| League: | 1986–87 National Football League |
| Dates: | October 1986 – 26 April 1987 |
| Team1: | Dublin |
| Captain1: | Barney Rock |
| Manager1: | Gerry McCaul |
| Titles: | 6th |
| Team2: | Kerry |
| Captain2: | Mikey Sheehy |
| Manager2: | Mick O'Dwyer |
| Previous: | 1985–86 |
| Next: | 1987–88 |
The 1986–87 National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Ford National Football League, was the 56th staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for the Gaelic Athletic Association county teams of Ireland.
The quarter-final rounds were notable for the Dublin–Cork tie. After the game ended in a draw, Cork refused to play extra time and Dublin took the field unopposed, Barney Rock scoring a goal into an empty net before the referee awarded them victory (later chosen as one of the Top 20 GAA Moments). The Dubs went on to defeat Kerry in the final.[1] [2] [3] [4]
Each team played every other team in its division (or group where the division is split) once, either home or away.
2 points were awarded for a win and 1 for a draw.
Teams in all three divisions competed for the National Football League title.
In the quarter-finals, the match-ups were as follows:
The semi-final match-ups are:
The final match-up is: Winner Semi-final 1 v Winner Semi-final 2.
In the event that teams finish on equal points, then a play-off will be used to determine group placings if necessary, i.e. where to decide relegation places or quarter-finalists.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | Advance to knockout stage | |
| 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | ||
| 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | ||
| 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | Relegated to Division Two of the 1987–88 NFL | |
| 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 12 | Promoted to Division One of the 1987–88 NFL and advance to knockout stage | |
| 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | ||
| 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | Relegated to Division Three of the 1987–88 NFL | |
| 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | Promoted to Division Two of the 1987–88 NFL and advance to knockout stage | |
| 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | ||
| 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | ||
| 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | ||
| 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 12 | Promoted to Division Two of the 1987–88 NFL and advance to knockout stage | |
| 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | ||
| 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | ||
| 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | ||
| 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | ||
| 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | ||
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
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