Ireland national Australian rules football team
The Irish national Australian rules football team represent Ireland in Australian rules football and is selected from the best Irish born players from the clubs of the Australian Rules Football League of Ireland.
The team is notable as taking the Atlantic Alliance Cup undefeated in 2001 to become European champions before also taking the 2002 International Cup undefeated to become international champions.
While the team has since been joined in recent years with the emergence of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, it remains in the top five nations in the sport. Ireland's form has been largely unpredictable due to the availability of experienced Gaelic footballers in its playing pool. The Irish team has been a finalist in all AFL International Cups, winning two.
Identity
The team was first nicknamed "Fianna na hÉireann" after a band of heroic warriors in Irish mythology. In 2005, it was renamed the "Green Machine".The team wears a green guernsey with a Celtic strip featuring the Irish harp symbol.
History
The Irish team won the Atlantic Alliance Cup in 2001 to become the northern hemisphere champions.In the following year, the team participated in the inaugural Australian Football International Cup and finished first, leaving the competition as international champions. The team benefitted from the availability of several Gaelic football players.
In 2005, Ireland finished 4th. An increasingly competitive New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the United States of America finished ahead of Ireland and the team suffered from injury and the Gaelic Athletic Association discouraging the use of Gaelic players.
The Green Machine's best and fairest player is Mike Finn.
Recently the national team played a curtain raiser at the West Coast Eagles vs Fremantle exhibition match at the Oval in London where they beat the British Bulldogs.
The Warriors finished 4th again at the 2008 Australian Football International Cup and the best and fairest player was once again Mike Finn. Three Irish players were selected in the All-International team.
The Warriors won the inaugural European Championships in 2010 defeating Denmark in the final 11.2 to 8.3. Warriors captain Cian Quigley was named Best on Ground in the final. Three Irish players were named on the Team of the Tournament
In 2011 the Warriors won the 4th International Cup beating PNG 8.5 to 5.5. Mike Finn was named Best on Ground in the final. Three Irish players were selected in the All-International team.
Test results
| Year | Result | Venue |
| 2005 | Ireland 8.9. defeated Great Britain 5.6. | London, UK |
| 2006 | Ireland defeated Great Britain | London, UK |
| 2007 | Great Britain 11.15 defeated Ireland 2.9 | Dublin, Ireland |
| 2009 | Ireland 8.6 defeated Great Britain 4.9 | Dublin, Ireland |
International honours
| Year | Atlantic Alliance Cup | Coach | Manager |
| 2001: 1st | Michael Johnson, Shane O'Laughlin, Dominic O'Laughlin, Dermot O'Laughlin, Michael Currane, Fergal Bradshaw, Joe Cunnane, Aaron Flood, Derek Mulligan, Alan Kelly, Denis Reidy, Fergal Killoury, Diarmuid Griffin, Liam O'Connor, Brian Currane, Derek Collentine, Alan Coomey, Emmet Humphries, Declan Cotter, Steve Brennan, Kieran Brennan, Paul Crowley, James McCartan, Junior, Will Hayes, Robert Toal, David Walsh RESULTS: IRE 18.16 d. GB 2.3, IRE 9.9 d. USA 4.5, IRE 8.9 d. DEN 1.4, IRE 7.21 d. CAN 1.5 *FINAL: IRE 6.12 d. DEN 3.1 | Darren Fitzpatrick | Dave Tierney |
