The 2007 IAFL season promises to be even more tightly contested than last years exciting league. 9 teams are set to compete for the Shamrock bowl crown. New sides the Tallaght Outlaws and Belfast Trojans will bring a fresh look to the league tables this year.

The format of the season has been changed with the league being divided into three regional Divisions as follows:

IAFL North: Belfast Bulls, Belfast Trojans, Carrickfergus Knights.
IAFL Central: DCU Saints, Dublin Dragons, Dublin Rebels.
IAFL South: Cork Admirals, Tallaght Outlaws, Univ Limerick Vikings.

The three Division winners plus 2 wildcard teams will qualify for the play-offs. Each team will play 8 regular season games – their 2 Divisional rivals on a home and away basis plus 4 teams from the other Divsions. The season has also being compacted with the number of fixtures played in most weeks being increased from 2 to 3. This has the effect of shortening the season by approximately 5 weeks, but with teams still playing the same number of regular seasons games. As a result, the Shamrock Bowl final will now be in July rather than August. Team managers prefer to have their sides playing most weekends as they feel that gaps in the schedule can interrupt their rhythm.

Dublin Rebels
Winners of the last 4 Shamrock Bowls the Rebels are a strong physical side with a good team unity. Quarterback and former Shamrock Bowl MVP Andy Dennehy directs a balance offense. His favourite target is tall receiver Carl Faichney, who scored 68 points in 2006, tops in the league. Sam Hodgins and Simon Mackey are tough runners. Experienced veteran Marcus Naylor and Steve Archibald lead an aggressive defense, linebacker Ross McCooey was Shamrock Bowl MVP last year. The Rebels won all their games last season and look like the team to beat again this year, not having lost a game since early 2005.

U.L. Vikings
Last years losing finalists the Vikings are a young fast athletic team. Liam Ryan and Danny Smith are two of the leagues best defensive backs. Glen Carr is a big target at tight-end in the Limerick offense, which has been effective both on the ground, behind running of Andy Gordon, and through the air in recent seasons. The Vikings had their first winning season since 2002 last year and should compete in the playoffs again next year.

Carrickfergus Knights
The Knights are perhaps the most experienced team in the league. They are regular Shamrock Bowl finalists. Quarterback Adam Devenney directs the Knights attack, Paul McKillop is a good receiver and has scored highly in his IAFL career. Dave Wright is a very effective ball carrier. Mark Pollock is a solid contributor on the outside of the Carrick defense. After losing at the semi final stage the past two seasons the Knights will be motivated to return to the Shamrock Bowl next season.

Cork Admirals
The Cork Admirals made the playoffs in 2006 but fell to eventual champions the Dublin Rebels. The Cork outfit will look to improve on last years 4-3-1 regular season record which was the clubs first winning season. Many of last years squad will have learned from their rookie season, and with an injection of new talent this winter the Admirals hopes are high. On offense David Lomasney starts his third season at Quarterback, and should continue improving as he showed last season, throwing ten touchdown passes and only two interceptions all season. Keith O'Callaghan, Alain Pezeron and Shane Galway are three of the Admirals backfield contingent, and combined for 120 points last season. Dominic McHale leads a group of receivers including new rookies Dave Barry and Kyle Smith. High scoring tight-end High McBratney completes the receiving corps. Rob Hennessey and Chris Gaughan anchor the left side of the offensive line. Marcus Gates and Paul Buchanan provide experience up front on defense. Willy O'Brien, Ibrahim Khadra and Dave Twohig are all second year linebackers. Peter Lucey. Barry Rafferty and 2006 Rookie of the year John O'Sullivan man the defensive secondary.

Dublin Dragons
The Lucan based Dragons use a power running attack on offense, directed by qurterback John Durrad. On defense they play with a similar no-nonsense attitude. Linebackers Lez Connolly and Nick Newby are two of the linebackers. The Dragons lay a lot of close games, tying two games last season, and are a tough team to beat, especially at home.If the Dragons can win a lot of thesse close games they will be a tough opponent should they reach the playoffs.

Belfast Bulls
The Belfast Bulls were Shamrock Bowl runners up in 2005. The Bulls failed to make the playoffs in 2006 but will compete fiercely next season. Quarterback Mike Calo is both a running and passing threat. Veteran defender Mark Helferty patrols the defensive secondary.

DCU Saints
A rookie team in 2006 the Saints showed some great promise. They competed well even during losses and are encouraged by last years efforts. Dave McMahon and quarteback Conor Buggle give them an elusive backfield. Willy Coyne is a good defender. The Saints should improve on their record from last season.

Tallaght Outlaws
A new team to the 2007 IAFL season, the Outlaws were formed in 2006 by Terry Loughran in ambition to joining the IAFL season. With transfers of experienced IAFL veterans, John Collins, Steven Walsh, Barry Bolton and Dan Breslin the Outlaws hope to supplement a new squad. Nick Scaglia a young Italian QB with experience at US NCAA D3 level in Southern Virginia. He currently plays for the Italian U21 team and Bologna Warriors and joined the Outlaws in February. Dave O'Neill who showed promise in his rookie season will play at receiver. The Outlaws will be led by Coach Ryan Andersen a native of Wisconsin, who also has coaching experience in Finland. The Outlaws will hope to make a splash in their first season.

Belfast Trojans
Another new team in 2007 the Trojans will be a tough physical side. There are several Team Ireland regulars on the defensive side of the ball including Erin Wagner, Warren thompson, Chris Weir and Jay Kay. Joining this solid group are several other experienced players including Rob Styles, Marty Devlin, Karl Ward. The defensive scheme installed will be aggresive and exciting. On the offensive side of the ball James McKelvey, who quarterbacked the Bulls in their 2005 Shamrock Bowl season, is joined at the position by Kai Ruggeri, fresh from playing in Div III in the US. The RB's are led by another Team Ireland regular, Kris Donaghy, who will be joined by Erin Wagner and some talented younger players. The offensive line will be big, strong and experienced with an average weight of 19st and an average of more than 10 years playing experience . The offensive scheme hopes to utilise the many talents on the offensive side of the ball and aims to have good balance in the run and the pass. The Trojans, although a new side, hope to have a strong first year and look forward to competing for a playoff spot.

Team previews curtosy of www.corkadmirals.com