17/07/2012
Belfast American Football Team Lift All-Ireland Trophy
An American Football team from east Belfast have lifted the Irish national trophy for the first time after an unbeaten season.
The Belfast Trojans admitted their rivals the University of Limerick Vikings were "more than a match", as they had also had an unbeaten run in the Shamrock Bowl.
But the Northern Irish team fought their way to a 16-14 victory in the national championship final, going on to lift their first trophy at the Tallaght stadium in Dublin, and becoming the first Belfast team to do so.
The Belfast Trojans train at Shorts playing fields and have been playing the contact sport for six years.
Drew Mikhael, a founding member and the Trojans' defensive co-ordinator, said he "couldn't be more proud".
He said: "Cold days and long nights of practice have paid off and it's a testament to the lads. I'm delighted to have broken the barrier and couldn't be more proud of the effort that the whole squad has put into winning the trophy, and winning with a perfect record."
The Shamrock Bowl is the championship game of the Irish American Football League (IAFL), the highest level of professional American football in Ireland.
East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle congratulated everyone involved in the "historic victory".
He said: "The Belfast Trojans have broken records all season and should be proud of this amazing achievement. The team is a great advertisement for American football."
Photographs by Dave Bradshaw.
(NE)
The Belfast Trojans admitted their rivals the University of Limerick Vikings were "more than a match", as they had also had an unbeaten run in the Shamrock Bowl.
But the Northern Irish team fought their way to a 16-14 victory in the national championship final, going on to lift their first trophy at the Tallaght stadium in Dublin, and becoming the first Belfast team to do so.
The Belfast Trojans train at Shorts playing fields and have been playing the contact sport for six years.
Drew Mikhael, a founding member and the Trojans' defensive co-ordinator, said he "couldn't be more proud".
He said: "Cold days and long nights of practice have paid off and it's a testament to the lads. I'm delighted to have broken the barrier and couldn't be more proud of the effort that the whole squad has put into winning the trophy, and winning with a perfect record."
The Shamrock Bowl is the championship game of the Irish American Football League (IAFL), the highest level of professional American football in Ireland.
East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle congratulated everyone involved in the "historic victory".
He said: "The Belfast Trojans have broken records all season and should be proud of this amazing achievement. The team is a great advertisement for American football."
Photographs by Dave Bradshaw.
(NE)
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