World Footy News

From our vault of "better late than never" stories, here's a report on the 2008 Australian Rules Football League Ireland (ARFLI) season, the Grand Final for which was held in August (in the flurry just prior to the IC08).

ARFLI seasons are always keenly contested, but never more so than in International Cup years, as players vie for national selection. This season saw five clubs compete, with the Dublin Saints the strugglers and the South Dublin Swans as the frontrunners, but they were rolled by reigning premiers the Leeside Lions in their semi-final on August 9th. A small field at Terenure and a strong breeze saw the Lions bombing long range goals, scoring six majors to none in the first quarter, killing the contest and going on to win by 28 points - a bitter pill to swallow for South Dublin, having lost just one minor round match. In the other semi the Dublin Demons were far too strong for an under-strength Midland Tigers, winning by 87 points, and would enter the big final desperate to win it for the first time in many years.

In a bold move by league president Ciaran O'hEadra, the Grand Final was staged at Castlebar on August 16th in County Mayo on Ireland's west coast, in association with the Breaffy International Sports Hotel. Heavy rain preceding the match cleared in time, and ARFLI's Tom Madigan, field umpire for the day, got the Grand Final underway. A tight first quarter had the Dublin Demons leading by just a point at the first break. The Demons looked the goods in the second quarter, but from 11 shots at goal they registered just 2.7 to take only a 2 point half time lead. The question is always - can they keep up the dominance or have they wasted their shot at the title?

A pump up at the break didn't get the desired result for the Dublin boys, as Leeside looked like making the premiership quarter their own with three successive goals before a tackle and 50m penalty gave the Demons heart. Undeterred by the deficit, the Dees pledged to win their first flag since 2001, and the grabbing the momentum at the start of the final stanza proved to be crucial. In a flash they had two goals on the board and with a deep bench allowing fresh legs to come onto the field, the Demons ran over the top of the Lions with a surprisingly dominant final quarter of 7 goals to 1 for a famous come-from-behind victory.

It somewhat avenges the Demons' 2005 grand final loss to Leeside (who are the league's most powerful club, with 4 flags and 3 times runners-up), and gives the Demons' their third title, adding to the league's inaugural premierships in 2000 and 2001. From all reports the celebrations at the Breaffy were enjoyed by both clubs.

Dublin Demons 1.3 3.10 7.15 14.17 (101)
Leeside Lions 1.2 4.2 8.2 9.3 (57)

The winning team

Captain and Coach hold the trophy aloft

The Irish league started the year with hopes for extra teams, but ultimately settled with five. But despite the continuing battle to keep up club numbers the league must surely still be one of the strongest outside of Australia in terms of onfield quality. With a few quality Aussie expats and plenty of Irishmen experienced in the similar code of Gaelic football, the better ARFLI sides could be expected to compete well with the stronger teams from the London, Ontario, Auckland and Port Moresby leagues.

Proof can be found in the national side, the Irish Warriors, being one of just three teams to make it as far as the International Cup semi-finals in each of the three times the tournament has been held. Of course the 2008 edition ended painfully with the controversial after-the-siren lost to South Africa, but it was another quality showing for the Irish. Unfortunately a proposed October match against the Under 23 All-Australian Amateur side, in Ireland for a series of International Rules matches, did not go ahead due to a lack of venue as the cooler, wetter months set in. Again, a sign of the difficulties for the sport in a country where Gaelic football clubs quite understandably control the best facilities.

Currently ARFLI is calling for interest in setting up new teams for 2009, in particular in Down and Armagh, Galway, Belfast and the Southeast. They also hope to welcome aboard new clubs in Mayo and Kerry that began preparations in the last 12 months (see Two new clubs for Ireland). Will one of these start-ups get to replicate the scenes of triumph after hoisting the premiership cup? Here's a taste of what they will be aiming for from the 2008 aussieproperty.com ARFLI winners, the Dublin Demons (not sure whether it will encourage or dissuade them!).

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