Career Record

2004 IAFL 6-1-1*
2003 IAFL Division One 5-1-0*
2002 IAFL 4-2-0
2001 IAFL 5-1-0*
1998 AFAI 6-0-2
1997 AFAI record unknown - won regular season table

 
Photos from the Shamrock Bowl, 2003
Photographer: Emer McLoughlin

Carrickfergus v Dublin Lightning, 1997

Team Notes:  The Carrickfergus Knights started in October 1993. The birth was an accumulation of several events happening around the same time. A senior team, the Antrim Bulldogs (founded 1988) had folded earlier that summer due mainly to the lack of enthusiasm by the vast majority of players towards football. A junior team from Carrickfergus called the Prospect Pumas (founded 1988) was also starting to struggle as the majority of the players were starting to reach the age limit for junior football. The links between these two teams had been fastened the year before when the Pumas became the official feeder team for the Bulldogs after the collapse of the Antrim Cobras junior team.. Eddie Kelley, the head coach of the Prospect Pumas decided that the time was right for a senior team to be developed in Carrickfergus. Runners-up in Shamrock Bowls IX, X and XV, but won Shamrock Bowls XII, XIII and XVI. When the Irish League returned in 2001, the Knights took the league title, but they lost the Shamrock Bowl 28-7 to the Dublin Rebels. Bounced back in 2002, by finishing second in the league and then walloping UL Vikings 66-0 in Shamrock Bowl XVI. Won the league in 2003 with a 5-1 record, but lost Shamrock Bowl XVII 24-12 to the Dublin Rebels. In 2003 travelled to Charleroi for the European Amateur Championship and came 3rd (beating Celtes de Mitry 8-6 in the 3rd place match, after earlier losing 8-6 to Charleroi Cougars. Finished 2003 as IAFL Division One winners, but lost Shamrock Bowl XVII to the Dublin Rebels. Runners-up in 2004 again, when they got through to the final but lost 24-22 to the Dublin Rebels. The Knights have now competed in 9 of the last 10 Shamrock Bowls.

Carrickfergus Knights - 2002 Shamrock Bowl winners
Photo courtesy of Cillian Smith