imported>RJFJR: /* 2016 Season - AFI Division 1 Champions (8-0 Regular Season) {{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Brendan |date=18 August 2018 |title=Undefeated Cork Admirals Crowned IAFL 1 Champions |url=https://www.corkadmirals.ie/post/2016/08/18/undefeated-cork-admirals-crowned-iafl-1-champions |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=Cork Admirals}}{{dead|date=December 2024}} */ move ref out of heading

2024-12-20T04:41:23Z

2016 Season - AFI Division 1 Champions (8-0 Regular Season) {{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Brendan |date=18 August 2018 |title=Undefeated Cork Admirals Crowned IAFL 1 Champions |url=https://www.corkadmirals.ie/post/2016/08/18/undefeated-cork-admirals-crowned-iafl-1-champions |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=Cork Admirals}}{{dead|date=December 2024}}: move ref out of heading

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{{Short description|American football team in Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{multiple|
{{primary|date=December 2024}}
{{tone|date=September 2024}}
{{COI|date=September 2024}}
{{cite check|date=December 2024}}
}}
{{Infobox sports team
| logo =
| founded = 2002
| league = [[American Football Ireland#Premier Division (SBC)|American Football Ireland, Premier Division]]
| history =
| city = [[Cork (city)|Cork]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| arena =
| ballpark =
| stadium = [[Old Christians RFC]], [[Glanmire]]<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.corkadmirals.ie/about | website = corkadmirals.ie | title = Cork Admirals AFC - About The Club | accessdate = 10 September 2024 }}</ref>
| colors = Red and White {{-}} {{Color box|#FF0000}} {{Color box|#FFFFFF}}
| championships = IAFL1 Bowl 2016
Shamrock Bowl XXXII 2018
| cheerleaders =
| dancers =
| mascot =
| broadcasters =
| media =
| uniforms =
| team = Cork Admirals
| website = {{URL|www.corkadmirals.ie}}
| name = Cork Admirals
}}

The '''Cork Admirals American Football Club''', commonly known as '''The Admirals''', is an amateur [[American football]] club based in [[Cork (city)|Cork City]], [[County Cork]] in Ireland. They compete in the [[American Football Ireland]] (AFI) [[Shamrock Bowl|Premier Division]], the top tier of American football in Ireland. In domestic American football, the club have won one [[Shamrock Bowl]],<ref name=":0" /> a Division 1 Championship Bowl,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Brendan |date=18 September 2016 |title=Undefeated Cork Admirals Crowned IAFL 1 Champions |url=https://www.corkadmirals.ie/post/2016/08/18/undefeated-cork-admirals-crowned-iafl-1-champions |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=Cork Admirals}}{{dead|date=December 2024}}</ref> a Premier Division Shield and four Youth National Championships.

The Admirals were formed in 2002 in Cork City and are the only senior and youth kitted club in County Cork.{{fact|date=December 2024}} The Admirals started competing during 2002 and reached its first Shamrock Bowl final in 2007 ([[Shamrock Bowl XXI]]) which they lost against to the [[Dublin Rebels]]. The Admirals achieved their first piece of silverware in 2016, winning the Division 1 Championship. The Admirals won their first and only Shamrock Bowl in 2018 <ref name=":0" /> (Shamrock Bowl XXXII) against the Dublin Rebels. The youth team won 4 National Championships from 2018 to 2022. The Admirals were the first team to win the Premier Division Shield in 2024.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

== History ==
[[File:Admirals team may 06 (2).JPG|thumb|Members of the team in 2006]]
The Admirals first game, in December 2002, was an 8-a-side challenge match that resulted in a 28–18 defeat to the [[Dublin Rebels]]. Despite the loss, the team stepped up to 11-a-side for the next two friendly matches.{{fact|date=December 2024}} Both these games resulted in defeat for the Admirals, going down 26–12 to the Dublin Rebels and 8–0 to the [[Dublin Dragons]].{{fact|date=December 2024}}

In the 2003 season, the club's first season of IAFL league play, the team managed only a 1–5 record. The first victory came in the spring of 2003, defeating the [[UL Vikings]] in an 8-a-side contest. The club would get its first 11-a-side victories against the same side that winter in two challenge games.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

The following year saw the Cork Admirals improve to a 3–5 record in the expanded IAFL. Despite this, the [[Dublin Dragons]], with a similar 3–5 record, beat the Admirals to the final playoff spot. The final game of that season was the Admirals best performance, beating the Dublin Dragons 68–20 at Pfizer Sports Grounds.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

