AFL Ireland Premiership 2018

	P	W	L	D	F	A	Pts
*Belfast Redbacks	9	9	0	0	494	273	36
*Galway Magpies	9	4	5	0	492	388	21
*Leeside Lions	9	4	5	0	387	411	21
South Dublin Swans	9	1	8	0	259	560	12

4 Pts Win / 2 Pts Draw / 1 Pt Loss / 0pts Forfeit

Date	Team 1		Team 2
	Semi-Final
15.08.2018	Galway Magpies	6.5.41	Leeside Lions	2.4.16
	Grand Final		Belfast
25.08.2018	Belfast Redbacks	9.14.68	Galway Magpies	3.11.29

AFL Ireland Men’s Premiership 2019

	P	W	L	D	F	A	Pts
**Belfast Redbacks	6	6	0	0	575	235	24
*Galway Magpies	6	3	3	0	362	379	15
*Leeside Lions	6	2	4	0	315	495	12
South Dublin Swans	6	1	5	0	335	478	9

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Semi-Final
10.08.19	Galway Magpies	7.10 (52)	Leeside Lions	10.10 (70)
	Grand Final		NSC, Blanchardstown
24.08.19	Belfast Redbacks	12.5 (77)	Leeside Lions	6.12 (48)

** Qualify for Grand Final / * Qualify for Semi-Final / 4 Pts Win / 1 Pt Loss

Note: Australian Football matches are scored “Goals.Behinds.Total” Goals are worth 6 Points. Behinds 1 Point.

Report

Belfast Redbacks AFL Grand Final 2018 Team Photo – Courtesy AFL Ireland Facebook Page [12]

A New Era for Australian Rules in Ireland dawned in 2018 with a rebranding to Australian Football League Ireland and the first full Women’s League Season.

The Men’s 2018 Premiership was won by Belfast Redbacks with a 100% record, and they went on to win the Grand Final in style against the Galway Magpies 9.14.68 to 3.11.29 [14]

In 2019, the Redbacks repeated the feat, going 6-0 (Wins-Losses) during the season, before triumphing in the Grand Final against Leeside Lions from Cork, on a scoreline of 12.5 (77) to 6.12 (48) [Ref: 36]

References

Images

[1] Australian Football League Ireland Facebook Page (2018) AFL Ireland Logo [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37841096_1861629690562020_5559872097095778304_n.png?_nc_cat=0&oh=dfcf217d2f988b78ae0c47a629454231&oe=5C37A736 [Accessed 21 August 2018]

[12] Australian Football League Ireland Facebook Page (2018) Post August 25, 2018 – Belfast Redbacks Team Photo [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/photos/a.575917729133229/1915313865193602/?type=3&theater [Accessed 18 September 2018]

Websites

Results

[11] World Footy News (2018) Galway Magpies make late flag charge [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20180712072542116 [Accessed 18 September 2018]

Social Media

Results

[2] AFL Ireland Facebook Page (2018) Post May 28, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/posts/1781945361863787 [Accessed 21 August 2018]

[3] AFL Ireland Facebook Page (2018) Post July 29, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/posts/1869684733089849 [Accessed 21 August 2018]

[13] Galway Magpies Facebook Page (2018) Photo August 15, 2018 – Semi-Final: Galway Magpies 6-5-41 Leeside Lions 2-4-16 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/galwaymagpies/photos/pcb.1829581473745348/1829581043745391/?type=3&theater [Accessed 18 September 2018]

[14] AFL Ireland Facebook Page (2018) Post August 25, 2018 0- Grand Final: Belfast Redbacks 9-14-68 Galway Magpies 3-11-29 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/posts/1869684733089849 [Accessed 21 August 2018]

Tables

[4] AFL Ireland Facebook Page (2018) Post May 28, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/posts/1781946795196977 [Accessed 21 August 2018]

[5] AFL Ireland Facebook Page (2018) Post July 3, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/posts/1828306270561029 [Accessed 21 August 2018]

Fixtures

[6] AFL Ireland Facebook Page (2018) Post May 8, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/posts/1762795543778769 [Accessed 21 August 2018]

[7] AFL Ireland Facebook Page (2018) Post May 21, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/posts/1775276859197304 [Accessed 21 August 2018]

[8] AFL Ireland Facebook Page (2018) Post, June 1, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/posts/1785606398164350 [Accessed 21 August 2018]

[9] AFL Ireland Facebook Page (2018) Post, July 3, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/posts/1828285090563147 [Accessed 21 August 2018]

[10] AFL Ireland Facebook Page (2018) Post July 28, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/posts/1867190876672568 [Accessed 21 August 2018]

[15] Australian Football League Ireland | Facebook (2019) Post: April 28, 2019: ” Saturday say the start of the AFL Ireland men’s competition. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/posts/2259072037484448 [Accessed 12 August 2019]

[16] Belfast Redbacks | Facebook (2019) Post: May 11, 2019: ” Great day of footy in the sun today 😎The Redbacks hosted Leeside Lions AFL at Mallusk playing fields for round 2 of the AFL Ireland Season.” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastredbacks/posts/1085517424982482 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[17] Belfast Redbacks | Facebook (2019) Post: May 20, 2019: ” AFL Ireland league table after round 2 “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastredbacks/posts/1091734864360738 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[18] Belfast Redbacks | Facebook (2019) Post: May 25, 2019: ” Another great performance from the Redbacks at Mallusk today saw a victory against our opponents the Galway Magpies “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastredbacks/posts/1095073790693512[Accessed 20 August 2019]

