Philly Area Football Team Heading To Ireland For International Matchup

DREXEL HILL, PA — A Delaware County Catholic school's football team is heading across the pond for a game against a United Kingdom team next month.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia said the Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School football team is getting ready to participate in the Global Ireland Football Tournament on Friday, Aug. 25.

The Friars Football Team will take on the NFL Academy team from the United Kingdom at Energia Park Stadium in Dublin, home to the Leinster Rugby Club on Aug. 25.

Kickoff is at noon.

"We are extremely proud of our players and what they accomplished this past year and look forward to bringing home a win from Ireland," John E. Cooke, Ed.D., President of Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School, said.

This game is part of the "Dublin Friday Lights" tripleheader event, which will also feature Seton Hall Prep facing Baylor School and the Community School of Naples taking on the Junior Irish Wolfhounds.

The Friars Football Team will hold workouts from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, July 20 in preparation for their international game.

Practices will be held Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School's Turf Field at 403 North Lansdowne Ave. in Drexel Hill.

The Global Ireland Football Tournament 2023 is a part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

This year’s series will feature a game between the University of Notre Dame and the United States Naval Academy on Aug. 26.

The Aer Lingus College Football Classic started in 2012.

Since that time, 20 teams from three countries and eight from the United States, including Father Judge High School, have participated.

In 2022, the Bonner & Prendie Football Team were Philadelphia Catholic League Blue Division Champions, District 12 4A Champions, and advanced to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association 4A State Quarterfinals.

The team is coached by Jack Muldoon, Class of 1975.

Friends and family of the team can purchase packages to attend the Ireland game online here.

Frequently asked questions about the trip are posted online here.