AFL Toyota Premiership 2011

Irish Warriors

Ranking: 4
IC08 Placing: 4

The Warriors' large squad is half based in Ireland and half in Australia with eight players coming from Sydney's UTS Bats.

This is the Warriors fourth International Cup and the team will be hoping to improve on their fourth place performances in 2008 and 2005. The squad has considerable experience to call on: ‘08 Captain Cian Quigley will again lead the team; '08 tournament best and fairest Mick Finn returns for his third IC; and two players, Joe Cunnane and David Stynes (younger brother of Melbourne FC President, Jim) will be hoping to secure their second winners medals having been on the winning team in the inaugural International Cup in 2002.

Head Coach: Tom Madigan
Tom has an unbeaten record in his two and a half years as coach of the Warriors.

Ireland's Road to IC11
Follow IC11 on Facebook

Message from the Irish Ambassador

 
I want to extend my heartfelt good wishes to the Irish men’s and women’s teams participating in the 2011 International AFL Cup and to wish them well in the tournament.  

Irish players with a background in Gaelic Football like Tadhg Kennelly and Jimmy Stynes have been extraordinarily successful in AFL and the international rules tournaments combining aspects of Gaelic Football and Footie between Ireland and Australia have been equally successful. 

This all demonstrate an Irish aptitude for AFL.  I am sure that the Irish teams will give their best and that the large Irish communities in Sydney and Melbourne will be out in force to support them.

Mairtin Ó Fainín
Ambassador of Ireland

Player to Watch: Cian Quigley

 
This is the Leeside Lions’ Cian Quigley’s third International Cup and second as Captain. The Cork-based school teacher is hoping to add the International Cup to the European Championship Ireland collected last year. A commanding and physical half-back, Cian is a leader on the field and off: this year he coached his school Coláiste an Phiarsaigh to the inaugural Jeep ARFLI Schools Cup.

Cian’s speeches have taken on a life of their own thanks to Facebook and Youtube and will no doubt attract some interested onlookers in Sydney and Melbourne.