University College Cork

UCC Bombers (Men’s) UCC Crusaders (Women’s)

Location: Cork

Home Ground: The Farm Curaheen

E-mail: aussierules@uccclubs.ie

Current President: Men’s President: Rory Murphy & Women’s President: Hannah Leamy

Socials

Facebook: UCC Australian Rules Football https://www.facebook.com/UCCAussieRules

Instagram: uccaussierules https://www.instagram.com/uccaussierules/

About the Club:

The UCC Aussie Rules Club was founded in 2012, and has quickly grown into one of the top AFL University teams in Europe. The club was set up by student Danny O’Brien, a dedicated and talented player with the Leeside Lions, whose passion for the sport inspired him to bring Aussie Rules to UCC. What started as a couple of students having kickabouts, it has expanded rapidly since evolving into a thriving club with competitive men’s and women’s teams – known as the Bombers and the Crusaders. Both teams currently field 2 teams yearly and this is due to the interest of the sport within the college and their teams compete in a variety of domestic and international tournaments.

The Bombers are the men’s team and have solidified themselves as one of the most successful clubs in Europe since their formation. The Bombers in early 2013, faced off against the Leeside Lions in the inaugural Rebel Shield match at UCC’s Mardyke grounds. It was a fiercely contested encounter, with the Lions claiming the first-ever Rebel Shield victory. Later that year, the Bombers competed in their first major event, the Fitzpatrick Cup which was held in Dublin. They competed against Oxford and the Dublin Universities combined and after a terrific day of footy the UCC Bombers won their first ever Fitzpatrick Cup.

In 2014, UCC Bombers travelled to Birmingham to compete at the Fitz Cup but the host team proved to be too strong and took home gold on the day. The following year in 2015, the Bombers once again traveled to Birmingham hoping to dethrone the host team, but the Fitz Cup Champions showed their strength and held onto the title for another year.

In 2016, UCC AFL continued its development with the formation of its first women’s team, the UCC Crusaders. This was a huge milestone for UCC, and the Crusaders entered their first major tournament competing at the 2017 Fitz Cup, held in Cork and winning the title in their first year at the tournament.They competed at the inaugural Draft Cup in November 2017 held in Dublin, In 2018, both the Bombers and Crusaders retained their title and then the following year in 2019 the Bombers and Crusaders teams travelled to Oxford for the Fitz Cup but unfortunately the tournament was cancelled due to severe weather. January 2020 UCC Crusaders won the inaugural Cork Cup against the Cork Vikings. In February 2020, the Bombers and Crusaders once again travelled to Oxford for the Fitz Cup and after a stellar day of games both teams qualified for their respective finals. The Bombers retained their Fitz Cup title but the Crusaders were very unlucky not to retain their title as they lost out by a single point against Cambridge.

Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the 2021 instalment of the Fitzpatrick Cup was cancelled and the tournament returned in 2022 but both the Bombers and Crusaders did not travel abroad to the competition. However in March 2022, the Crusaders travelled to Paris to compete at the Gallia Cup, a women’s only tournament. A really strong performance from the Crusaders saw them storm through the group stages and qualify for the final where they took victory over West London Wildcats.

In 2023, both the Bombers and Crusaders headed to Cardiff to compete in the Fitz Cup. The Crusaders impressed early with standout performances in the group stages, setting up an all-UCC clash in the semi-final. They booked a place in the grand final against the MTU Crows, where they delivered a dominant display to retain their title. Meanwhile, the Bombers also had a strong showing in the group stages of their own division. Once again, the semi-finals saw another all-UCC matchup, this time leading to the Bombers advancing to face Oxford in the grand final. Rising to the occasion, the Bombers put in a powerful performance to secure back-to-back Fitz Cup victories.

In 2024, the Bombers and Crusaders made the trip to London to defend their Fitz Cup titles. Both teams delivered strong performances throughout the tournament, earning spots in their respective finals. The Crusaders faced off against the MTU Crows in a rematch of the previous year’s final. Despite a determined effort, they came up against a well-prepared Crows side who ultimately took the win. The Bombers also met the Crows in their final, and in a tightly contested battle, it was a back-and-forth affair until the Bombers found another gear late in the game to pull ahead and secure the victory – successfully defending their title. Just a few weeks later, the rivalry continued in Cork at the Cork Cup, where the Crows got their revenge, edging out the Bombers in another competitive showdown.

In 2025 with the tournament being held in Cork the UCC teams were eager to put in a good performance. With a reshuffle in fixtures and a change in venue due to the severe weather closing the MTU pitches, it was the women’s tournament that opened the day. Both Crusaders teams delivered strong performances in the group stages, earning places in their respective semi-finals. Despite their best efforts, both sides faced tough opposition and narrowly missed out on the grand final, securing a respectable third-place finish overall. The afternoon saw the men’s tournament take center stage. The Bombers looked sharp in the group stages, with Bombers Red advancing to the grand final after a solid semi-final win. The final was a rematch of last year’s showdown with the MTU Crows. A tightly contested first half kept the result in the balance, but MTU managed to pull ahead in the second half to claim the win.

The club is committed to making Aussie Rules accessible to everyone, with beginner-friendly training sessions and a strong focus on developing players’ skills. Over the years, many members have progressed to represent Ireland on the international stage with the Warriors and Banshees national teams.

But UCC Aussie Rules is about more than just competition—it’s a club built on community. Through regular training, social events, and a welcoming atmosphere, it creates a space where both new and experienced players can grow, compete, and connect. Whether you’re picking up a footy for the first time or have years of experience, there’s a place for you at UCC.