The Admirals held a recruitment drive ahead of the 2004 season, and the team (which included some rookies) had a win against [[Limerick]] in a November challenge game.{{fact|date=December 2024}} The Admirals 2004 season got off to a poor start when the U.L. Vikings recorded their first ever win over the Cork side.{{fact|date=December 2024}} This started a four-game losing spell for the Admirals. However, the Admirals won three of their final four contests later in the 2004-2005 season, including two home wins to clinch a playoff spot. The [[Belfast Bulls]], league winners in 2005, proved too strong for the Admirals in the playoff, however, ending the Admirals hopes for a Shamrock Bowl berth that season.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

In May 2013, the Admirals encountered problems with players numbers and briefly halted playing operations.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

However, they have now{{when?|date=December 2024}} made a return and made the IAFL-1 Bowl final but losing out to UCD 40–0.{{when?|date=December 2024}}

They returned to the IAFL-1 Bowl final in 2015 but lost out to Waterford Wolves on a scoreline of 13–12.

Having won the [[IAFL-1]] with an undefeated season in 2016, they re-entered the [[Shamrock Bowl Conference]] for 2017.{{fact|date=September 2024}}

=== Alan Lomasney years (2016-2024) ===
Alan Lomasney became The Admirals head coach during the 2016 preseason on 3 March 2016. Along with Lomasney, Trevor O'Connell was appointed as the line coach, Sean McKnight as the defensive coordinator and Luke O'Brien as the joint special teams and defensive backs coach. This was the first time since 2013 that The Admirals had a non-playing coaching staff.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Brendan |date=3 March 2016 |title=Admirals Announce Coaching Staff for 2016 |url=https://www.corkadmirals.ie/post/2016/03/03/admirals-announce-coaching-staff-for-2016 |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=Cork Admirals}}{{dead|date=December 2024}}</ref>

==== 2016 Season - AFI Division 1 Champions (8-0 Regular Season) ====
Source:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Brendan |date=18 August 2018 |title=Undefeated Cork Admirals Crowned IAFL 1 Champions |url=https://www.corkadmirals.ie/post/2016/08/18/undefeated-cork-admirals-crowned-iafl-1-champions |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=Cork Admirals}}{{dead|date=December 2024}}</ref>

Lomasney's first season in charge saw The Admirals go through the regular season undefeated, ending the season with an 8-0 record. The most notable{{says who?|date=December 2024}} games being the 24-0 shut out against the South Kildare Soldiers<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Brendan |date=20 March 2016 |title=Admirals get off to a winning start |url=https://www.corkadmirals.ie/post/2016/03/20/admirals-get-off-to-a-winning-start |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=Cork Admirals}}{{dead|date=December 2024}}</ref> and defeating the joint league leaders [[Westmeath Minotaurs]] 36-14, to go 4-0 and become the league leaders.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Brendan |date=9 May 2016 |title=Admirals make last minute comeback for win number four |url=https://www.corkadmirals.ie/post/2016/05/09/admirals-make-last-minute-comeback-for-win-number-four |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=Cork Admirals}}{{dead|date=December 2024}}</ref> The Admirals finished the regular season with a 14-7 win over their Munster rivals, the Waterford Wolves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Brendan |date=7 July 2016 |title=Admirals Win to Finish Regular Season Undefeated At 8-0 |url=https://www.corkadmirals.ie/post/2016/07/07/admirals-win-to-finish-regular-season-undefeated-at-80 |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=Cork Admirals}}{{dead|date=December 2024}}</ref> The Admirals went on to the AFI Division 1 playoffs against the Westmeath Minotaurs in a [[Blowout (sports)|blowout game]], where The Admirals won 30-00.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Cork Admirals 2016 Fixtures and Results |url=https://www.corkadmirals.ie/schedule-and-results |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=Cork Admirals}}</ref> Advancing to the AFI Division 1 Championship Bowl game for the third consecutive year in a row, The Admirals beat the [[Belfast Trojans]] 38-7 to crown them champions and promotion back to the AFI Premier Division.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Brendan |date=18 August 2016 |title=Undefeated Cork Admirals Crowned IAFL 1 Champions |url=https://www.corkadmirals.ie/post/2016/08/18/undefeated-cork-admirals-crowned-iafl-1-champions |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=Cork Admirals}}{{dead|date=December 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! colspan="5" |2016 AFI Division 1 Regular Season<ref name=":2" />
|-
|Game
|Home
|Score
|Away
|Result
|-
|1
|Waterford Wolves
|03-30
|Cork Admirals
|'''W''' (1-0)
|-
|2
|Cork Admirals
|24-00
|South Kildare Soldiers
|'''W''' (2-0)
|-
|3
|South Kildare Soldiers
|00-50
|Cork Admirals
|'''W''' (3-0)
|-
|4
|Westmeath Minotaurs
|13-20
|Cork Admirals
|'''W''' (4-0)
|-
|5
|Cork Admirals
|36-14
|West Dublin Rhinos
|'''W''' (5-0)
|-
|6
|Meath Bulldogs
|13-30
|Cork Admirals
|'''W''' (6-0)
|-
|7
|Cork Admirals
|22-09
|Louth Mavericks
|'''W''' (7-0)
|-
|8
|Cork Admirals
|14-07
|Waterford Wolves
|'''W''' (8-0)
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! colspan="3" |2016 AFI Division 1 Playoff<ref name=":2" />
!
! colspan="3" |2016 AFI Division 1 Bowl Game<ref name=":2" />
|-
|Home
|Score
|Away
|
|Home
|Score
|Away
|-
|Cork Admirals
|30-00
|Westmeath Minotaurs
|
|Cork Admirals
|38-07
|Belfast Trojans
|-
|Advanced to finals
|
|Knocked out
|
|Champions
|
|Runners up
|}

