2022 National Football League (Ireland) Explained

League:National Football League
Dates:29 January – 3 April 2022
Teams:32
Team1:Kerry
Titles:23rd
Team2:Mayo
Two:Roscommon
Three:Louth
Four:Cavan
Previous:2021
Next:2023

The 2022 National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz National Football League, is the 91st staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for Gaelic Athletic Association county teams. Thirty-one county teams from the island of Ireland, plus London, compete; Kilkenny do not participate.[1] [2] [3]

Format

League structure

Teams by Province and Division
Province Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Division 4 Total
1 20 2 5
2 2 5 2 11
1 2 1 2 6
4 2 2 1 9
England 0 0 0 1 1
Total 8 8 8 8 32
In the top division, Division 1, teams compete to become the National Football League (NFL) champions. The top two teams qualify for the NFL Final, with the winners crowned NFL champions.

The 2022 National Football League consists of four divisions of eight teams. Each team plays every other team in its division once. Two points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw.

Teams compete for promotion and relegation to a higher or lower league. In Divisions 2, 3 and 4, the first and second-places teams are promoted, while the bottom two teams of divisions 1, 2 and 3 are relegated .

Tiebreakers for league ranking

As per the Official GAA Guide - Part 1 - Section 6.21[4] -

If two teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the league phase, the following tie-breaking criteria are applied:

  1. Where two teams only are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the previous game in the Competition;

If three or more teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the league phase, the following tie-breaking criteria are applied:

  1. Scoring Difference (subtracting the total scores against from total scores for);
  2. Highest Total Score For;
  3. A Play-Off.

In the event that two teams or more finish with equal points, but have been affected by a disqualification, loss of game on a proven objection, retirement or walkover, the tie shall be decided by the following means:

  1. Score Difference from the games in which only the teams involved, (teams tied on points), have played each other. (subtracting the total Scores Against from total Scores For)
  2. Highest Total Score For, in which only the teams involved, have played each other, and have finished equal in (i)
  3. A Play-Off

Division 1

Matches

Round 7

Final

Division 2

Matches

Round 7

Final

Division 3

Table

Matches

Round 7

Final

Division 4

Table

Matches

London returned for the first time since March 2020, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games.

Round 7

Final

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022 National Hurling and Football Leagues: Groups confirmed for all divisions. Sky Sports. 24 October 2021. 24 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211024165722/https://www.skysports.com/gaa/hurling/news/30554/12332244/2022-national-hurling-and-football-leagues-groups-confirmed-for-all-divisions. live.
  2. Web site: Pre-season provincial competitions off the list for 2022. independent. 24 October 2021. 24 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211024165710/https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/pre-season-provincial-competitions-off-the-list-for-2022-40848214.html. live.
  3. Web site: Allianz League round-up: Ups and downs as Tipperary join Cavan in Division Four. 13 June 2021. 24 October 2021. 24 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211024165710/https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/allianz-league-round-up-ups-24310521. live.
  4. Web site: GAA Official Guide - Part 1 . gaa.ie . 21 October 2020 . 23 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201023062201/https://www.gaa.ie/api/pdfs/image/upload/ljywtjsso59j5omsvd3b.pdf . live .