- Dublin City University Saints
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Records
All-time Record: 10-21-1 (0-2 in the Playoffs) Current Coach: David Rothwell Line Coach: Neil Callanan Defensive Coordinator: Eoin Fox Special Teams Coach: Damian Baker Assistant Coach: Conor O'Sullivan Assistant Coach: Steve Porteous - Nickname: Saints Colors: Blue and Gold Home Field: DCU Sports Grounds Rivals: UL Vikings, Dublin Rebels, Dublin Rhinos
In 2005, Carl Rushe and Maurice Cosgrave founded the Dublin City University American Football Club. With Carl's experience in playing American football and Maurice's experience in running and managing the DCU Sailing Club, they established the club initially as a fanclub, where students could follow the sport and learn flag football. In 2006, the club's fully kitted team, the DCU Saints was formed and competed in the Irish American Football League (IAFL) that same year.
Contents
Information
Colours & Identity
The DCU Saints follow a similar colour scheme as the vast majority of other DCU clubs, royal blue and gold. The team has both a home and away strip, with the home being navy blue and gold and the away white and gold.
History
2009
The DCU Saints started the 2009 season on March 29th 2009 at home against the Dublin Rhinos. A close game ended 18-18 (which included Saints linebacker Conor Tyrrell blocking an extra point attempt) and DCU were off to a good start. This good start was undone a week later in Carrickfergus when the Knights beat DCU 19-6, the Saints sole score coming from a fumble recovered by linebacker Joe Carlyle.
Two weeks later, DCU disimproved to 0-2-1 on the year as they were forced to forfeit a game against league Champions, UL Vikings. DCU snapped their two game losing streak 26-22 against the visiting Belfast Trojans with Dave McMahon returning a punt over 80 yards for 6 and a stand out performance from Eoin Fox at linebacker and followed this up with a strong 22-14 victory over the Rhinos in Castleknock, pushing DCU over .500 for the season with RB Dave McMahon and WR Geoff Coleman accumulating the majority of the Saint’s points and Gary Fogarty having a stellar game at OLB & DE.
DCU came crashing back down to earth at the end of May when Cork destroyed the visitors by 52-0 in a lob-sided win. Two weeks later, DCU lost again, this time to the Dublin Rebels, by 27-6. Going into the final game of the regular season, DCU (in a mirror image of the 2008 season, against the Belfast Bulls) needed to beat a team who had beaten them earlier on in the year, the Cork Admirals. DCU duly complied, in a defensive battle in which DCU got their only shut-out of the season and earned a tough fought 8-0 victory to qualify for the post season for the second time in their history while simultaneously ensuring Cork would fail to make the playoffs.
In the playoffs, DCU faced an impressive Dublin Rebels team in the semi-finals. The Rebels proved to be too impressive, routing DCU in a 38-0 loss. The disappointing loss ended DCU’s season, which was their best season in the club’s history.
2008
This year marks a fresh start for the Saints. With a greater influx of players and increasing win record, the Saints have shown the ability and the drive to improve again.
The season started badly with a loss to the Carrickfergus Knights but the team started 11 rookies that day and stayed close to the experienced Knights which gave hope for the future.
The game against Tallaght Outlaws was dominated by the weather, with storms turning the pitch into a quagmire. The Saints took a while to get going, particularly on offence, but when they clicked they ran away with the game, racking up a record 44 points while not conceding a score.
The victory gave the team added confidence and they followed up with a victory over the Rhinos, 32-3. Again the team took time to get going on offence but eventually clicked to run away easy winners, the Rhinos score only coming after a botched call by the officials.
The two games against Dublin Rebels showed the team had a lot to learn and must front up more if they are to win a game against one of the big three (Rebels, UL, Cork)
The team got back into the groove again with a second victory over the Rhinos, this time the passing game working perfectly with David Mullins a particular standout. The Rhinos scored a touchdown on a controversial call by the officials but it didn't matter as the Saints scored 5 touchdowns.
On June 29th, the Saints beat Belfast in Belfast by a score of 6-0 to clinch a wildcard spot in the playoffs for the first time in their history. They travelled to Cork to face the Admirals having lost their last regular season game to UL Vikings, finishing the regular season 4-4.
In Cork, the Saints lost their first ever play-off game by a score of 34-2 to bring to end their best season to date.
2007
2007 was a development year for the DCU Saints. With a new coaching and management staff in place, the team focused on developing experienced players and passing on this experience to new players. This was evident in the improvement of our record this year with two wins, both against two established teams.
2006
In 2006, interest in the club increased immensely; over 150 students signed up to the club at the start of the University year and this figure rose to close to 180 by the end. In 2006 the club also applied to and was accepted by the IAFL and began training DCU's first ever fully kitted American Football team, the DCU Saints. For the 2006 season the club also managed to secure some of the most experienced and well-regarded coaches in Ireland including Team Ireland Head Coach Phil De Monte, Team Ireland Defensive Co-ordinator Darrin O'Toole and German League coach Carsten Wunderlich. Also in 2006 the DCU Cheerleading Squad was formed with the assistance of DCU Dance.
Towards the end of 2006 the club was honoured with an award from DCU and the Sports Clubs Committee (SCC) at the annual Clubs & Societies Awards; the Most Improved Club 2006 award which recognises the considerable development undergone by the club in the past year. Additionally, club Secretary and co-founder Maurice Cosgrave was awarded the Best Individual Administrator Award.
2005
In 2005 the DCU American Football Club was formed. Initially the club provided flag football training and access to some of the NFL games. As with all new clubs and societies DCU the club had to undergo a probitionary period. During this time the club was focused on allowing fans of the sport learn more about it and to establish itself as a viable club in the University.
Pre-2005
The DCU American Football Club previous operated under the name "DCU Stallions", but the Club ceased operation in 2001.
Current Staff
Management
Chairperson Alex Trimble
Secretary Adam Skelly
Treasurer Aidan Wessels
Public Relations Officer Matthew Sheehan
Equipment Officer Thomas O'Regan
Safety Officer Liam O’Tailliuir
Webmaster Damian BakerCoaching
Head Coach David Rothwell
Line Coach Neil Callanan
Defensive Coordinator Eoin Fox
Special Teams Coach Damian Baker
Assistant Coach Conor O'Sullivan
Assistant Coach Stephen PorteousSeasonal Results
Year Wins Losses Ties Points Result 2009 3 4 1 7 Forth in league table earning a semi final place in the play-offs.
Lost to the Dublin Rebels in play-offs.2008 4 4 0 8 Second in the Central Division
Finished 5th place and qualified for playoffs2007 2 6 0 4 Joint Second in the Central Division
Finished Joint 7th place2006 1 7 0 2 Finished 7th place External links
Categories:- Sport at Dublin City University
- American football teams in the Republic of Ireland
- American football teams in County Dublin
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