Knights back in action - new team for Belfast

THE Irish American Football League returns to action tomorrow (Sunday) after a two-week mid-season hiatus, with the Carrickfergus Knights looking to continue their challenge for play-off games when they travel to face the Dublin Rebels.

The sides are age-old rivals in the league, and, while a defeat wouldn't put the Knights out of the post-season running, a victory would see them draw level with the Rebels.

Kick-off is at 2pm at Santry, Dublin. In the weekend's other game the North Dublin Marshals visit the Cork Admirals. The Marshals are struggling with a 1-3record, while Cork, with several games in hand, are seeking to challenge the top spots.

The IAFL announced this week that a new team has joined the league.

The Belfast Trojans will be associate members for the remainder of 2006 and play a full league schedule in 2007.

American football has become more popular in Belfast since it hosted Shamrock Bowl XIX last August.

The IAFL believes Belfast can support at least two viable teams, so the Torjans will be joining cross-town rivals the Belfast Bulls in the IAFL.

The new Belfast team has already recruited a number of IAFL veteran players. Barry Magee, former Defensive Coordinator for the Belfast Bulls has been named as the provisional coach for the 2007 season.

The team's committee includes Chris Weir, Warren Thompson and Jeroen Egge.

In other expansion news, the proposed South East Ireland team has been named the South East Strongbows.

The interim Coach of the team has been named as Dave Collins, formerly of the Dublin Tornadoes and Dublin Celts (1980s/90s). The team will be training periodically in Peoples Park, Waterford as it builds its membership for 2007.

In other IAFL news, Terry Lynch has been named as the new IAFL Chairman, replacing Greg Anderson. Terry has more than 20 years experience in the sport with the Craigavon Cowboys and Carrickfergus Knights

ENDS