After a blip the year before, the Dublin Rebels resumed their form to challenge the Knights for the title, much like the 2001 season. And, as in the 2001 season, both teams split league victories against each other with the Knights marginally winning the league, but the Rebels again winning the one that counted, Shamrock Bowl XXVII.

The season opened with most important league game of the season, home to the Rebels. Both teams showed many signs of early season rust, with the Knights eventually able to create a few big plays in the second half to win it. The Knights travelled to both Dublin Dragons and the Cork Admirals to secure convincing wins, but were very disappointed to find that neither team travelled north for the return game, both blaming an insurmountable injury list. The return game against the Rebels in Dublin was another close affair, the Rebels winning 12-7 and setting up a much anticipated season finale. The Knights qualified directly for the Shamrock Bowl as league winners, and the Rebels beat the 3rd place Cork Admirals comfortably in the single playoff game.

The Charleroi Trophy was a welcome mid-season distraction as the Knights travelled to Belgium for a 2 day, 4 team tournament. The Knights qualified for the tournament as current Shamrock Bowl champions, with the Rebels also attending as current Trophy winners. The Knights played the hosts, the Charleroi Cougars, in the semi-final and seemed to be the most likely winners, moving the ball much better than their opponents. However, the offense somehow failed to score all game, with repeated horrific failures to score from first and goal situations. The Cougars scored on a fortunate catch of a deflected pass on a long bomb just before halftime, the only time they threatened the Knights' endzone. The Cougar's won 8-6, with the Knights' only score coming from a punt return. A 3rd/4th place game was played against the French side, Celtes de Mitry. Both teams were beaten up after the previous game, on the solid and dusty pitch, but the Knights won comfortably thanks to an early 75 yard touchdown pass (one way to beat redzone difficulties!) and the hard running of guest RB Johnny Durrad of the Dublin Dragons. Everyone who made the trip thoroughly enjoyed it and the tournament is now a serious extra incentive to win the domestic title.

By many accounts, Shamrock Bowl XVII was perhaps the best organised and most competitive and entertaining championship game in it's 17 year history. A decent crowd turned out on a beautiful August afternoon and were treated with an early explosion of points as the Rebels marched downfield for 8 points on the opening drive. The Knights then went to the air on their first offensive play, for an 81 yard touchdown. The Rebels took a 2 score lead behind the big-game running of Brian Dennehy, while the Knights struggled on offense after losing three receivers to injury. An early 4th quarter touchdown gave the Knights' brief hope, but Dennehy ran in another touchdown in the next drive to restore the Rebels' 2 score advantage.

The Knights were scheduled to play both the Belfast Bulls and the Craigavon Cowboys in 8-a-side games at the end of the season, in games which would count towards each team's Divison II (all 8-a-side games) record, but not count for anything for the Knights, except for pride. The Bulls pulled out of their arranged game, but the Cowboys very nearly dented that pride, taking it to the wire in the Knight's first ever 8-a-side game.