The Craigavon Cowboys are an American football team playing in Craigavon, County Armagh, who compete in American Football Ireland. They have won the Shamrock Bowl three times in addition to other silverware.
History
The club initiated play in 1986, competing in the Irish American Football League (IAFL, now AFI). The Cowboys had success in the league in this period, winning the inaugural Shamrock Bowl in 1986 as well as additional championships in 1990According to the Irish American Football research project Eirball, the 1990 Shamrock Bowl is disputed between the Craigavon Cowboys and the Dublin Celts. In 1990, the Celts elected to play in the second tier of the BAFL as well as playing unofficially against Irish teams. Meanwhile, the Cowboys won the Irish league competition, defeating the Belfast Spartans 31-6 in the final on August 11. At the end of the season, a match was organised between the Cowboys and Celts, which the Celts won 40-0. and 1992. This initial iteration of the club experienced a decline that ultimately led to the club folding in the mid 1990s.
The club reformed again in 2005, and initially played in AFI's lower-level competitions, winning the DV8 (Development) League in 2009 and Division 1 titles in 2019 and 2024. As of 2025, the Cowboys were competing in AFI's Premier Division, having won the inaugural Harp Bowl I in 2024 to secure promotion from Division 1.
Honours Senior Kitted 3x Shamrock Bowl Winners - I (1986), V (1990), VII (1992) 1x Shamrock Bowl Finalists - II (1987) 2x Harp Bowl Winners - VI (2019), IX (2024) 2x Harp Bowl Finalists - 2017, 2018 IAFL DV8 Champions - 2009
Junior Kitted 2x IAFA Junior League Champions - 2014, 2015, 2025
Flag 3x Emerald Bowl Champions - 2016, 2018, 2021 1x Glas Bowl Champions - 2019
Notes
References
External links Cowboys Official Website Cowboys Twitter Page