| Year | Australian Football International Cup | Coach | Manager |
| 2002: 1st | Michael Johnson, Neil McFlynn, Donal Boylan, Dualtach Johnson, Barry Denham, Ryan McFlynn, Michael Currane, Fergal Bradshaw, Joe Cunnane, Aaron Flood, Derek Mulligan, Alan Kelly, Denis Reidy, Fergal Killoury, Diarmuid Griffin, Gary Lane, Liam O'Connor, Brian Currane, Declan O'Sullivan, Paul Kiely, John Lack O'Sullivan, Alan Coomey, Emmet Humphries, Declan Cotter, Brian Shortall, Seán McPhillips, Brian Boyle, David Stynes, Damien Burns. RESULTS: IRE 7.14 def CAN 4.7, IRE 5.6 def SAM 4.5, IRE 7.7 d. USA 6.3, IRE 15.8 def SA 3.3, IRE 4.10 def NZ 3.2 *FINAL: IRE 7.9 def PNG 2.7 | Darren Fitzpatrick | Damien Cassidy |
| 2005: 4th | Mark Ryan, Dennis Goggin, Phillip Whelan, James Flavin, Ciaran Drummey, Declan Drummey, John Enright, John Fahy, Seán Fallon, Dennis Kenelly, Gerrard Johnston, Ronan Johnston, Ciaran Keegan, Pat Leavy, Diarmuid Griffin, Shaun McElhone, Brian O'Connell, Clifford Richardson, Darragh O'Hagan, Paul O'Mahoney, Rory Rafter, David Whelan, Ian O'Sullivan, Derek Troy, Mark Kilgallon, Cian Quigley, Mike Finn, David Stynes, Ruairi Convery RESULTS: IRE 4.7 def CAN 3.5, USA 2.5 def IRE 1.7, IRE 10.9 def SA 1.4, IRE 7.11 def Japan 1.0, PNG 5.4 def IRE 3.7, USA 10.5 def IRE 4.6 | Krizan Vekic | Diarmuid O Riain |
| 2008: 4th | Seán Fallon, Ray Colleran, Clifford Richardson, Garret Kelleher, Alan Lavin, Joe Cunnane, Padraig Hannon, Cian Quigley, Mike Finn, David Lally, John Enright, Michael Currane, Paul O'Mahony, Patrick Leavy, Diarmuid Griffin, Ray Saurin, Ian O'Sullivan Paddy Gibbs, Brian O'Connell, Denis Goggin, James Flavin, Alan Tierney, James O'Byrne, Stephen Keegan, David Walsh, Alex Whooley, Brian Currane, Liam Twoomey, Daire Ó hAodhagáin, Martin Ruane, Ciarán Keegan RESULTS: SA 4.9 def IRE 5.2, NZ 8.9 def IRE 2.3, IRE 4.6 def CAN l2.2, IRE 13.20 def FIN 0.0, IRE 12.12 def SWE 1.0 | Roger Clarke | Ciarán Ó Headhra Paul Ryan |
| 2011: 1st | Cian Quigley, Aidan Hickey, Clifford Richardson, Fergal McManus, John Heslin, Joe Cunnane, Paul Sharry, Alex Whooley, Mike Finn, Fearghal Purcell, John Enright, Darren Sheils, Barry Holland, Roch Hanmore, Philip Bredin, David McElhone, Larry Kavanagh, Manus Breathnach, Eoin Ó Súileabháin, Niall McDonagh, Joe Rocks, James Flavin, David Coffey, James O'Byrne, Seán McGuinness, John Tierney, Gerard Walls, Kevin O'Brien, Alan Coomey, David Stynes, Michael Carey, Brendan Nannery, Gerard Lenihan RESULTS: IRE 14.9 def. East Timor 0.0, IRE 8.6 d. GB 1.0, IRE 15.14 d. SWE 1.0, IRE 11.6 d. DEN 1.3, IRE 5.16 d. NZ 2.1 *FINAL: IRE 8.5 d. PNG 5.5 | Tom Madigan | Ciarán Ó Headhra |
| 2011: 1st Banshees | Emma Kelly, Ciara McGurk, Aimee-Louise Hazley, Laura Corrigan, Natlie Behan, Marie Keating, Gillian Behan, Nuala O'Hagan,Emma Behan, Claire Cunningham Louise Loughlin, Ashlene Groogan, Fiona Cotter, Kate Fitzsimons, U. McKay, S. Ryan, N. Ryan, A. Sheils, Kerr, Aitken, Tracey RESULTS: IRE 4.7 def CAN 1.2, IRE 19.13 def AUS 0.1, IRE 12.8 def PNG 2.0, IRE 5.5 def USA 2.4 *FINAL IRE 5.9 def CAN 1.2. | Andrew Hickey | Shaun Saurin |