Bonner Set to Open Season Overseas in Ireland

Tagged under: District 12, Gameday Hub, News

Willie McGonigle | August 22, 2023

picture courtesy of Bonnerprendie.com

DREXEL HILL: Traditionally Monsignor Bonner opens their season with an 8-minute walk down Lansdowne Avenue where they battle neighboring Upper Darby High, but 2023 will see the Friars breaking tradition in a big way. On Tuesday the Friars will board a bus for a 25-minute trip They will arrive at Philadelphia International Airport where the will board be on a plane for 7 hours before they touch down in Dublin Ireland which 3,267 miles away from the schools Drexel Hill Campus. The Friars will be taking part in the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) GIFT is part of the Are Lingus College Football Classic which sees Notre Dame taking on the United States Naval Academy. The Friars are one of four teams from the United States taking part, joining Seton Hall Prep (New Jersey) Baylor School (Tennessee) and Community School of Naples (Florida).  Their opponent will be NFL Academy from the UK.

Couple years ago, the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) approached one of their members Dr. John E. Cooke, President of Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast High School about the opportunity to take part in this year’s event. Cook then approached Jack Muldoon about it. At First Muldoon was hesitant about it but then the alumni stepped in and offered to help fundraise for the trip which they did.

When asked about what the trip meant to the school and the program Muldoon said “It’s a testament to our school, the alumni, the people that surround our program, our families.” Muldoon adding “It’s a great thing for us to be able to do this, hopefully the kids benefit and learn from this experience way beyond football.

This once in a lifetime opportunity isn’t lost on any from Bonner-Prendie. “This is truly a great opportunity and a once in a lifetime experience for our student-athletes and community as a whole. For one, many of our students have never been out of Delaware County or the Philadelphia region, let alone on a plane and Europe. And to have the opportunity to play the sport they love against a team from another country in Ireland is something truly special, especially on a global stage before the Notre Dame vs Navy college football classic game. The entire Bonner & Prendie community is very excited about this opportunity as well and have been very supportive once the news was announced that we were invited. A group of our alumni helped raise a majority of the funds that are supporting the trip. We also have a number of families, friends, and alumni who are making the trip to Ireland to see our Friars play. The whole thing is really awesome, and I am looking forward to being part of it as well. Dr Cooke said.

It’s not just the players that are excited for this opportunity Coach Muldoon and he said “I’ve never been to Ireland, I’ve always wanted to go there.”

While in Ireland the Friars will be mixing some education with pleasure. They will be getting a tour of a castle but will also be able to take part in the festivities surrounding the Norte Dame-Navy game.

For the trip the Friars will be bringing a total of 45 of the 65 players on their roster with them. Among them is rising Sophomore Cornerback Dylan Abram. Abram has already drawn Division 1 offers from Penn State, Boston College, Temple and Virginia Tech is one of those that will be leaving the United States for the first time “It means a lot its my first time being out of the country.” Abram said adding “It’s most exciting going on with the team, bonding with my brothers overseas.” Abram also added that he feels the team was a little more motivated this off-season with the up-coming trip. To mark the special trip the Friars will be debuting new green jerseys. Kick off of the game against NFL Academy is scheduled for Friday at Noon Ireland time or 7 am EST

Dylan Abram shows off the new Green Jerseys that Bonner will wear in Ireland picture from Bonner Football Facebook

The Friars return to the United States on Monday August 29 where they will enjoy a bye week before returning back to action on September 8 when they host Delaware Power Salesianum.

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