1947–48 National Football League (Ireland) Explained

League:	1947–48 National Football League
Dates:	November 1947 – 24 October 1948
Team1:	Cavan
Captain1:	John Joe O'Reilly
Titles:	1st
Team2:	Cork
Previous:	1946–47
Next:	1948–49

The 1947–48 National Football League was the 17th staging of the National Football League, an annual Gaelic football tournament for the Gaelic Athletic Association county teams of Ireland.

At one game in Tralee on 9 November 1947, managed to hold to a draw despite having to draft in the county secretary and a car driver in as substitutes. The players drafted an official letter of complaint to the County Board.^[1]

Cavan won their first and, so far, only league title, winning the replay by 10 points.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Format

Divisions

There were four Sections or Divisions. Division winners played off for the NFL title.^[5] Teams were placed in the divisions along geographical lines:

• Division One: Western
• Division Two: Eastern
• Division Three: Southern
• Division Four: Northern. The Northern Division doubled as the Dr Lagan Cup. The winners qualified for the semi-finals.

Round-robin format

Each team played every other team in its division (or group where the division is split) once, either home or away.

Points awarded

2 points were awarded for a win and 1 for a draw.

Titles

Teams in all three divisions competed for the National Football League title.

Separation of teams on equal points

In the event that teams finish on equal points, then a play-off will be used to determine group placings if necessary.

Promotion and relegation

None. All four Divisions had equal status.

Group stage

Division One

Tables

Group A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Status
	2	1	1	0	3	Qualified for knockout phase
	2	1	1	0	3
	2	0	0	2	0

Group B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Status
	2	2	0	0	4
	2	0	1	0	1
	2	0	1	0	1

Division Two

Tables

Group A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Status
	2	2	0	0	4	Qualified for knockout phase
	2	1	0	0	2
	2	0	0	2	0

Group B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Status
	2	1	1	0	3
	2	1	0	1	2
	2	0	1	0	1

Division Three

Tables

Group A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Status
	2	1	1	0	3
	2	1	0	0	2
	2	0	1	0	1

Group B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Status
	2	2	0	0	4
	2	1	0	0	2
	2	0	0	1	0

Group C

Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Status
	3	3	0	0	6
	3	2	0	1	4
	2	0	2	0	0
	2	0	2	0	0

• The Laois v Offaly fixture was not fulfilled.^[6]

Division Four (Dr Lagan Cup)

Knockout phase

Semi-final

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Final

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Notes and References

1. Web site: We demand that you do this and do it here and now. 27 November 2010.
2. http://www.hoganstand.com/cavan/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=96319 "60 years on. Remembering 1948, game by game" - HoganStand
3. http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/donohues-point-earns-cavan-replay-29261546.html "Donohue's point earns Cavan replay" - Irish Independent
4. http://www.gaa.ie/about-the-gaa/gaa-history/final-teams/0/6/0/0/15/ GAA Final Teams
5. "National League fixtures", Irish Independent, 07/10/1947, p. 7
6. "Point will win group for football champions", Irish Independent, 03/12/1947, p. 6