The Cork Vikings have been crowned AFL Europe Champions League winners for the fourth consecutive year, solidifying their place as one of the most dominant sides in European Australian Rules Football.
Representing Ireland as the reigning premiers of the AFL Ireland League, the Vikings travelled to Lyon,France Saturday 12th April to face the top club teams from across Europe. In the group stages, they secured impressive wins over the Nottingham Scorpions (England) and the ALFA Lions (France).
As a result of their two wins, they topped their group and avoided the playoff game which meant the Vikings headed straight to the semi-final where they faced the Arasta Swans(Sweden) who won their playoff game. It was a fierce competitive semi final game but a strong performance from the Vikings ensured they headed for the Grand Final showdown where they would once again meet the Nottingham Scorpions.
The final proved to be a thrilling contest. The Vikings started off on the back foot in the first half, playing into the gale made scoring extremely difficult for the Vikings. The Scorpions capitalised on the win advantage and took their scoring chances whereas the vikings who only managed to put a single behind on the scoreboard in the first half.
Trailing at halftime, the Vikings knew they had to dig deep for a second-half response. With determination and resilience, they turned the game around, producing a strong comeback to clinch the victory and retain their European crown. This remarkable achievement marks their fourth Champions League title in a row, a feat that reflects the strength of the squad and the continued growth of the sport in Cork.
The Cork Vikings continue to set the standard for Australian Rules Football in Europe, and their latest triumph only adds to an already remarkable legacy.
Cork Vikings Team:
Ailish Dunne, Annie Walsh, Anne-Marie Troy, Amanda Brosnan, Becky O’Sullivan, CJ Murphy, Éadaoin McKeever, Ellie O’Donovan, Grace Oldham, Laura Flannery, Maria Quirke, Sarah O’Donovan, Selina O’Mahony, Síofra Keane, Shannon Stevenson, Sorcha Herlihy
Extended Panel:
Ellie Landers,Michelle Stafford, Rachel O’Shea, Shuna Buckley
Head Coach: Chris O’Brien“The girls showed unbelievable resolve in the grand final. Having breezed through the early part of the day comfortably, Nottingham scorpions really put it up to them in the first half of the final. But in true Vikings fashion the girls gathered around each other at half time and went out in the second half and showed just why they are the best team in Europe for the past 4 years. As coach I could not be prouder, from the experienced girls that were aiming to win their 4th to those making their first appearance in the competition. The mix of youth and experience is a massive benefit. These girls are unbelievably dedicated to being the best they can be and winning 4 in a row is a testament to that dedication.” Chris O’Brien
Like the Cork Vikings, the Leeside Lions travelled to Lyon representing Ireland as the reigning 2024 premiers of the AFL Ireland League.
The Lions were tasked with going one better than last year’s 2024 Champions League where they lost out on gold to an impressive Wandsworth Demons from AFL London.
Throughout the group stages the Lions asserted their dominance, overcoming Delft Blues (Netherlands),Vest Danmark (Denmark) and Prague Dragons (Czech Republic) with impressive exhibits of skill and accuracy. The Lions topped their group and were tasked with facing off against a strong Gabians de Palavas (France). This semi final was the first true test for the Lions in a game that went to the very end. Trailing soon after half time and playing into a strong wind the experienced Lions team showed true determination to dispatch of the Gabians and set up a replay of the 2024 Grand Final against Wandsworth Demons (London) with vengeance being the only thing on the minds of those involved.
Winning the coin toss the Lions opted to play against the strong win in a bid to absorb as much of the the expected strength of Wandsworth Demons as possible. A truely heroic performance from the Lions resulted in them leading going into half time.
As the second half started the Lions were prepared for a strong resurgence from the Wandsworth Demons, the scars of last years Grand Final were in the minds of the Lions as they held onto their lead with strong performances throughout the field. With a minute remaining on the clock the lead was snatched from the Lions grasp giving the Wandsworth Demons the advantage at the sound of the final siren.
The Lions can be truely proud of their performance throughout the day in Lyon with the final result showing the cruelty of sport when performaning at such a high level. The Lions now turn their focus to the 2025 Irish Premiership where they will fight to retain their title and hope to make history by being the first Irish club to win three consecutive Irish Premierships.
Leeside Lions Team:
Cian O’Mahony, Conor Power, Darren O’Dwyer, Daniel Casey, Donal Quealy, Eoghan O’Connell, George Dwyer, Harry Tobin, James O’Shea, Jerry Cronin, Jye Adamson, Noah Hanneysee, Paul Allen, Paul Murphy, Sean O’Callaghan, Shane Quigley
Head Coaches: Paul Ryan & Nick Harden