'Gaelic football was massive help' - Cork school Roco win dream USA trip to represent Ireland in NFL Flag

A new experiment with playing American football in PE has won a Cork school a trip to the States.

All-Ireland NFL Flag Championship 2025 Winners: St Francis College, Rochestown

A new experiment with playing American football in PE has won a Cork school a dream trip to the USA to represent Ireland. 

St Francis College PE teachers Tadgh Linehan and Stephen Bermingham introduced 'flag football' — the non-contact version of gridiron — this term, as a novel means of encouraging different movement skills in the Rochestown school.

The Roco boys loved playing out their Red Zone fantasies every week and Linehan spotted the U15 competition run by the NFL across international territories — with an enticing prize on offer for the Irish champions. 

"The lads kind of took to it in PE. And then we heard what was at stake with the prize — an all-expenses-paid trip to the States.

"We're a boys school, we've got around 700 lads to choose from and we've some very good athletes, so we decided to go all out for it over the last six or seven weeks. 

"Initially we had about 60, 65 lads come to tryouts for the team. Over two or three weeks, we got that down to 18. And then in the last week or so we had to get it down to the 10 who went to Dublin."

NFL Flag is an official NFL programme, played in more than 100 countries and will make its Olympic debut at the LA Games in 2028. As well as being safer, it's regarded as an affordable form of the sport, with minimal special equipment needed. 

The teachers couldn't count on much experience in their ranks, but found GAA, soccer and rugby skills pretty transferrable to the flag football arena.

"Nobody really had any experience. They watch American football on TV, they might have played it on PlayStation. We have a few soccer players, hurlers, our quarterback is a rugby player.  And the Gaelic football, obviously, is a massive help.

"Our running back Liam Burre plays hurling and basketball. He's very good within that five-yard space, good movement. Our wide receivers, Ben Senga and Sam Bruton, are both very good athletes in general, but football and soccer are their main sports."

Their coaches couldn't draw on much knowhow either — Tadhg coaches basketball, Stephen soccer. But with some help from local American football team Cork Admirals, they drew up a few plays that the boys practised at lunchtimes and knuckled down to training three times a week for the last month. 

And with clear eyes and full hearts, the Cork lads suddenly found they couldn't lose when they arrived in the Sport Ireland National Indoor Complex at Abbotstown on Thursday. 

As the only Munster entrants, Linehan feared they were going in raw against schools who had come through provincial championships. 

"In our group, we were facing the winners of Leinster and the Ulster winners, which was daunting. But we won fairly comfortably. We actually didn't concede a touchdown until the final. 

"Sam and Ben were constant threats offensively while Dylan Hourihane played incredibly well on defence with six interceptions and a touchdown in the first two games.

"Then in the semi-final, we played against the runners-up in Leinster and came through 20-0, but the final against Claregalway was a nailbiter. We won by one point in the end, 13-12.

"Cillian McClafferty scored the winning touchdown and extra-point conversion to take us into the lead and Padraig O'Flynn caught an interception soon after to secure the win, both lads stepping up massively and playing their roles as captains extremely well.

"While Liam was recognised as one of the standout performers on the day, winning an MVP award.

"All the lads were over the moon."

In all, 60 schools (35 primary and 25 post-primary) took part this year, with more than 4,500 boys and girls involved. St Marnock's National School, Portmarnock, won the U13 event and are also off to the USA next year for the International Championship, held in conjuction with the 2026 Pro Bowl.

The venue for the international U15 event, likely next July, isn't yet confirmed but 10 Roco boys and three teachers can start making sure their passports are in order. 

"This was the first proper All-Ireland. Last year it was only Dublin schools involved. And the winners went to Ohio. 

"It's unbelievable for the lads, especially as there will be no cost at all. There was great excitement."

Last year's event at the Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio was streamed across ESPN and Disney, with 3,000 players and 300 teams from across the world, including 32 representing each NFL club. 

So the boys can add learning new plays to their curriculums before next summer.

"The lads are sitting exams next week, so we'll give them next week off and let them enjoy the success now for a while. They put a lot of work into it over the last few weeks.  

"But we'll definitely be getting the coaches from Cork Admirals back in. Those sessions were really beneficial.

"And hopefully we'll hear before Christmas where we'll be going next year. The lads can't wait. It's unreal." 

NFL Head of Youth Football and Grassroots Development, Dr. Chris Long, said: “The standard of competition at this year’s national championship was incredibly high, with all participants showcasing tremendous skill and teamwork. A special congratulations to our 2025 NFL Flag All-Ireland National champions.” 

St Francis College, Rochestown: Cillian McClafferty (centre) Captain Pádraig O'Flynn (Linebacker) Captain Isaac Lynch (quarterback), Liam Burre (running back), Ben Senga (wide receiver), Sam Bruton (wide receiver), Dylan Hourihane (safety), Thomas Mulconry (centre), Alfie O'Leary (running back) Fionn O'Flaherty (blitzer)