Nickname(s) The Warriors | Location Republic of Ireland | |
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The Irish national Australian rules football team represent Ireland in Australian rules football and is selected from the best Irish born players from the clubs of the Australian Rules Football League of Ireland.
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The team is notable as taking the Atlantic Alliance Cup undefeated in 2001 to become European champions before also taking the 2002 International Cup undefeated to become international champions.
While the team has since been joined in recent years with the emergence of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, it remains in the top five nations in the sport. Ireland's form has been largely unpredictable due to the availability of experienced Gaelic footballers in its playing pool. The Irish team has been a finalist in all AFL International Cups, winning two.
Identity
The team was first nicknamed "Fianna na hÉireann" (Irish for "Fianna of Ireland") after a band of heroic warriors in Irish mythology. In 2005, it was renamed the "Green Machine".
The team wears a green (one of the national colours of Ireland) guernsey with a Celtic strip featuring the Irish harp symbol.
History
The Irish team won the Atlantic Alliance Cup in 2001 to become the northern hemisphere champions.
In the following year, the team participated in the inaugural Australian Football International Cup and finished first, leaving the competition as international champions. The team benefitted from the availability of several Gaelic football players.
In 2005, Ireland finished 4th. An increasingly competitive New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the United States of America finished ahead of Ireland and the team suffered from injury and the Gaelic Athletic Association discouraging the use of Gaelic players.
The Green Machine's best and fairest player (from the 2005 International Cup) is Mike Finn.
Recently the national team played a curtain raiser at the West Coast Eagles vs Fremantle exhibition match at the Oval in London where they beat the British Bulldogs.
The Warriors finished 4th again at the 2008 Australian Football International Cup and the best and fairest player was once again Mike Finn. 3 Irish players were selected in the All-International team.
The Warriors won the inaugural European Championships in 2010 defeating Denmark in the final 11.2(68) to 8.3(51). Warriors captain Cian Quigley was names Best on Ground in the final. 3 Irish players were named on the Team of the Tournament
In 2011 the Warriors won the 4th International Cup beating PNG 8.5 (53) to 5.5 (35). Mike Finn was named Best on Ground in the final. 3 Irish players were selected in the All-International team