The Domestic Game

Kelly, Joe and Ian break down an action-packed weekend for flag and American football in Ireland, as the trio discuss the recent We Run the World - Dublin event, all the results from AFI Gameweek 2, as well as giving a peek ahead to the post-Paddy's Weekend slate of games

With an entire weekend of coaching, pass throwing and worldwide tournament organising, it's safe to say our hosts filters aren't exactly working at full capacity either 👀

Please note; The views and opinions expressed on this podcast do not represent those held by American Football Ireland [AFI]. This is a podcast guys, it's just a bit of craic - so no giving out!

You can follow Pro Football Ireland on social media at 'nflireland'

Joe is still stranded and missing in action, so Kelly and Ian are joined by "Avatar Joe."

After reviewing the Week 1 action, including an all-important tied game, the team sit down with Cowboys President and DC Jason Duddy to discuss their rebrand, recruitment drive and season outlook.

DISCLAIMER:  Ian said that a team hadn't won at home in 670 days - whereas in fact they'd only won one game at home in that time period. Sorry!

Please note; The views and opinions expressed on this podcast do not represent those held by American Football Ireland [AFI]. This is a podcast guys, it's just a bit of craic - so no giving out!

You can follow Pro Football Ireland on social media at 'nflireland'
 

With Joe apparently still stranded on the M4, and week 1 fast approaching,  Kelly and Ian run through their preseason premier division power rankings.  We’re delighted to be joined by Coach Shane Campbell, newly appointed HC of the Dublin Rebels.

Please note; The views and opinions expressed on this podcast do not represent those held by American Football Ireland [AFI]. This is a podcast guys, it's just a bit of craic - so no giving out!

You can follow Pro Football Ireland on social media at 'nflireland'

In this episode, we check in with our wolfhounds athletes after an August full of events. 

From the Senior Men’s Wolfhounds American Football, Matty O’Meara, Finn Kearns and Sean McVeigh discuss the recent match up against Turkey in MTU Stadium. Next to join us is Dylan Coyle and Aaliyah Macken who faced Community School of Naples in the Friday Night Lights game with Wolfhounds Youth American Football.  Last but not least, Jordan Clinton and Megan Howe from the Men and Women’s Wolfhounds Flag Football post-European Championships which were hosted in Limerick.

Following on from Episode 37, where all things Wolfhounds in 2023 were promoted (back in March), we check back in across all codes ahead of a calendar full to the brim of events! 

Leading the way, our Senior Kitted Irish Wolfhounds will kick off the wolfhounds calendar tomorrow. We host Turkey in the first competitive IFAF European Championship game ever hosted in the country. 

We host the European Flag Football Continental Championships soon after, in Limerick on the 18th-20th of August. For the first time, Ireland will enter into both codes with a Men’s and Women’s flag team.

Up next will be our Irish Wolfhounds Youths who take on Naples Community School as part of the GIFT programme on the 25th of August! 

 In this episode, Joe chats with captains Mark Davidson and Marty Mulrey of the Irish Wolfhounds Senior Kitted team. In Flag, Men’s team captains Ray Burke and Jean-Luc Tubritt  and Women’s Irish Wolfhounds Flag captains Helen Smyth and Jenny Kavanagh chat all things ECs, and welcome back Alan Lomasney, Head Coach of the Irish Wolfhounds Youth team.

Special thank you to all of our guests. 

Wishing the very best of luck to all our Irish Wolfhounds from The Domestic Game; Official Podcast of the Irish Wolfhounds.

On Saturday 8th July, underdog Causeway Giants look to thwart the mighty Wexford Eagles. On Sunday 9th July, in Limerick, the Vikings make a second appearance in the Div1 Bowl, but this time the Louth Mavericks stand between them and the championship title. The last regular season matchup between these two Div1 titans came down to the wire, so this Bowl isn’t to be missed.

MTU Stadium, Cork, will host our XXXV Shamrock Bowl on 16th July. In a story that’s eerily like the 2022 season, the reigning national champions UCD look to run it back, while the undefeated Dublin Rebels take a pop at their 10th Shamrock Bowl title.

We’re joined by Fionn Molloy from the North Dublin Pirates, Craig Dooley from the Cilldara Crusaders, Phil Gunning from Belfast Trojans and Ayo Mumuni from Cork Admirals. They cover their own season, give us their insights to their respective divisions and deliver some bold bowl predictions!

We’re joined by Liam Ryan offensive coordinator of the UL Vikings and Paddy Sweeney Defensive Tackle Coach at UCD, we look at the business end of the season across all divisions, and the discuss how playoffs are shaping and early bowl predictions.

Special thanks to Liam Ryan and Paddy Sweeney

Joe sits down with Coach Dan Shaw, Head Coach of the Irish Wolfhounds National Flag Football team, to discuss everything AFI -- from the Wolfhounds clinic over the Easter break and the European Championships this coming August, to new appointments in the flag football department and how the kitted season has shaped up so far!

Joining Joe and Kelly as a special guest for this episode is Finn Kearns.

