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 Louth Mavericks, who beat the Belfast Trojans 40-16 at Dubarry Park to win Shamrock Bowl XXXVIII on July 18, 2026.

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.Journey to Thirty – American Football Ireland

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.UCP | AFI Weekly | The Road to Athlone is Set! – YouTubeAFI Championship Preview – Gaelic Gridiron (14 July 2025)

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 II 1987 Dublin Celts 43–25 Craigavon Cowboys North RFC Belfast III 1988 Dublin Celts 34–6 Belfast Blitzers Terenure College RFC IV 1989 5 November 1989 Dublin Celts 7–6 Antrim Bulldogs Musgrave Park Belfast VThe 1990 Shamrock Bowl is disputed between the Craigavon Cowboys and the Dublin Celts. In 1990, the Celts elected to play in the second tier of the BAFL as well as playing unofficially against Irish teams. Meanwhile, the Cowboys won the Irish league competition, defeating the Belfast Spartans 31-6 in the final on August 11. At the end of the season, a match was organised between the Cowboys and Celts, which the Celts won 40-0. 1990 11 August 1990 Craigavon Cowboys 31–6 Belfast Spartans Goodyear sports and conference centre, Craigavon 1 September 1990 Dublin Celts 40–0 Craigavon Cowboys Goodyear sports and conference centre, Craigavon VI 1991 Dublin Celts 44–0 Antrim Bulldogs Drogheda RFC Drogheda Co. Louth VII 1992 Craigavon Cowboys 14–6 Antrim Bulldogs Cooke Rugby Club, Belfast VIII 1993 Dublin Tornadoes 22–2 Dublin Celts Iveagh Grounds IX 1994 Dublin Tornadoes 21–15 Carrickfergus Knights Pat Jennings Park, Newry, Co Down X 1995 Dublin Tornadoes 34–12 Carrickfergus Knights Islandbridge, Dublin Tornadoes offensive line (shared) Offensive line XI 1996 Dublin Lightning 26–8 Dublin Tornadoes St. Marys RFC, Dublin XII 1997 Carrickfergus Knights 21–0 Dublin Bulls Queens University Belfast XIII 1998 30 August 1998 Carrickfergus Knights 22–14 Dublin Tigers Woodburn Playing Fields, Carrickfergus XIV 1999 29 August 1999 Dublin Tigers 22–6 Carrickfergus Knights Sportslink, Santry, Dublin 2000 not played XV 2001 16 December 2001 Dublin Rebels 28–7 Carrickfergus Knights Woodburn Playing Fields, Carrickfergus Brian Dennehy Running back XVI 2002 16 June 2002 Carrickfergus Knights 66–0 UL Vikings University Bowl, Limerick XVII 2003 10 August 2003 Dublin Rebels 24–12 Carrickfergus Knights JJ McDowell Memorial Ground, Dublin Brian Dennehy Running back XVIII 2004 29 August 2004 Dublin Rebels 24–22 Carrickfergus Knights Dr. Hickey Park, Greystones XIX 2005 28 August 2005 Dublin Rebels 26–19 Belfast Bulls Grafton Arena, Deramore Park, Belfast Andrew Dennehy Quarterback XX 2006 20 August 2006 Dublin Rebels 44–12 UL Vikings Sportslink, Dublin Ross McCooey Linebacker XXI 2007 29 July 2007 UL Vikings 22–14 Cork Admirals UL Sports Ground, Limerick Seamus Hogan Running Back/Safety XXII 2008 10 August 2008 UL Vikings 14–12 Dublin Rebels CIT Stadium, Cork Adrian Garvey Running Back XXIII 2009 9 August 2009 UL Vikings 9–6(OT) Dublin Rebels Cooke Rugby Club, Belfast Adrian Garvey Running Back XXIV 2010 7 August 2010 Dublin Rebels 15–0 UL Vikings Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Brian Carter Safety XXV 2011 31 July 2011 Dublin Rebels 14–13 UL Vikings Morton Stadium, Dublin Marcus Naylor Safety XXVI 2012 14 July 2012 Belfast Trojans 16–14 UL Vikings Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Neil Mongomery Fullback XXVII 2013 20 July 2013 Belfast Trojans 48–18 Dublin Rebels Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Neil Montgomery Fullback XXVIII 2014 10 August 2014 Belfast Trojans 7–0 Trinity College Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Connor Whitla Linebacker XXIX 2015 9 August 2015 Belfast Trojans 28–14 Trinity College Dalymount Park, Dublin Dave Colvin Running Back XXX 2016 7 August 2016 Dublin Rebels 12–7 Belfast Trojans Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Conrad Cook Linebacker XXXI 2017 13 August 2017 Dublin Rebels 12–6 Carrickfergus Knights Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Wellington Omorodion Running Back XXXII 2018 19 August 2018 Cork Admirals 18–16 Dublin Rebels Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Harris Monaghan Linebacker XXXIII 2019 4 August 2019Belfast Trojans 24–10 South Dublin Panthers Energia Park, Donnybrook, Dublin Thomas Morris Wide receiver 2020 not played 2021 not played XXXIV 2022 7 August 2022 UCD American Football 52–24 Dublin Rebels Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Tom Donovan Wide receiver XXXV 2023 16 July 2023 Dublin Rebels 40–34 UCD American Football MTU Stadium, Cork Ty Henry Quarterback XXXVI 2024 28 July 2024 UCD American Football 36–14 Dublin Rebels Dubarry Park, Athlone, Westmeath Tom Donovan Wide receiver XXXVII 2025 19 July 2025 Belfast Trojans 27–0 UCD American Football Dubarry Park, Athlone, Westmeath Rayshawn Boswell Running Back XXXVIII 2026 18 July 2026 Louth Mavericks 40–16 Belfast Trojans Dubarry Park, Athlone, Westmeath Oisin Finn Wide receiver

Appearances by team AppearancesTeamBold indicate currently active teamWinsLossesSeason(s)Bold years indicate winning seasons, italic years indicate games not yet played.16Dublin Rebels1062001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 202410Carrickfergus Knights371994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 20178UL Vikings352002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 20128Belfast Trojans622012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2025, 20267Dublin Celts521986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 19934Dublin Tornadoes311993, 1994, 1995, 19964Craigavon Cowboys311986, 1987, 1990, 19924UCD American Football222022, 2023, 2024, 20253Antrim Bulldogs031989, 1991, 19922Cork Admirals112007, 20182Dublin Tigers111998, 19992Trinity College022014, 20151Dublin Lightning1019961Louth Mavericks1020261Belfast Blitzers0119881Dublin Bulls0119971Belfast Bulls0120051South Dublin Panthers012019

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References

External links AFI official website