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National Football League (Ireland)

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National Football League
Current season or competition:
2024 National Football League
IrishSraith Náisiúnta Peile
CodeGaelic football
Founded1925–1926; 98 years ago (1926)
RegionIreland (GAA)
TrophyIrish National Insurance Cup
No. of teams32 (8 teams in 4 divisions)
Title holders Derry (7th title)
Most titles Kerry (23 titles)
SponsorsAllianz
TV partner(s)TG4, Eir Sport, GAAGO (live games)
RTÉ2 (highlights)
MottoWhere your edge belongs
Official websitewww.gaa.ie/football/football-league-roinn-1/

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

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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

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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

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Main article: List of National Football League (Ireland) finals

Winners

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County Title(s) Runners-up Years won Years runner-up
Kerry 23 7 1927–28, 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 1956–57, 1964–65, 1979–80, 1986–87, 2008, 2016, 2019
Dublin 14 15 1952–53, 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
Mayo 13 8 1933–34, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1940–41, 1948–49, 1953–54, 1969–70, 2000–01, 2019, 2023 1950–51, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1977–78, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2022
Cork 8 6 1951–52, 1955–56, 1979–80, 1988–89, 1998–99, 2010, 2011, 2012 1931–32, 1947–48, 1978–79, 1981–82, 1996–97, 2015
Meath 7 6 1932–33, 1945–46, 1950–51, 1974–75, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1993–94 1936–37, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1949–50, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1999–2000
Derry 7 6 1946–47, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1999–2000, 2008, 2024 1958–59, 1960–61, 1975–76, 1997–98, 2009, 2014
Galway 4 7 1939–40, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1980–81 1965–66, 1983–84, 2000–01, 2004, 2006, 2018, 2023
Down 4 4 1959–60, 1961–62, 1967–68, 1982–83 1962–63, 1963–64, 1969–70, 1989–90
New York[note 1] 3 7 1949–50, 1963–64, 1966–67 –
Tyrone 2 2 2002, 2003 1991–92, 2013
Laois 2 1 1925–26, 1985–86 2003
Cavan 1 5 1947–48 1930–31, 1932–33, 1952–53, 1959–60, 2002
Donegal 1 3 2007 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96
Armagh 1 3 2005 1982–83, 1984–85, 1993–94
Roscommon 1 2 1978–79 1973–74, 1980–81
Offaly 1 2 1997–98 1968–69, 1972–73
Monaghan 1 1 1984–85 1985–86
Longford 1 0 1965–66 –
Kildare 0 5 – 1927–28, 1928–29, 1957–58, 1967–68, 1990–91
Wexford 0 3 – 1937–38, 1945–46, 2005
Carlow 0 1 – 1953–54
Louth 0 1 – 1948–49
Fermanagh 0 1 – 1934–35
  1. ^ New York received a bye to the final in 10 NFL seasons between 1949–50 and 1988–89.

Wins by provinces

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County/Continent Title(s) Runners-up Total
Munster Munster 31 13 44
Leinster Leinster 25 34 59
Connacht Connacht 18 17 35
Ulster Ulster 17 25 42
CanadaUnited StatesNorth America 3 7 10

Division 1

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2024 Teams

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

Team Position in table in 2023 In Division since Most recent relegation Division 1 titles
Derry 2nd (Division 2) 2024 2015 6
Dublin 1st (Division 2) 2024 2022 14
Galway 2nd 2023 2021 4
Kerry 5th 2003 2001 23
Mayo 1st 2022 2020 13
Monaghan 6th 2015 2011 1
Roscommon 3rd 2023 2021 1
Tyrone 4th 2017 2015 2

Division 2

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2024 Teams

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

Team Position in table in 2023 In Division since Most recent promotion Most recent relegation Division 2 titles
Armagh 7th (Division 1) 2024 2020 1
Cavan 1st (Division 3) 2024 2018 0
Cork 4th 2021 2009 2019 1
Donegal 8th (Division 1) 2024 2019 2
Fermanagh 2nd (Division 3) 2024 Never promoted 0
Kildare 5th 2023 2021 2015 2
Louth 3rd 2023 2006 2018 2
Meath 6th 2021 2019 2012 1