Finn was DB for the historic Irish Wolfhounds win against the Belgium Barbarians in Navan, having previously played WR for the UL Vikings. He went on to establish himself as one of the top WRs in the Maple League in Finland, and the GFL1 with the IFM Razorbacks. Finn is currently WR for the Irish Wolfhounds and QB for the South Dublin Panthers.

Collectively, we recap the season so far, each picking key games which were either  “according to the script” or “an upset” by the full time whistle.

With special thanks to Finn Kearns.

2023; what a year to be a Wolfhound!

With a calendar full to the brim of events, amongst the most notable are the Senior Kitted’s home and away fixtures against Turkey as part of their European Championship campaign; the Flag Football European Championships in Limerick; and the Youth fixture against Naples Community School as part of the GIFT programe. 

Not to mention; the recent announcement (which coincided with International Women’s Day) of 3 6v6 strict-mixed Flag Football tournaments; meet and greets with Notre Dame Players and Wolfhounds Tailgates pre-College Football Classics; and potentially another youth fixture..

Kelly chats with National Programe Director Alan Orr, Wolfhounds Senior Kitted Head Coach Ciaran O’ Sullivan, Flag Football Head Coach Dan Shaw and Wolfhounds Youth Head Coach Alan Lomasney as they each prepare for a year which is arguably the most exciting year in Irish Wolfhounds history.

The second installment of our 2-part Season Preview covers the Premier Division. 

With special thanks to Liam Ryan.

Joining The Domestic Game as a special host is Liam Ryan from the UL Vikings. Liam has worn many hats in AFI over his 20 years in Irish American Football. Depending on what generation AFI you are, you'll either know him as a player, coach, AFI management staff or the 2022 Shamrock Bowl and Flag Football finals commentator. 

In this episode (the "winners and losers" episode), Kelly, Joe and Liam cover the teams across divisions 1 and 2 of American Football Ireland and give their predictions ahead of the 2023 season. 

Join us during the week for our Flag Bowl 2022 Episode, and again next the weekend for 2023 Season Preview; Winners and Losers, Part II where we'll cover the Premier Division teams.

With special thanks to Liam Ryan.

Covering one end of the island to the other, Alan Lomasney, HC of the Cork Admirals Youth, and Niall Lyons, HC of the Donegal/Derry Vipers Youth, join The Domestic Game to discuss the next generation of athletes in AFI. We chat recruitment, reward, future superstars and why your club should have a Youth team.

With special thanks to Alan Lomasney and Niall Lyons.

As Rob leaves the team, he has left this much-anticipated jewel of an episode.  Covering the past season, he catches up with Division 1 and Division 2 Bowl winners. 

He chats Tony Rogers about the Antrim Jets' meteoric rise over the 2022 season which finished with a shut-out win (22-0) against the hot-favorites Louth Mavericks in Newforge Sports Complex on the 31st July 2022. On the same day, the Westmeath Minotaurs came victorious in a tight game against the UL Vikings, finishing 16-13, to achieve what they had left on the pitch in the 2019. Rob chats with Bill Dougherty & Andrew Paton from the Westmeath Minotaurs as they give us the inside scoop as to what lead their teams to success this year, and what they plan to do to keep the club growing from strength-to-strength into 2023.

Congratulations to the Antrim Jets and Westmeath Minotaurs. Commiserations to Louth Mavericks and the UL Vikings.

With special thanks to Tony Rogers, Bill Dougherty and Andrew Paton, and extra special thanks to Rob Caldwell. Peace!

As we move towards the end of the flag football regular season, Joe and Kelly take a look at how the playoff picture is shaping up across all divisions, reflecting on preseason projections and taking note of teams who have far surpassed expectations! 

Joining us on this episode to share his insight is Coach Andrej Barlafa of the Dublin Rebels, Irish Wolfhounds and Youth football.

With special thanks to Coach Andrej Barlafa.

Rob and Joe preview AFI's 2022 Flag Football season; running through the layout of the divisions and leagues, and giving their pre-season power rankings of each team competing! 

Kelly and Rob preview the biggest game of the season. Shamrock Bowl XXXIV sees UCD take their first appearance on the main stage, while the Dublin Rebels will be gunning for their 10th Bowl. Who better to chat to the Head Coaches of our semifinalist teams?

In this episode, we welcome HC Alan Lomasney from the Cork Admirals and HC Kevin “Coach K” Klatt from the South Dublin Panthers.

With special thanks to HC Alan Lomasney and HC Kevin Klatt.

Episode art is based on a graphic created by Lyndsay McVeigh. Photography by Ian Humes, Paul McIlwaine Photography & others (please contact for credit)

A few points about the content in this episode:

-At the time of recording, the transfer of Brandon Atwell from Trinity to UCD satisfied requirements as per AFI’s bylaws and had been processed and approved by the Commissioner of AFI. Since recording, his eligibility has been reviewed by AFI committee and has been approved.

-The other podcast we reference is the 3&1 podcast. Check it out for more AFI content!