History

 

The ARFLI was formed in October 2000 after the first ever Irish Grand Final was contested between the Dublin Demons and the Belfast Redbacks. Aussie Rules had arrived in Ireland almost exactly a year previously when Aussie Rules clubs were simultaneously formed in Dublin and Belfast. The two clubs recruited and trained through the winter and played a number of British clubs in challenge matches in early spring.

 

The Demons then travelled to London in April 2000, where they took part in the FSS Cup - BARFL’s pre-season competition. Dublin finished third out of 12 in their first real competitive games and people sat up and took notice that Aussie Rules had arrived in the Emerald Isle. The Demons and Redbacks then played out a best of three series that culminated in the previously mentioned Grand Final with the Demons being crowned Ireland’s first Aussie Rules Champions.

 

After this game, Michael Currane and Ciaran O hEeadhra set up the Australian Rules Football League of Ireland. They wanted to see the game develop and saw the huge potential for the sport to be a success due to the obvious similarities with Gaelic football.

 

ARFLI spent the following few months promoting the game and encouraging and assisting with the formation of new clubs. The Leeside Lions (based in Cork City) were the next team to be formed (by Brian Currane, younger brother of Michael, and Diarmuid Griffin from Doolin in Co. Clare). The Lions had quite a debut year with the club contesting both domestic finals that season. The Lions were quickly followed by the Drogheda Dockers (founded by Justin Stubbs - an Aussie based in the county Louth town) and the Midland Tigers (based in Mullingar and founded by Paul Ryan, an Aussie expat and local man Tom Leavy). ARFLI had grown to a five-club organisation in as many months. The founding clubs of ARFLI were the Belfast Redbacks, Dublin Demons, Leeside Lions, Drogheda Dockers and Midland Tigers.

 

In Domestic games in 2001, ARFLI had two major competitions - the ARFLI Super 9’s and the ARFLI Premiership. The ARFLI Super 9’s was a nine a side competition played on regular Gaelic football pitches. It was designed to help the new clubs adapt to Aussie Rules, gain some experience and allow for maximum participation for all players. The use of the GAA pitches also made it easier on the clubs in that it is extremely difficult to find space to have a full size Aussie rules oval. The competition was a huge success with two of the new teams the Leeside Lions and the Midland Tigers making it through to the final which was played at O Rathailligh Park (Louth’s county GAA Grounds) in Drogheda towards the end of May. This game proved to be a hard fought and exciting contest and was ultimately won by the Tigers.

 

The ARFLI Premiership commenced on the 16th June and was a 14 a side competition played on a home and away basis. After a very close competition, the final took place in September in James Park, Kilkenny and was contested between the Dublin Demons and the Leeside Lions. ARFLI brought the final to Kilkenny as part their efforts to spread the game. The Demons won a hard fought contest to win their second flag in a row and the ARFLI Premiership Cup 2001.

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