List of Finals

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Year Winners Runners-up Venue
County Score County Score
2024 Donegal 0-15 Armagh 0-14 Croke Park
2023 Dublin 4-06 Derry 0-11 Croke Park
2022 Roscommon 1-20 Galway 0-22 Croke Park
2021 Kildare and Mayo share the title N/A
2020 Roscommon 0-11 Armagh 0-09 Croke Park
2019 Donegal 1-17 Meath 1-15 Croke Park
2018 Roscommon 4-16 Cavan 4-12 Croke Park
2017 Galway 0-18 Kildare 0-16 Croke Park
2016 Tyrone 1-17 Cavan 0-15 Croke Park
2015 Roscommon 1-17 Down 0-15 Croke Park
2014 Monaghan 1-16 Donegal 1-10 Croke Park
2013 Derry 1-18 Westmeath 0-15 Croke Park
2012 Kildare 0-16 Tyrone 0-11 Croke Park
2011 Donegal 2-11 Laois 0-16 Croke Park
2010 Armagh 0-17 Down 1-12 Croke Park
2009 Cork 1-14 Monaghan 0-12 Croke Park
2008 Westmeath 0-15 Dublin 0-10 Páirc Tailteann
2007 Meath 2-12 Roscommon 0-10 Breffni Park
2006 Louth 1-12 (R) Donegal 1-09 Breffni Park
2005 Monaghan 3-13 Meath 3-12 Croke Park
2004 Offaly 1-16 Down 2-12 Croke Park
2003 Westmeath 1-16 Limerick 2-12 Croke Park
2002 Kerry 1-09 Laois 1-05 Gaelic Grounds
2001 Westmeath Cork
2000 Louth 1-13 Offaly 0-13 Croke Park
1999 Kerry and Sligo won Division 2A and 2B respectively

Roll of Honour

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# County Titles Runners-Up Years won Years runners-up
1 Roscommon 4 1 2015, 2018, 2020, 2022 2007
2 Donegal 3 2 2011, 2019, 2024 2006, 2014
Westmeath 3 1 2001, 2003, 2008 2013
4
Monaghan 2 1 2005, 2014 2009
Kildare 2 1 2012, 2021 2017
Kerry 2 0 1999, 2002 -
Louth 2 0 2000, 2006 -
9 Meath 1 2 2007 2005, 2019
Armagh 1 2 2010 2020, 2024
Offaly 1 1 2004 2000
Cork 1 1 2009 2001
Derry 1 1 2013 2023
Tyrone 1 1 2016 2012
Galway 1 1 2017 2022
Dublin 1 1 2023 2008
Sligo 1 0 1999 -
Mayo 1 0 2021 -
19 Down 0 3 - 2004, 2010, 2015
Laois 0 2 - 2002, 2011
Cavan 0 2 - 2016, 2018
Limerick 0 1 - 2003

Division 3

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2024 Teams

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

Team Position in table in 2023 In Division since Most recent promotion Most recent relegation Division 3 titles
Antrim 6th 2022 2010 2017 0
Clare 7th (Division 2) 2024 2016 1
Down 3rd 2023 2020 Never relegated 0
Limerick 8th (Division 2) 2024 2022 0
Offaly 5th 2023 2021 2014 0
Sligo 1st (Division 4) 2024 2010 1
Westmeath 4th 2022 2019 2016 1
Wicklow 2nd (Division 4) 2024 Never promoted 0

List of Finals

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Year Winners Runners-up Venue
County Score County Score
2024 Westmeath 2-10 Down 0-13 Croke Park
2023 Cavan 0-16 Fermanagh 1-07 Croke Park
2022 Louth 1-14 Limerick 1-12 Croke Park
2021 Derry 0-21 Offaly 1-06 Croke Park
2020 Cork 14 pts Down 9 pts N/A
2019 Westmeath 1-13 Laois 0-13 Croke Park
2018 Armagh 1-16 Fermanagh 0-17 Croke Park
2017 Tipperary 3-19 Louth 0-19 Croke Park
2016 Clare 2-17 Kildare 1-19 Croke Park
2015 Armagh 0-16 Fermanagh 0-11 Croke Park
2014 Roscommon 1-17 Cavan 0-18 Croke Park
2013 Monaghan 2-16 Meath 3-08 Croke Park
2012 Longford 1-12 Wexford 0-13 Croke Park
2011 Louth 1-15 Westmeath 0-13 Croke Park
2010 Sligo 0-19 Antrim 1-11 Croke Park
2009 Tipperary 0-18 Down 1-14 Pearse Park
2008 Wexford 3-15 Fermanagh 0-20 Parnell Park

