Players line out in Cork for American football flashmob

Shoppers who thought it was safe to go back into the city centre after the January sale scrums were caught out by a line of scrimmage of a different kind, as Cork’s busiest thoroughfare hosted a flashmob American Football match.

The Cork Admirals took to Patrick St last Saturday week to showcase their American Football skills to the surprise of passing pedestrians — and a video of the resulting guerilla gridiron encounter is now spreading on YouTube.

The club’s flashmob forms part of the promotion of its Superbowl party, which will be held at Dolphin Rugby Club from 8pm this Sunday and promises big screens, food and a carnival atmosphere.

Admirals president Stuart Donaldson said the surprise performance has attracted further interest in a club that has been resurrected in recent years. The club had folded before returning in August 2013. “We had gone through a transitional period where a lot of the older players had moved on and we didn’t have enough players to compete. Last season we put a mostly rookie team together and made it to the IAFL-1 (Irish American Football League) Bowl final,” he said.

“It was a really productive year on and off the pitch for us. We now have 50 players on our panel, have a new home at Dolphin Rugby Club and got new sponsorship from stagparty.ie. We’ve had a really good 18 months.”

It seems that unlike New England star Tom Brady’s footballs, the Cork Admirals’ popularity is on the rise.