Rovers host successful start to IAFA League
SHAMROCK Rovers played host to the opening weekend of the inaugural Irish Amputee Football Association (IAFA) National League in Roadstone on Saturday, March 11.
The Hoops welcomed both Cork City and Bohemians to their home ground where each team played two games, each of 24 minutes duration.
The Rovers team
Rovers and Cork kicked off proceedings with a 1-1 draw resulting while it was a carbon copy scoreline in the following match between Cork and Bohs.
The latter eventually made the early running when they dished out a 5-0 defeat to Rovers in the final match.
“Collectively we made some mistakes, but if we can eliminate them we can do well,” insisted Rovers player and League Adminstrator Christy McElligott.
Delighted with the success of the curtain raiser to the new IAFA League, McElligott told The Echo “I was very pleased with how it all went.
Set the bench mark
“Rovers have set the bench mark with the facilities and the welcome mat rolled out for the players.
“But these are three professional clubs and I would expect that of them. It’s exciting times for the game,” he insisted.
While all three teams play at a very competitive level, especially with an number of Irish internationals involved, McElligott believes a second tier could later be set up in order to facilitate new players or those with not as much experience of the sport.
Ireland recently finished sixth at the European Amputee Football Championships and the establishment of the National League is sure to make the country an even more competitive force on the international stage.
The next round of IAFA League games will take place in Cork on April 7.
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