National Football League (Ireland) Explained

National Football League
Irish:Sraith Náisiúnta Peile
Code:Gaelic football
Founded:1925–
Region:Ireland
Trophy:Irish National Insurance Cup
No. Of Teams:32
Title Holders: Derry
Currentordinal:7
Most Titles: Kerry
Mostordinal:23
Sponsors:Allianz
Tv:TG4, Eir Sport, GAAGO (live games)
RTÉ2 (highlights)
Motto:Where your edge belongs
Currentlyrunning:2024 National Football League

The National Football League (NFL; Irish: Sraith Náisiúnta Peile) is an annual Gaelic football competition between the senior county teams of Ireland plus London. Sponsored by Allianz, it is officially known as the Allianz National Football League.

The Gaelic Athletic Association organises the league. The winning team receives the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company. The National Football League is the second most prestigious inter-county Gaelic Football competition after the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.[1]

Unlike many league competitions in sport, each team plays the other teams in their division only once. Teams that meet in the same division over the course of a number of years often play on a home and away basis in alternative years, though this is not strictly adhered to. Once the divisional matches have been played, the latter stages of the league become a knockout competition for the top teams in each division. This is seen as good preparation for the upcoming All-Ireland Championship and there is usually more intensity to the division finals than those played earlier in the league, but still lacking the intensity of Championship matches.

Derry are the current league champions, having won the 2024 league.

History

The National Football League was first held in 1925–26, thirty-eight years after the first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Laois won the inaugural National Football League. The NFL has traditionally played second fiddle to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, with most counties using it as preparation for that event. This was not helped by the fact that the league was initially played in winter (usually November–March), while the Championship had the more attractive summer dates and knockout structure.

Mayo dominated the early NFL, winning seven titles in eight seasons until the tournament was suspended during the Second World War. For many seasons in the 1950s and 1960s, the winners of the "home" league played New York in the NFL final; the journey to New York formed an additional prize for the winners. New York won three of these finals.

In 2002, the league was changed to a February–April calendar. This increased interest, boosted attendances and led to live games being broadcast on TG4. The 2009 season was broadcast live on Setanta Sports. Coverage of the 2010 finals in Croke Park saw TG4 become the most watched channel, with 650,000 viewers tuning in to watch some of the games. The Division 1 Final had an average audience of 220,000 viewers.[2]

The National Football League winners receive the Irish National Insurance Cup, first presented to Kerry in 1928–29. Kerry is the most successful team in the competition, having played in the final on twenty-nine occasions and won twenty-three of these. Both of these (final appearances and wins) are records. Kerry also is the team to have most often achieved the "double", by winning both the league title and the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

Schedule

In the 20th century, National League fixtures were played during inter-county windows in the later and early months of the calendar year, while the SFC occupied the inter-county window during those months that made up the middle of the year, e.g. May, August. Club competitions of lesser importance occurred alongside the inter-county games so as to provide meaningful game time for players possessed of insufficient ability to compete at the higher (inter-county) level.

From 2002, National League fixtures were played during the early months of the calendar year, preceding the SFC, which remained in the traditional mid-year position. An April club window allowed inter-county players to return to their clubs to participate in some early rounds of the more important club competitions, i.e. championship fixtures.

This arrangement was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the impact of the pandemic on Gaelic games, the 2020 National League was suspended in March and all Gaelic games ceased until the middle of the year, when club fixtures were first to resume. The National League was then completed in October, ahead of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (which was completed in December). This led to a motion (passed at the 2021 GAA Congress) to adopt a "split season" model, whereby club competitions would occupy one part of the calendar year and inter-county fixtures the other part.[3]

Finals listed by year

See main article: List of National Football League (Ireland) finals.

