Shamrock Bowl

This article is about the current AFI Championship Game. For the historical AAFC game, see All-America Football Conference All-Star Game.

Shamrock Bowl
SportAmerican Football
Awarded forPlayoff champion of American Football Ireland (AFI)
CountryRepublic of Ireland, Northern Ireland
History
First award1986
First winnerCraigavon Cowboys
Most winsDublin Rebels (10)
Most recentBelfast Trojans (6th)

The Shamrock Bowl is the championship game of the American Football Ireland (AFI), the highest level of American football on the island of Ireland, culminating a season that begins in March of the current calendar season. The Shamrock Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, similar to the Super Bowl.

The reigning champions are the Belfast Trojans, who beat UCD 27-0 at Dubarry Park to win Shamrock Bowl XXXVII.[1]

History

From 1986 to 1999, the Shamrock Bowl served as the championship game of the Irish American Football League (IAFL). This era was dominated by a handful of teams—namely the Craigavon Cowboys, Dublin Celts, Dublin Tornadoes, and Carrickfergus Knights—with at least one of these four teams appearing in every final and each securing multiple titles.[2]

Following the re-establishment of the competition under the Irish American Football Association (since rebranded as American Football Ireland) in 2001, the landscape of the Shamrock Bowl shifted. This modern era has been defined by the dominance of several programs, most notably the Dublin Rebels, who have secured a record 10 titles, and the Belfast Trojans, who have claimed the championship 6 times.

The format of the American Football Ireland (AFI) playoffs has varied over the years but generally involves the top-ranked teams from the Premier Division competing in a postseason bracket. As of 2025, the current format features a four-team playoff, with semifinal matches hosted at the home fields of the top two seeds. The winners advance to the Shamrock Bowl, which is played at a neutral venue as part of a triple-header championship event that also includes the Division 1 Harp Bowl and the women's flag football Claddagh Bowl.[3][4][5]

Results

No. Year Date Winner Result Runner-up Venue MVP Position References
I 1986 5 October 1986 Craigavon Cowboys 6–2 Dublin Celts St Mary's RFC Templeville road Dublin Nigel Trimble Running back [6][7][8][9]
II 1987 Dublin Celts 43–25 Craigavon Cowboys North RFC Belfast [6][7]
III 1988 Dublin Celts 34–6 Belfast Blitzers Terenure College RFC [6][7]
IV 1989 5 November 1989 Dublin Celts 7–6 Antrim Bulldogs Musgrave Park Belfast [6][7][8]
V 1990 1 September 1990 Dublin Celts 26-6 Craigavon Cowboys Goodyear sports and conference centre, Craigavon [6][7]
VI 1991 Dublin Celts 44–0 Antrim Bulldogs Drogheda RFC Drogheda Co. Louth [6][7]
VII 1992 Craigavon Cowboys 14–6 Antrim Bulldogs Cooke Rugby Club, Belfast [6][7]
VIII 1993 Dublin Tornadoes 22–2 Dublin Celts Iveagh Grounds [6][7]
IX 1994 Dublin Tornadoes 21–15 Carrickfergus Knights Pat Jennings Park, Newry, Co Down [6][7]
X 1995 Dublin Tornadoes 34–12 Carrickfergus Knights Islandbridge, Dublin Tornadoes offensive line (shared) Offensive line [6][7][8]
XI 1996 Dublin Lightning 26–8 Dublin Tornadoes St. Marys RFC, Dublin [6][7]
XII 1997 Carrickfergus Knights 21–0 Dublin Bulls Queens University Belfast [6][7]
XIII 1998 30 August 1998 Carrickfergus Knights 22–14 Dublin Tigers Woodburn Playing Fields, Carrickfergus [6][7]
XIV 1999 29 August 1999 Dublin Tigers 22–6 Carrickfergus Knights Sportslink, Santry, Dublin [6][7]
— 2000 not played [6][7]
XV 2001 16 December 2001 Dublin Rebels 28–7 Carrickfergus Knights Woodburn Playing Fields, Carrickfergus Brian Dennehy Running back [6][7]
XVI 2002 16 June 2002 Carrickfergus Knights 66–0 UL Vikings University Bowl, Limerick [6][7]
XVII 2003 10 August 2003 Dublin Rebels 24–12 Carrickfergus Knights JJ McDowell Memorial Ground, Dublin Brian Dennehy Running back [6][7][8]
XVIII 2004 29 August 2004 Dublin Rebels 24–22 Carrickfergus Knights Dr. Hickey Park, Greystones [6][7]
XIX 2005 28 August 2005 Dublin Rebels 26–19 Belfast Bulls Grafton Arena, Deramore Park, Belfast Andrew Dennehy Quarterback [6][7]
XX 2006 20 August 2006 Dublin Rebels 44–12 UL Vikings Sportslink, Dublin Ross McCooey Linebacker [6][7]
XXI 2007 29 July 2007 UL Vikings 22–14 Cork Admirals UL Sports Ground, Limerick Seamus Hogan Running Back/Safety [6][7][8]
XXII 2008 10 August 2008 UL Vikings 14–12 Dublin Rebels CIT Stadium, Cork Adrian Garvey Running Back [6][7][8]
XXIII 2009 9 August 2009 UL Vikings 9–6(OT) Dublin Rebels Cooke Rugby Club, Belfast Adrian Garvey Running Back [6][7]
XXIV 2010 7 August 2010 Dublin Rebels 15–0 UL Vikings Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Brian Carter Safety [6][7]
XXV 2011 31 July 2011 Dublin Rebels 14–13 UL Vikings Morton Stadium, Dublin Marcus Naylor Safety [6][7]
XXVI 2012 14 July 2012 Belfast Trojans 16–14 UL Vikings Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Neil Mongomery Fullback [6][7]
XXVII 2013 20 July 2013 Belfast Trojans 48–18 Dublin Rebels Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Neil Montgomery Fullback [6][7]
XXVIII 2014 10 August 2014 Belfast Trojans 7–0 Trinity College Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Connor Whitla Linebacker [6][7]
XXIX 2015 9 August 2015 Belfast Trojans 28–14 Trinity College Dalymount Park, Dublin Dave Colvin Running Back [6][7]
XXX 2016 7 August 2016 Dublin Rebels 12–7 Belfast Trojans Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Conrad Cook Linebacker [6][7]
XXXI 2017 13 August 2017 Dublin Rebels 12–6 Carrickfergus Knights Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Wellington Omorodion Running Back [6][7]
XXXII 2018 19 August 2018 Cork Admirals 18–16 Dublin Rebels Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Harris Monaghan Linebacker [6][7]
XXXIII 2019 4 August 2019 Belfast Trojans 24–10 South Dublin Panthers Energia Park, Donnybrook, Dublin Thomas Morris Wide receiver [6][7]
— 2020 not played [6][7]
— 2021 not played [6]
XXXIV 2022 7 August 2022 UCD American Football 52–24 Dublin Rebels Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Tom Donovan Wide receiver [6][10]
XXXV 2023 16 July 2023 Dublin Rebels 40–34 UCD American Football MTU Stadium, Cork Ty Henry Quarterback [6][11]
XXXVI 2024 28 July 2024 UCD American Football 36–14 Dublin Rebels Dubarry Park, Athlone, Westmeath Tom Donovan Wide receiver [6][12]
XXXVII 2025 19 July 2025 Belfast Trojans 27–0 UCD American Football Dubarry Park, Athlone, Westmeath Rayshawn Boswell Running Back [5][13][14]

