South Dublin Panthers

The South Dublin Panthers, formerly known as the Dublin Dragons, are an American Football team formed in 2001. They compete in American Football Ireland. The team is based in Tymon Park in Dublin. In addition to the senior full-kitted men's team, the Panthers also field sides in youth leagues, co-ed flag football, and a women's team that competes in AFI's Claddagh league. They play their home matches at Westmanstown.^[1]

South Dublin Panthers

Founded	2014
League	American Football Ireland
Based in	Dublin, Ireland
Stadium	Tymon Park / Tallaght
Colors	Navy, Gold and White
Chairman	Ben Arulogun
Head coach	Eoin O'Sullivan

History

The South Dublin Panthers came into being as the Dublin Dragons in 2001, and were rebranded as the South Dublin Panthers in 2014.^[2] In 2018, the Panthers qualified for the Shamrock Bowl playoffs for the first time, losing narrowly in overtime to eventual champions Cork Admirals.^[3] The following year proved more successful, as they defeated the Admirals in the semifinal to qualify for their first Shamrock Bowl final, where they were defeated by the Belfast Trojans 24-10.^[4]

The Panthers women's flag team began play in the inaugural season of the AFI Claddagh League in 2024, and claimed back-to-back national titles in Claddagh Bowls I (2024) and II (2025).^[5][6]

2015

The Panthers began their inaugural season in the SBC North, finishing the season in 4th place in the division ahead of the Belfast Knights.^{[citation needed]}

Shamrock Bowl Conference North Division

Pos	Name	Pts	Win	Loss
1	Belfast Trojans	16	8	0
2	Dublin Rebels	10	5	3
3	Craigavon Cowboys	6	3	5
4	South Dublin Panthers	4	2	6
5	Carrickfergus Knights	4	2	6

Results

Date	Away	Score	Home	Result
15-03-2015	Belfast Trojans	33 - 8	South Dublin Panthers	L
29-03-2015	South Dublin Panthers	2 - 7	Trinity College Dublin	L
12-04-2015	South Dublin Panthers	21 - 0	Carrickfergus Knights	W
26-04-2015	Dublin Rebels	15 - 6	South Dublin Panthers	L
17-05-2015	South Dublin Panthers	14 - 20	Craigavon Cowboys	L
31-05-2015	UCD	8 - 15	South Dublin Panthers	W
21-06-2015	UL Vikings	56 - 0	South Dublin Panthers	L
04-07-2015	South Dublin Panthers	6 - 38	Dublin Rebels	L

2016

The Panthers struggled to build on some of the promise shown in their opening season. With a reduced squad, they failed to register a win in 2016; they again finished 4th in the SBC North Division by virtue of the Craigavon Cowboys being deducted points and relegated. The close of the 2016 season saw the departure of John Romanoski as head coach, along with most of the coaching staff. The offensive coordinator, Stephen McDonnell, was promoted to the position of head coach.^{[citation needed]}

Shamrock Bowl Conference North Division

Pos	Name	Pts	Win	Loss
1	Dublin Rebels	14	7	1
2	Belfast Trojans	12	6	2
3	Carrickfergus Knights	12	6	2
4	South Dublin Panthers	0	0	8
5	Craigavon Cowboys	-1	1	7

Results

Date	Away	Score	Home	Result
20-03-2016	Carrickfergus Knights	14 - 0	South Dublin Panthers	L
03-04-2016	South Dublin Panthers	6 - 60	Dublin Rebels	L
24-04-2016	Belfast Trojans	63 - 7	South Dublin Panthers	L
01-05-2016	South Dublin Panthers	0 - 41	Carrickfergus Knights	L
22-05-2016	Dublin Rebels	50 - 6	South Dublin Panthers	L
29-05-2016	South Dublin Panthers	0 - 25	UCD	L
12-06-2016	Craigavon Cowboys	51 - 0	South Dublin Panthers	L
26-06-2016	South Dublin Panthers	0 - 20	North Kildare Reapers	L

2017

The Panthers opened 2017 with their new head coach and an increased squad size.^{[citation needed]}

Results

Date	Away	Score	Home	Result
26-03-2017	Carrickfergus Knights	7 - 12	South Dublin Panthers	W
02-04-2017	South Dublin Panthers	34 - 48	UCD	L
23-04-2017	Trinity College Dublin	24 - 7	South Dublin Panthers	L
07-05-2017	South Dublin Panthers	0 - 9	Belfast Trojans	L
21-05-2017	North Kildare Reapers	0 - 37	South Dublin Panthers	W
28-05-2017	UCD	16 - 0	South Dublin Panthers	L
18-06-2017	South Dublin Panthers	2 - 23	Carrickfergus Knights	L
02-07-2017	South Dublin Panthers	14 - 21	Cork Admrials	L

Shamrock Bowl Conference North Division

Pos	Name	Pts	Win	Loss
1	Carrickfergus Knights	10	5	3
2	Belfast Trojans	8	4	4
3	UCD	4	2	6
4	South Dublin Panthers	4	2	6

