page_title: Belfast Trojans
section_title: 2015 season
hierarchical_section_title: Belfast Trojans / History / 2015 season
caption_attribution_description: English: Jona Siri breaks free in the IAFL2 Bowl game
context_page_description: The Belfast Trojans are an American Football team formed in January 2006, and have competed in the IAFL since 2007 playing NCAA rules in full contact. The Belfast Trojans are the current national champions, after winning Shamrock Bowl XXXIII.
  The team currently train and play their home matches at Belfast Harlequins Club located at Deramore Park. The Belfast Trojans are the only Irish team to have a dedicated American Football field at their facility.
context_section_description: Delighted with the turn around in fortunes since the league defeat in 2014 the Trojans confirmed Mark McGrath as the permanent head coach. Within the Trojan camp the focus was placed on increasing competition both on the pitch and on the training field, with that in mind the Trojans secured a high-profile friendly match against the East Kilbride Pirates, one of the elite teams in BAFA. The Trojans made the trip to Glasgow on 11 April and held the Pirates close until the final minutes, narrowly missing the chance to level the game before the Pirates would go on to score a crucial touchdown after the two-minute warning to defeat the Trojans 24–14. All in all it was a successful exercise for the Trojans, they had proven that they could compete at the top levels of BAFA and having completed their first game outside Ireland it gave the organisation confidence for future trips to Europe.
  Domestically the Trojans continued their dominance. Eight league fixtures yielded eight wins and a fourth consecutive SBC Northern Division crown.
  Shamrock Bowl Playoffs
  For the first time SBC teams were allowed to apply to host the semi-final double header and the Trojans were granted the right to host the event. On a rain sodden day in Belfast, watched by hundreds of spectators, the Trojans once again faced the UL Vikings and typically of contests between these two teams it was a close affair with the Trojans coming out narrowly on top, notably Trojans top scorer WR David Richardson was ejected from the game and was duly suspended for the next two top flight games. A fourth Shamrock Bowl appearance was secured.
  Shamrock Bowl XXIX
  With Trinity College defeating the Dublin Rebels in the other playoff Shamrock Bowl XXIX would be a repeat of the previous years bowl. Trinity were a constant threat but the Trojans would rally and go on to win the game 28–14. The Trojans became only the second team to win four consecutive Shamrock Bowls in the modern era.
  IAFL2
  For the first time, IAFA allowed SBC teams to enter a second team into their IAFL2 development division. IAFL2 is a league that is in place to allow fledgling teams the opportunity to find their feet before graduating to a higher level of competition. The decision to allow seconds teams to enter was taken to allow the larger teams to develop rookie talent whilst simultaneously providing a higher calibre of competition for the newer teams. The Trojans eagerly accepted the invitation to participate. From the start it was clear that the Trojans 2nds were a class above their opposition even with restrictive rules on the use of veteran players. The predominantly rookie team set the same standards as the SBC team sweeping all before them in emphatic fashion led in the main by the dual threats of Matt Armstrong and Jonathan Siri.
  IAFL2 Bowl
  The IAFL2 Bowl was played on the second of August 2015 at Navan RFC in a double header with the IAFL1 Bowl. The Trojans faced the South Kildare Soldiers for the third time in 2015 and came out triumphant in a 48–0 blow out.
  GFLI Atlantic Cup 2015
  Keen to avoid a repeat of the disappointment of withdrawal from the competition in 2014 the Trojans made participation in Europe a central part of their plans for 2015. Now under the banner of the GFLI the Atlantic Cup would take place in Groningen, Netherlands and once more feature teams from Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Ireland. The Trojans travelled to Groningen on Friday 25 September with a strong squad firmly with the intention of winning the competition. In the first game of the tournament the Belfast Trojans faced the 2014 Belgian Champions the Ghent Gators who boasted several international players amongst their ranks. A fair degree of rustiness was evident for both teams but eventually the Trojans found their feet and defeated the Gators 27–14. The second game of the day saw the hosts the Groningen Giants defeat the Luxembourg Steelers to win the right to play the Trojans in the final. On day two of the tournament the Ghent Gators defeated the Luxembourg Steelers to claim 3rd place and then all eyes turned t
caption: Jona Siri breaks free in the IAFL2 Bowl game
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