Cork Admirals

   ChampionshipsIAFL1 Bowl 2016 Shamrock Bowl XXXII 2018Websitewww.corkadmirals.ie

The Cork Admirals are an American Football team that play in the American Football Ireland Premier Division. The team is based in Old Christians RFC, Cork.

The team was formed in 2001, playing along with four other teams that year. The club has reached the final of the Shamrock Bowl on two occasions.

The Admirals first game was in December 2002. In a rain soaked game the Admirals lost 28–18 to the Dublin Rebels 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. 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 club's 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.^{[citation needed]} 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. In May 2013, the Admirals encountered players numbers problems and briefly halted playing operations. However, they have now made a return guided by a core nucleus of young players making the IAFL-1 Bowl final but losing out to UCD 40–0. They returned to the IAFL-1 Bowl final in 2015 but lost out to Waterford Wolves on a scoreline of 13–12. Finally having won the IAFL-1 with an undefeated season in 2016, they re-entered the Shamrock Bowl Conference for 2017.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007, the Admirals made their first Shamrock Bowl with a victory over the Dublin Rebels 8–6 in the semifinals. 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.^{[original research?]}

In 2018, the Admirals returned to the Shamrock Bowl after an 11-year gap to their last appearance.^[2] The (5-3) Admirals took on the (6-2) Dublin Rebels in Tallaght Stadium on 19 August. The Admirals took the lead in the 1st quarter. The XP was missed, however. With just seconds left in the 1st half, the Admirals scored again. The trick play 2PAT was unsuccessful and Admirals went into the break leading 12–0. The 3rd quarter was mostly a defensive stalemate but the game exploded into life in the final quarter.^[tone] Ultimately the Admirals won the game and were crowned Shamrock Bowl XXXII and National Champions.^{[citation needed]}

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