2018 Ladies' National Football League Explained
| League: | 2018 Ladies' National Football League |
| Dates: | 28 January – 7 May 2018 |
| Teams: | 32 |
| Team1: | Dublin |
| Captain1: | Sinéad Aherne |
| Manager1: | Mick Bohan |
| Titles: | 1st |
| Team2: | Mayo |
| Captain2: | Sarah Tierney |
| Manager2: | Peter Leahy |
| Two: | Tipperary |
| Three: | Wexford |
| Four: | Wicklow |
| Previous: | 2017 |
| Next: | 2019 |
The 2018 Ladies' National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Lidl Ladies' National Football League,[1] is a ladies' Gaelic football competition taking place in early 2018.[2] [3]
For the first time, LNFL games were broadcast live on Eir Sport.[4] [5]
were the winners, defeating in the final.[6] [7]
Format
League structure
The 2018 Ladies' National Football League consists of four divisions of eight teams. Each team plays every other team in its division once. 3 points are awarded for a win and 1 for a draw.
| Teams by Province |
|---|
| Province | Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 4 |
|---|
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
If two teams are level on points, the tie-break is:
- winners of the head-to-head game are ranked ahead
- if the head-to-head match was a draw, then whichever team scored more points in the game is ranked ahead (e.g. 1-15 beats 2-12)
- if the head-to-head match was an exact draw, ranking is determined by the points difference (i.e. total scored minus total conceded in all games)
- if the points difference is equal, ranking is determined by the total scored
If three or more teams are level on league points, rankings are determined solely by points difference.
Finals, promotions and relegations
The top four teams in Division 1 contest the Ladies' National Football League semi-finals (first plays fourth and second plays third).
The top four teams in divisions 2, 3 and 4 contest the semi-finals of their respective divisions. The division champions are promoted.
The last-placed teams in divisions 1, 2 and 3 are relegated.
Division 1
Table
- Kerry defeated Mayo, but Mayo were awarded the points as Kerry had fielded an ineligible player.[8]
- Galway are ranked ahead of Donegal because, although the head-to-head game was a draw, Galway scored more points (0-16 to 1-13).[9]
Finals
Semi-finals
Final
Division 2
Table
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts | Notes |
|---|
| Waterford | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 137 | 87 | +50 | 18 | Advance to Division 2 semi-finals |
| Tipperary (P) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 136 | 91 | +45 | 18 |
| Armagh | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 168 | 97 | +71 | 13 |
| Cavan | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 142 | 95 | +47 | 13 |
| Tyrone | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 132 | 126 | +6 | 12 |
| Laois | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 97 | 151 | –54 | 6 |
| Clare | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 97 | 141 | –44 | 3 |
| Sligo | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 78 | 199 | –121 | 0 | Relegated to Division 3 for 2019 | |
- Armagh v. Cavan was a draw (2-14 each); the teams are ranked by score difference.
Finals
Semi-finals
Final
Division 3
Table
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts | Notes |
|---|
| Wexford (P) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 114 | 88 | +26 | 18 | Advance to Division 3 semi-finals |
| Meath | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 173 | 82 | +91 | 15 |
| Down | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 99 | –15 | 15 |
| Kildare | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 116 | 94 | +22 | 12 |
| Roscommon | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 103 | 83 | +20 | 12 |
| Offaly | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 126 | 131 | –5 | 7 |
| Longford | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 47 | 125 | –78 | 4 |
| Leitrim | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 83 | –61 | 0 | Relegated to Division 4 for 2019 | |
- Meath are ranked ahead of Down as they won the head-to-head game between the teams.[10]
- Kildare are ranked ahead of Roscommon as they won the head-to-head game between the teams.[11]
Finals
Semi-finals
Final
Division 4
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts | Notes |
|---|
| Wicklow (P) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 49 | +64 | 21 | Advance to Division 4 semi-finals |
| Louth | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 120 | 69 | +51 | 15 |
| Limerick | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 113 | 53 | +60 | 13 |
| Antrim | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 90 | 79 | +11 | 12 |
| Fermanagh | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 84 | 85 | –1 | 12 |
| Carlow | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 115 | 94 | +21 | 7 |
| Derry | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 41 | 110 | –69 | 3 |
| Kilkenny | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 153 | –137 | 0 | |
- Antrim are ranked ahead of Fermanagh as they won the head-to-head game between the teams.[12]
Finals
Semi-finals
Final
Notes and References
- Web site: Marketing News - Marketing Institute of Ireland. mii.ie. 2017-05-24. 2017-06-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20170608094440/http://mii.ie/blogpost/1316142/Marketing-News?tag=sponsorship. dead.
- Web site: Upcoming Fixtures | Ladies Gaelic Football . Ladiesgaelic.ie . 2014-06-20 . 2017-05-23.
- Web site: Cavan and Westmeath Set for Lidl NFL Division 2 Final Showdown | Ladies Gaelic Football . 2017-05-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170619150142/http://ladiesgaelic.ie/clubs/cavan-westmeath-set-lidl-nfl-division-2-final-showdown/ . 2017-06-19 . dead .
- Web site: Dublin, Mayo, Cork & Kerry to feature on LIVE eir sport Lidl National League coverage - Ladies Gaelic Football. 1 February 2018.
- Web site: Eir Sport Announce Live Coverage Of Ladies Gaelic Football League Clashes - Pundit Arena. www.punditarena.com. February 2018 .
- Web site: Dublin women see off Mayo to earn maiden league title. www.irishtimes.com. 6 May 2018. 7 May 2018.
- Web site: Aherne the star turn as Dublin blitz Mayo to secure first league crown. www.the42.ie. 7 May 2018. 6 May 2018.
- Web site: Kerry docked points for fielding unregistered player as Division 1 heats up. Emma. Duffy.
- Web site: Lidl Ladies National Football League 2018 Round 5 (Re-fixture) previews - Galway Bay FM. 6 April 2018. 11 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180412001247/https://galwaybayfm.ie/lidl-ladies-national-football-league-2018-round-5-re-fixture-previews/. 12 April 2018. dead.
- meathladiesgaelicfootball.ie/meath-too-strong-for-down/
- Web site: Semi-final pairings confirmed in Ladies National Football Leagues. 8 April 2018.
- Web site: O'Sullivans lead Rebel charge as Kerry are swept aside while Dublin, Mayo and Galway secure victories - Independent.ie.