Winners

County!Title(s)! scope="col"
Runners-upYears wonYears runner-up
Kerry2371927–28, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1976–77, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1996–97, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2017, 2020, 2021 (shared), 2022
Dublin14151952–53, 1954–55, 1957–58, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1986–87, 1990–91, 1992–93, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021 (shared) 1925–26, 1933–34, 1940–41, 1951–52, 1961–62, 1966–67, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1998–99, 2011, 2017, 2020, 2024
Mayo1381933–34, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1940–41, 1948–49, 1953–54, 1969–70, 2000–01, 2019, 20231950–51, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1977–78, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2022
Cork861951–52, 1955–56, 1979–80, 1988–89, 1998–99, 2010, 2011, 20121931–32, 1947–48, 1978–79, 1981–82, 1996–97, 2015
Meath761932–33, 1945–46, 1950–51, 1974–75, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1993–941936–37, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1949–50, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1999–2000
Derry761946–47, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1999–2000, 2008, 20241958–59, 1960–61, 1975–76, 1997–98, 2009, 2014
Galway471939–40, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1980–811965–66, 1983–84, 2000–01, 2004, 2006, 2018, 2023
Down441959–60, 1961–62, 1967–68, 1982–831962–63, 1963–64, 1969–70, 1989–90
New York[4] 371949–50, 1963–64, 1966–67–
Tyrone222002, 20031991–92, 2013
Laois211925–26, 1985–862003
Cavan151947–481930–31, 1932–33, 1952–53, 1959–60, 2002
Donegal1320071992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96
Armagh1320051982–83, 1984–85, 1993–94
Roscommon121978–791973–74, 1980–81
Offaly121997–981968–69, 1972–73
Monaghan111984–851985–86
Longford101965–66–
Kildare05–1927–28, 1928–29, 1957–58, 1967–68, 1990–91
Wexford03–1937–38, 1945–46, 2005
Carlow01–1953–54
Louth01–1948–49
Fermanagh01–1934–35

Wins by provinces

County/Continent!Title(s)!Runners-up!Total
Munster311344
Leinster253459
Connacht181735
Ulster172542
North America3710

Division 1

2024 Teams

The following eight teams are competing in Division 1 during the 2024 league.

TeamPosition in table in 2023In Division sinceMost recent relegationDivision 1 titles
Derry2nd (Division 2)202420156
Dublin1st (Division 2)2024202214
Galway2nd202320214
Kerry5th2003200123
Mayo1st2022202013
Monaghan6th201520111
Roscommon3rd202320211
Tyrone4th201720152

Division 2

2024 Teams

The following eight teams are competing in Division 2 during the 2024 league.

TeamPosition in table in 2023In Division sinceMost recent promotionMost recent relegationDivision 2 titles
Armagh7th (Division 1)202420201
Cavan1st (Division 3)202420180
Cork4th2021200920191
Donegal8th (Division 1)202420192
Fermanagh2nd (Division 3)2024Never promoted0
Kildare5th2023202120152
Louth3rd2023200620182
Meath6th2021201920121

List of Finals

YearWinnersRunners-upVenue
CountyScoreCountyScore
20240-150-14Croke Park
2023Dublin4-06Derry0-11Croke Park
2022Roscommon1-20Galway0-22Croke Park
2021Kildare and Mayo share the titleN/A
2020Roscommon0-11Armagh0-09Croke Park
2019Donegal1-17Meath1-15Croke Park
2018Roscommon4-16Cavan4-12Croke Park
2017Galway0-18Kildare0-16Croke Park
2016Tyrone1-17Cavan0-15Croke Park
2015Roscommon1-17Down0-15Croke Park
2014Monaghan1-16Donegal1-10Croke Park
2013Derry1-18Westmeath0-15Croke Park
2012Kildare0-16Tyrone0-11Croke Park
2011Donegal2-11Laois0-16Croke Park
2010Armagh0-17Down1-12Croke Park
2009Cork1-14Monaghan0-12Croke Park
2008Westmeath0-15Dublin0-10Páirc Tailteann
2007Meath2-12Roscommon0-10Breffni Park
2006Louth1-12 (R)Donegal1-09Breffni Park
2005Monaghan3-13Meath3-12Croke Park
2004Offaly1-16Down2-12Croke Park
2003Westmeath1-16Limerick2-12Croke Park
2002Kerry1-09Laois1-05Gaelic Grounds
2001WestmeathCork
2000Louth1-13Offaly0-13Croke Park
1999Kerry and Sligo won Division 2A and 2B respectively

Roll of Honour

CountyTitlesRunners-UpYears wonYears runners-up
1 Roscommon412015, 2018, 2020, 20222007
2 Donegal322011, 2019, 20242006, 2014
Westmeath312001, 2003, 20082013
4
Monaghan212005, 20142009
Kildare212012, 20212017
Kerry201999, 2002-
Louth202000, 2006-
9 Meath1220072005, 2019
Armagh1220102020, 2024
Offaly1120042000
Cork1120092001
Derry1120132023
Tyrone1120162012
Galway1120172022
Dublin1120232008
Sligo101999-
Mayo102021-
19 Down03-2004, 2010, 2015
Laois02-2002, 2011
Cavan02-2016, 2018
Limerick01-2003

Division 3

2024 Teams

The following eight teams are competing in Division 3 during the 2024 league.

