaneyIreland
40Cillian ColvinIreland
41Shane Gaffney O’BrienIreland

 

Logo References

[1] Craigavon Cowboys – Twitter Account (2018) Profile Picture [Internet] Available from: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/864100166680424448/TCauLbnj_400x400.jpg [Accessed 22 July 2018]

REFERENCES

[1] Miriam Lord (1986) “Crunch: but could they handle Moss Keane?” Irish Independent. Monday, March 17, 1986. pg. 7

[2] BritballNow (2017) British and Irish sides Friendly results against foreign opposition [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/UKClubsForeignOppo.html [Accessed 16 November 2017]

[3] James Mulcahy (1986) “Savage Celts” Irish Independent. Thursday, March 27, 1986. pg. 9.

[4] BritballNow (2017) Newcastle Senators [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Britball%20Teams/NEWCASTLESENATORS.htm [Internet] [Accessed 25 June 2021]

[5] Irish American Football League (2002) Other Events [Internet] Available from: http://americanfootball.ie/iafl/otherevents02.htm [Accessed 20 March 2018]

[6] Anon. (1986) “Cowboys into Shamrock Bowl” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, September 29, 1986. Pg. 18.

Past Copies of the Belfast Telegraph are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/

[7] Anon. (1986) “American Football comes to Dublin” Irish Press. Wednesday, November 12, 1986. Pg. 11. [Past Copies of the Irish Press are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

[8] Anon. (1986) “Today’s sport” Irish Press. Wednesday, Friday, November 28, 1986. pg. 22 [Past Copies of the Irish Press are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

[9] Anon. (1986) “Marlboro on the march” Irish Press. Wednesday, Friday, November 28, 1986. pg. 17 [Past Copies of the Irish Press are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]

[10] Sean Moloney (1986) “Shamrocks from USA are playing to win” Evening Herald. Saturday, November 29, 1986. pg. 6.

WEBSITES

[11] Britball Now (2016) History of the Game in Ireland [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/ireland/history-of-the-game-in.html [Accessed 02 October 2016]

[12] Britball Now (2008) UK Clubs Against Foreign Opposition [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/UKClubsForeignOppo.html [Accessed 16 November 2008]

[13] Semi-Pro Football (2017) Eastern Football League Champions [Internet] Available from: http://www.semiprofootball.org/minor/champs/eastfl.htm [Accessed 16 November 2017]

SOURCES

[14] Kevin Sharkey (2020) “The Dublin Celts” Word Document shared by John Gunning on Facebook Messenger with permission.

REFERENCES

[1] Anon (1986) “Crunch: but could they handle Moss Keane?” Irish Independent. Monday, March 17, 1986. pg. 7

Past copies of the Irish Independent are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/

REFERENCES

WEBSITES

[1] Britball Now (2016) Results Section [1986] [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/results-section.html [Accessed 23 March 2017]

[2] Britball Now (2016) Bangor Buccaneers [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Britball%20Teams/BangorBuccaneers.htm [Accessed 23 March 2018]

[3] Irish American Football Association (2018) Shamrock Bowl History [Internet] Available from: hhttp://www.americanfootball.ie/american-football/shamrock-bowl-history/ [Accessed 23 March 2018]

[4] Britballnow.co.uk (2019) 1986 Results [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/results-section.html [Accessed 17 August 2019]

INTERNET ARCHIVES

[5] Craigavon Cowboys | Wayback Machine (2017) Charles ‘Chuck’ Ebron Interview [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20170514064407/http://www,craigavoncowboys.co.uk:80/news [Accessed 10 October 2018]

SOCIAL MEDIA

[6] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Comments on Post by David Turner, August 12-17, 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/posts/2244208692356940 [Accessed 17 August 2019]

[7] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Comments on Post by David Turner, September 72019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/posts/2286790341432108?comment_id=2287705898007219&reply_comment_id=2292185984225877&notif_id=1568031304420635&notif_t=feed_comment [Accessed 9 September 2019]

NEWSPAPERS

[8] Anon. (1986) “A cracking good show for grid-iron fans” Belfast Telegraph. Tuesday, September 23, 1986. pg. 24 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[9] Anon. (1986) “American flavour” Belfast Telegraph. Friday, August 8, 1986. pg. 26 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[10] Anon. (1986) “Cowboys into ‘Shamrock Bowl’” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, September 29, 1986. pg. 18 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[11] Anon. (1986) “Cowboys triumph’” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, October 6, 1986. pg. 19 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[12] Anon. (1986) “Picture caption’” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, August 11, 1986. pg. 30 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

IMAGES

[13] Anon. (1986) “Picture by Rick Hewitt’” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, August 11, 1986. pg. 30 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[14] Anon. (1986) “Cowboys to meet Celts’”Belfast Telegraph. Saturday September 27, 1986. pg. 24 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[15] Anon. (1986) “Blitzers turn the tables”Belfast Telegraph. Tuesday June 24, 1986. pg. 28 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[16] Anon. (1986) “Cowboys into Shamrock Bowl’”Belfast Telegraph. Saturday September 29, 1986. pg. 18 [Internet] Available online at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

[17] Anon. (1986) “Sport in Brief: American Football” Sunday Press. August 17th, 1986. pg. 25.

[18] Anon. (1986) “Dublin Celts are Blitzed” Sunday Press. August 17th, 1986. pg. 25.

MEDIA

[19] BBC Sport NI Facebook (2020) Video, May 20, 2020 [Comment by player at 1:00-1:10] [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/BBCSPORTNI/videos/693338128160962 [Accessed 30 August 2020]

SOCIAL MEDIA

[1] Belfast Blitzers Facebook Page (2019) Post, August 12, 2019 at 1:31 PM [Internet] Available from:  https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/posts/2244208692356940?notif_id=1565921781157641&notif_t=comment_mention [Accessed 17 August 2019]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Jo Buchanan (Craigavon Cowboys)

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 17 July 2021

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020-2021

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.