Team Ireland try-outs

See below my American Football Column which will be appearing in Saturday's 'Ireland's Saturday Night', hence the references to today for a the try-out session which gets underway on 18th Feb at 1pm

Team Ireland try-outs

AFTER the excitement and entertainment of Super Bowl XL, local American Football fans and players are preparing to get down to the nitty gritty of practicing for the March kick off in the all-Ireland league.

But before the season gets underway players will have the opportunity to try out for Team Ireland.

Previously the side was known as the IAFL All-Stars; but with the decision to take part in the 2007 European Championships comes the name change, and a new coaching team.

Coach Phil DeMonte’s coaching staff includes some very well known names including coaches with NFL, NFL Europe and EuroBowl experience.

His offensive coordinator is ex-NFL and USFL wide receiver Greg Anderson who is also coach of the North Dublin Marshals, with Darrin O’Toole as defensive co-ordinator.

Players from throughout the island had their first chance to meet the new coaches at the upcoming session at ALSAA Sports Ground, Dublin, earlier today (Saturday).

The session was open to all Irish players regardless of whether or not they have tried out before.

Players had the opportunity to be assessed using drills similar to those used in NFL Europe testing.

The coaches also ran individual positional drills.

The Northern Ireland teams are already in training, with the Belfast Bulls first league game scheduled for March 12th, and the Carrickfergus Knights getting underway on April 2nd.

ENDS