==Finals appearances==

=== Shamrock Bowl XXI ===
In 2007, the Admirals made their first [[Shamrock Bowl]] with a victory over the [[Dublin Rebels]] 8–6 in the semifinals. The team faced IAFL South division rivals, the UL Vikings. In a very tight contest, the Admirals were unable to beat the Vikings. The game finished 22–14.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

=== Shamrock Bowl XXXII ===
In 2018, the Admirals returned to the Shamrock Bowl after an 11-year gap to their last appearance.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url = https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/ireland-cork-admirals-historic-in-1st-ever-shamrock-bowl-triumph/ | website = americanfootballinternational.com | title = Ireland: Cork Admirals historic in 1st ever Shamrock Bowl triumph | date = 29 August 2018 | accessdate = 10 September 2024 }}</ref> The (5-3) Admirals took on the (6-2) Dublin Rebels in Tallaght Stadium on 19 August. The Admirals took the lead in the 1st quarter. The XP was missed, however. With just seconds left in the 1st half, the Admirals scored again. The trick play 2PAT was unsuccessful and Admirals went into the break leading 12–0. The 3rd quarter was mostly a defensive stalemate but the game exploded into life in the final quarter.{{tone-inline|date=September 2024}} Ultimately the Admirals won the game and were crowned Shamrock Bowl XXXII and National Champions.{{fact|date=September 2024}}

== Honours ==
The Admirals first honour was the AFI Division 1 Championship in 2016,<ref name=":1" /> gaining the club promotion into the AFI Premier Division. 2018 was the next honours the club earned, when the club won Shamrock Bowl XXXII against the Dublin Rebels in a 18-16 win.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Brendan |date=August 30, 2018 |title=Cork Admirals End Rebels Reign and Sail Home with the Championship |url=https://www.corkadmirals.ie/post/2018/08/30/cork-admirals-end-rebels-reign-and-sail-home-with-the-championship |access-date=December 3, 2024 |website=Cork Admirals}}{{dead|date=December 2024}}</ref> The Admirals youth team began a "dominant era" in the AFI Youth National Championship, earning their honours from 2018 to 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Brendan |date=October 31, 2018 |title=Cork Admirals Youth Team Crowned National Champions |url=https://www.corkadmirals.ie/post/2018/10/31/cork-admirals-youth-team-crowned-national-champions |access-date=December 3, 2024 |website=Cork Admirals}}{{dead|date=December 2024}}</ref> As of 2024, the most recent honour for The Admirals was the AFI Premier Shield in 2024.{{fact|date=December 2024}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Competition
!Titles
!Seasons
|-
|AFI Premier Division
|1
|2018
|-
|AFI First Division
|1
|2016
|-
|AFI Premier Division Shield
|1
|2024
|-
|AFI Youth National Championship
|4
|2018, 2019, 2021, 2022{{fact|date=December 2024}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.corkadmirals.ie/}}

{{IAFL}}

[[Category:American football teams in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:American football teams established in 2001]]

Cork Admirals - Revision history