Appearances by team

Appearances Team[note 1] Wins Losses Season(s)[note 2]
16 Dublin Rebels 10 6 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024
10 Carrickfergus Knights 3 7 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2017
8 UL Vikings 3 5 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
7 Belfast Trojans 6 1 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2025
7 Dublin Celts 4 3 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993
4 Dublin Tornadoes 3 1 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
4 Craigavon Cowboys 3 1 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992
4 UCD American Football 2 2 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
3 Antrim Bulldogs 0 3 1989, 1991, 1992
2 Cork Admirals 1 1 2007, 2018
2 Dublin Tigers 1 1 1998, 1999
2 Trinity College 0 2 2014, 2015
1 Dublin Lightning 1 0 1996
1 Belfast Blitzers 0 1 1988
1 Dublin Bulls 0 1 1997
1 Belfast Bulls 0 1 2005
1 South Dublin Panthers 0 1 2019

Notes

  1. ^ Bold indicate currently active team
  2. ^ Bold years indicate winning seasons, italic years indicate games not yet played.

References

  1. ^ "The 2025 champions have been decided". American Football Ireland. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  2. ^ Journey to Thirty – American Football Ireland
  3. ^ "2025 AFI Season Preview". Gaelic Gridiron. 19 February 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  4. ^ UCP | AFI Weekly | The Road to Athlone is Set! – YouTube
  5. ^ a b AFI Championship Preview – Gaelic Gridiron (14 July 2025)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am "Shamrock Bowl". Luckyshow.org. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai "American Football Ireland Shamrock Bowls 1986–Present". Eirball.ie. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Shamrock Bowls Box-Scores and Match Reports 1986–Present". Eirball.ie. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Craigavon Cowboys Hall of Fame". Craigavon Cowboys. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  10. ^ English, Jimmy (9 August 2022). "Irish American Football 2022 Premier Division Final Power Rankings". Gaelic Gridiron. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  11. ^ English, Jimmy (16 February 2024). "American Football Ireland 2024 Season Preview". Gaelic Gridiron. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  12. ^ English, Jimmy (29 July 2024). "Ireland: University College Dublin capture Shamrock Bowl XXXVI with overwhelming win over Dublin Rebels". American Football International. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  13. ^ "The 2025 champions have been decided". American Football Ireland. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  14. ^ Strange, Mark (20 July 2025). "Belfast Trojans win Shamrock Bowl after victory over UCD". The Irish News. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
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