[19] Belfast Redbacks | Facebook (2019) Post: June 15, 2019: ” Due to the monsoon like conditions today in Belfast there was no team photo as we all huddled round the BBQ in the rain for warmth after the game.  “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastredbacks/posts/1110138582520366[Accessed 20 August 2019]

[20] Belfast Redbacks | Facebook (2019) Post: July 6, 2019: ” After a long drive down from Belfast to Cork the Redbacks have chalked up another win on the board  “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastredbacks/posts/1125442514323306 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[21] Belfast Redbacks | Facebook (2019) Post: July 9, 2019: ” The penultimate game of the 2019 home and away season saw the Redbacks make the long haul to Co. Cork to take on the Leeside Lions.  “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastredbacks/posts/1127352304132327 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[22] Belfast Redbacks | Facebook (2019) Post: July 27, 2019: ” After a sunny day of footy in Galway the Redbacks have played our last league game of the 2019 season against the Galway Magpies. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastredbacks/posts/1140233589510865 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[23] Galway Magpies | Facebook (2019) Post: May 1 , 2019: ” Training tonight at 6.30pm down the swamp everyone welcome #gopies 
In the meantime grab a cup of tea and enjoy the match report from Saturday thabks to Magpies P “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/galwaymagpies/posts/2181413575228801 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[24] Galway Magpies | Facebook (2019) Post: May 13 , 2019: ” The Magpies got their first win of the season on saturday against a tough South Dublin Swans team. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/galwaymagpies/posts/2200735356629956 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[25] Galway Magpies | Facebook (2019) Post: June 15 , 2019: ” Pies Win in it in a tight one 
Galway Magpies 9-7-61
Leeside Lions 7-9-51 “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/galwaymagpies/posts/2254954124541412 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[26] Galway Magpies | Facebook (2019) Post: July 6 , 2019: ” MAGPIES GET THE WIN 
Magpies 18-3-111
Swans 6-4-40 “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/galwaymagpies/posts/2292176384152519 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[27] Galway Magpies | Facebook (2019) Post: July 27 , 2019: ” GAME DAY 
Here is another inspirational match report from last round against the swans to get us ready for today “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/galwaymagpies/posts/2327314717305352 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[28] Galway Magpies | Facebook (2019) Post: July 31 , 2019: ” Training this evening from 6.30pm down the swamp 
🍕&🍻 @taylor bar after training “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/galwaymagpies/posts/2334267456610078 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[29] South Dublin Swans | Facebook (2019) Post: May 11 , 2019: ” The Swans who took to the field and battled hard against @galwaymagpies today on the west coast! “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/southdublinswans/posts/2456650524354239 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[30] South Dublin Swans | Facebook (2019) Post: May 29 , 2019: ” Saturday saw the Swans back in action in the Peoples Republic against the #LeesideLions. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/southdublinswans/posts/2487477651271526 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[31] South Dublin Swans | Facebook (2019) Post: June 17 , 2019: ” On Saturday (15/06) the Swans, emboldened by their fine performance in the reverse fixture, travelled to Belfast for their final away game of the season.  “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/southdublinswans/posts/2521848877834403 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[32] South Dublin Swans | Facebook (2019) Post: July 28, 2019: ” A great day of footy in the beautiful sunshine in Dublin today as the Swans overcame a battling Leeside Lions on a scoreline of Swans 18 5 113
Lions 9 14 68 ” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/southdublinswans/videos/vb.1204681142884523/3049247298448590/?type=2&theater [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[33] Leeside Lions | Facebook (2019) Post: April 29, 2019: ” Last weekend marked the start of the 2019 season. Which saw the Lions host the Galway Magpies in what turned out to be tricky conditions.  ” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/LeesideLions/posts/2145134818916626 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[34] Leeside Lions | Facebook (2019) Post: May 26 , 2019: ” Yesterday saw the Lions back in action. In what was a topsy turby game throughout. ” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/LeesideLions/videos/vb.111500015613460/1599829293480611/?type=2&theater [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[35] Leeside Lions | Facebook (2019) Post: August 12 , 2019: ” Last Saturday saw the Lions take on the Galway Magpies in the Preliminary Final with the Winner advancing to take on the reigning premiers the Belfast Redbacks in the Grand Final. ” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/LeesideLions/posts/2341112062652233 [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[36] AFL Ireland | Facebook (2019) Post: August 24 , 2019: ” The Belfast Redbacks are 2019 AFL Ireland Premiers, final score Lions 6.12 48 to Redbacks 12.5 77 ” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/posts/2465408103517506 [Accessed 27 August 2019]

[39] AFL Ireland | Facebook (2019) Post: August 24 , 2019: ” Also on Saturday the leagues best and fairest and leading goalscorer awards were presented. ” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishfooty/posts/2468816076510042 [Accessed 27 August 2019]

Websites

[37] World Footy News (2019) Tuesday, July 7, 2019: Redbacks & Magpies Keep Premiership Hopes High [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20190707221242464?fbclid=IwAR093fe6FTjpIJOexiFWNWlWPFffnQGb4YTM6XwwxNTSOvK43Zyx1hIdkQo [Accessed 20 August 2019]

[38] South Dublin Swans | Pitchero (2019) Swans push Redbacks to the limit [Internet] Available from: https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/southdublinswans/teams/223243/match-centre/0-4351079?fbclid=IwAR345TIwK3a4K9g8txSodaTHVz0YCQtiugw4KmrLVTjQhuCyqjIsRny5v2U [Accessed 20 August 2019]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Richard Conville, Conor Lynch, John O’Donoghue & Conor McGroarty

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 17 July 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.