Roll of Honour

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# County Titles Runners-Up Years won Years runners-up
1 Louth 2 1 2011, 2022 2017
Westmeath 2 1 2019, 2024 2011
Tipperary 2 0 2009, 2017 -
Armagh 2 0 2015, 2018 -
5 Wexford 1 1 2008 2012
Cavan 1 1 2023 2014
Sligo 1 0 2010 -
Longford 1 0 2012 -
Monaghan 1 0 2013 -
Roscommon 1 0 2014 -
Clare 1 0 2016 -
Cork 1 0 2020 -
Derry 1 0 2021 -
15 Fermanagh 0 4 - 2008, 2015, 2018, 2023
Down 0 3 - 2009, 2020, 2024
Antrim 0 1 - 2010
Meath 0 1 - 2013
Kildare 0 1 - 2016
Laois 0 1 - 2019
Offaly 0 1 - 2021
Limerick 0 1 - 2022

Division 4

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2024 Teams

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

Team Position in table in 2023 In Division since Most recent promotion Division 4 titles
Carlow 6th 2020 2018 0
Laois 3rd 2023 2018 1
Leitrim 5th 2021 2019 0
London 8th 2008 Never promoted 0
Longford 7th (Division 3) 2024 2015 1
Tipperary 8th (Division 3) 2024 2022 1
Waterford 7th 2012 2010 0
Wexford 4th 2019 2017 0

List of Finals

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Year Winners Runners-up Venue
County Score County Score
2024 Laois 3-14 Leitrim 0-09 Croke Park
2023 Sligo 2-10 Wicklow 0-14 Croke Park
2022 Cavan 2-10 Tipperary 0-15 Croke Park
2021 Antrim and Louth share the title
2020 Limerick 10 pts Wicklow 10 pts N/A
2019 Derry 0-20 Leitrim 0-16 Croke Park
2018 Laois 0-15 Carlow 0-11 Croke Park
2017 Westmeath 2-24 Wexford 2-11 Croke Park
2016 Louth 3-12 Antrim 1-14 Croke Park
2015 Offaly 4-16 Longford 1-12 Croke Park
2014 Tipperary 1-16 Clare 1-15 Croke Park
2013 Limerick 0-16 Offaly 1-11 Croke Park
2012 Wicklow 2-16 Fermanagh 1-11 Croke Park
2011 Longford 2-11 Roscommon 1-08 Croke Park
2010 Limerick 1-16 Waterford 1-14 Croke Park
2009 Sligo 1-12 Antrim 1-10 Pearse Park
2008 Offaly 2-13 Tipperary 0-13 O'Moore Park

Roll of Honour

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# County Titles Runners-Up Years won Years runners-up
1 Limerick 3 0 2010, 2013, 2020 -
2 Offaly 2 1 2008, 2015 2013
Louth 2 0 2016, 2021 -
Sligo 2 0 2009, 2023 -
Laois 2 0 2018, 2024 -
6 Wicklow 1 2 2012 2020, 2023
Tipperary 1 2 2014 2008, 2022
Antrim 1 2 2021 2009, 2016
Longford 1 1 2011 2015
Westmeath 1 0 2017 -
Derry 1 0 2019 -
Cavan 1 0 2022 -
13 Leitrim 0 2 - 2019, 2024
Waterford 0 1 - 2010
Roscommon 0 1 - 2011
Fermanagh 0 1 - 2012
Clare 0 1 - 2014
Wexford 0 1 - 2017
Carlow 0 1 - 2018

Records and statistics

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Main article: National Football League (Ireland) records and statistics

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Scott, Ronan (30 January 2009). "Only the league...". Gaelic Life. p. 10.
  2. ^ "VIEWING FIGURES FOR GAA BEO - ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE FINALS 2010". TG4. 27 April 2010. Archived from the original on 11 May 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  3. ^ "Congress: Split GAA season with July All-Ireland finals coming next year". Hogan Stand. 27 February 2021.
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