TeamPosition in table in 2023In Division sinceMost recent promotionMost recent relegationDivision 3 titles
Antrim6th2022201020170
Clare7th (Division 2)202420161
Down3rd20232020Never relegated0
Limerick8th (Division 2)202420220
Offaly5th2023202120140
Sligo1st (Division 4)202420101
Westmeath4th2022201920161
Wicklow2nd (Division 4)2024Never promoted0

List of Finals

YearWinnersRunners-upVenue
CountyScoreCountyScore
2024Westmeath2-10Down0-13Croke Park
2023Cavan0-16Fermanagh1-07Croke Park
2022Louth1-14Limerick1-12Croke Park
2021Derry0-21Offaly1-06Croke Park
2020Cork14 ptsDown9 ptsN/A
2019Westmeath1-13Laois0-13Croke Park
2018Armagh1-16Fermanagh0-17Croke Park
2017Tipperary3-19Louth0-19Croke Park
2016Clare2-17Kildare1-19Croke Park
2015Armagh0-16Fermanagh0-11Croke Park
2014Roscommon1-17Cavan0-18Croke Park
2013Monaghan2-16Meath3-08Croke Park
2012Longford1-12Wexford0-13Croke Park
2011Louth1-15Westmeath0-13Croke Park
2010Sligo0-19Antrim1-11Croke Park
2009Tipperary0-18Down1-14Pearse Park
2008Wexford3-15Fermanagh0-20Parnell Park

Roll of Honour

CountyTitlesRunners-UpYears wonYears runners-up
1 Louth212011, 20222017
Westmeath212019, 20242011
Tipperary202009, 2017-
Armagh202015, 2018-
5 Wexford1120082012
Cavan1120232014
Sligo102010-
Longford102012-
Monaghan102013-
Roscommon102014-
Clare102016-
Cork102020-
Derry102021-
15 Fermanagh04-2008, 2015, 2018, 2023
Down03-2009, 2020, 2024
Antrim01-2010
Meath01-2013
Kildare01-2016
Laois01-2019
Offaly01-2021
Limerick01-2022

Division 4

2024 Teams

The following eight teams are competing in Division 4 during the 2024 league.

TeamPosition in table in 2023In Division sinceMost recent promotionDivision 4 titles
Carlow6th202020180
Laois3rd202320181
Leitrim5th202120190
London8th2008Never promoted0
Longford7th (Division 3)202420151
Tipperary8th (Division 3)202420221
Waterford7th201220100
Wexford4th201920170

List of Finals

YearWinnersRunners-upVenue
CountyScoreCountyScore
2024Laois3-14Leitrim0-09Croke Park
2023Sligo2-10Wicklow0-14Croke Park
2022Cavan2-10Tipperary0-15Croke Park
2021Antrim and Louth share the title
2020Limerick10 ptsWicklow10 ptsN/A
2019Derry0-20Leitrim0-16Croke Park
2018Laois0-15Carlow0-11Croke Park
2017Westmeath2-24Wexford2-11Croke Park
2016Louth3-12Antrim1-14Croke Park
2015Offaly4-16Longford1-12Croke Park
2014Tipperary1-16Clare1-15Croke Park
2013Limerick0-16Offaly1-11Croke Park
2012Wicklow2-16Fermanagh1-11Croke Park
2011Longford2-11Roscommon1-08Croke Park
2010Limerick1-16Waterford1-14Croke Park
2009Sligo1-12Antrim1-10Pearse Park
2008Offaly2-13Tipperary0-13O'Moore Park

Roll of Honour

CountyTitlesRunners-UpYears wonYears runners-up
1 Limerick302010, 2013, 2020-
2 Offaly212008, 20152013
Louth202016, 2021-
Sligo202009, 2023-
Laois202018, 2024-
6 Wicklow1220122020, 2023
Tipperary1220142008, 2022
Antrim1220212009, 2016
Longford1120112015
Westmeath102017-
Derry102019-
Cavan102022-
13 Leitrim02-2019, 2024
Waterford01-2010
Roscommon01-2011
Fermanagh01-2012
Clare01-2014
Wexford01-2017
Carlow01-2018

Records and statistics

See main article: National Football League (Ireland) records and statistics.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Ronan. Scott. Only the league.... Gaelic Life. 10. 30 January 2009.
  2. Web site: VIEWING FIGURES FOR GAA BEO - ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE FINALS 2010 . TG4 . 27 April 2010 . 3 May 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100511212953/http://www.tg4.ie/bearla/corp/pr/2010/0427-1.asp . 11 May 2010 .
  3. News: Congress: Split GAA season with July All-Ireland finals coming next year. Hogan Stand. 27 February 2021.
  4. New York received a bye to the final in 10 NFL seasons between 1949–50 and 1988–89.

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