2018

The Panthers moved into the Shamrock Bowl Conference South Division for the 2018 season and reached the playoffs for the first time. The season ended after a double overtime loss to the Cork Admirals in the playoffs. One of the most tense and dramatic games of the year saw the Panthers recover a 17-point deficit in the second half, levelling the game with a field goal as the clock hit zero.^{[citation needed]}

Results

Date	Away	Score	Home	Result
15-04-2018	Carrickfergus Knights	3 - 0	South Dublin Panthers	L
22-04-2018	South Dublin Panthers	0 - 27	UL Vikings	L
06-05-2018	South Dublin Panthers	15 - 3	Louth Mavericks	W
20-05-2018	South Dublin Panthers	0 - 48	Belfast Trojans	L
27-05-2018	Cork Admrials	14 - 0	South Dublin Panthers	L
01-07-2018	South Dublin Panthers	20 - 9	Cork Admrials	W
07-07-2018	Louth Mavericks	0 - 32	South Dublin Panthers	W
15-07-2018	Dublin Rebels	46 - 0	South Dublin Panthers	L

Shamrock Bowl Conference South Division

Pos	Name	Pts	Win	Loss
1	Dublin Rebels	12	6	2
2	Cork Admrials	10	5	3
3	South Dublin Panthers	6	3	5
4	UL Vikings	4	2	6

Shamrock Bowl Playoffs 2018 Wild Card Round

Date	Away	Score	Home	Result
22-07-2018	South Dublin Panthers	24 - 31	Cork Admrials	L (2OT)

2019

The Panthers competed in the new restructured Shamrock Bowl Conference vying to improve on their 2018 performance and playoff position. 2019 was a record setting year, with the Panthers eclipsing their best ever offensive points scored (160), points allowed (138), rushing touchdowns (10) and passing touchdowns (11). It was also the first ever time the Panthers had qualified for the SBC Semi-Final as part of the 4 best teams in the country.^{[citation needed]}

The Panthers first ever youth team made it to the playoffs in their inaugural season.

Adult Team

Regular season

Date	Away	Score	Home	Result
23-3-2019	Dublin Rebels	6-7	South Dublin Panthers	W
31-3-2019	South Dublin Panthers	14-20	Cork Admirals	L
28-4-2019	South Dublin Panthers	30-13	Belfast Knights	W
12-5-2019	West Dublin Rhinos	13-35	South Dublin Panthers	W
19-5-2019	Belfast Knights	20-24	South Dublin Panthers	W
9-6-2019	South Dublin Panthers	16-26	Belfast Trojans	L
23-6-2019	South Dublin Panthers	27-30	UCD	L
7-7-2019	UL Vikings	10-7	South Dublin Panthers	L

Shamrock Bowl Conference

Pos	Name	Pts	Won	Loss	Tie
1	Cork Admirals	15	7	0	1
2	Belfast Trojans	13	6	1	1
3	UCD	11	5	2	1
4	South Dublin Panthers	8	4	4	0
5	UL Vikings	5	3	5	0
6	Dublin Rebels	4	2	6	0
7	West Dublin Rhinos	4	2	6	0
8	Belfast Knights	3	1	6	1

Playoffs

Semi-final

Date	Away	Score	Home	Result
21-7-2019	South Dublin Panthers	21-6	Cork Admirals	W

The Panthers beat the previously unbeaten Cork Admirals in the SBC Semi Finals. It was a comprehensive victory with two scores on the ground courtesy of running back Ben Arulogun and one through the air as QB Ian Cahill found Eoin Neville in the back corner of the end zone. The Admirals were heavily favoured, and the Panthers upset win advanced them to their first appearance in the Shamrock Bowl.

Shamrock Bowl

Date	Away	Score	Home	Result
4-8-2019	South Dublin Panthers	10-24	Belfast Trojans	L

Academy Team

2019 was the first season of the South Dublin Panthers Academy Program.

Regular season

Date	Away	Score	Home	Result
6-10-2019	Dublin Rebels	0-30	South Dublin Panthers	W
6-10-2019	South Dublin Panthers	12-39	Cork Admirals	L
13-10-2019	Antrim Jets	0-26	South Dublin Panthers	W
13-10-2019	South Dublin Panthers	20-35	Belfast Knights	L

Playoffs

Date	Round	Away	Score	Home	Result
20-10-2019	Semi Final	South Dublin Panthers	6-26	Cork Admirals	L

2020

The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

2021

Adult

There was no competitive adult football in 2021 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Academy

Regular season

Date	Away	Score	Home	Result
18-9-2021	Belfast Knights	0-30	South Dublin Panthers	W
18-9-2021	South Dublin Panthers	30-0	Cill Dara Crusaders	W
9-10-2021	South Dublin Panthers	6-20	Cork Admirals	L
9-10-2021	Belfast Knights	8-36	South Dublin Panthers	W