National Football League (Ireland)

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.

National Football League
Current season or competition: 2023 National Football League
Irish	Sraith Náisiúnta Peile
Code	Gaelic football
Founded	1925–1926; 97 years ago (1926)
Region	Ireland (GAA)
Trophy	Irish National Insurance Cup
No. of teams	32 (8 teams in 4 divisions)
Title holders	Mayo (13th title)
Most titles	Kerry (23 titles)
Sponsors	Allianz
TV partner(s)	TG4, Eir Sport, GAAGO (live games) RTÉ2 (highlights)
Motto	Where your edge belongs
Official website	www.gaa.ie/football/football-league-roinn-1/

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.

Mayo are the current league champions, having won the 2023 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

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

Winners

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	14	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
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	6	6	1946–47, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1999–2000, 2008	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

County/Continent	Title(s)	Runners-up	Total
Munster	31	13	44
Leinster	25	33	58
Connacht	18	17	35
Ulster	16	25	41
North America	3	7	10

Division 1

2024 Teams

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

2024 Teams

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

Year	Winners		Runners-up		Venue
	County	Score	County	Score
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

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

Division 3

2024 Teams

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

Year	Winners		Runners-up		Venue
	County	Score	County	Score
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

#	County	Titles	Runners-Up	Years won	Years runners-up
1	Louth	2	1	2011, 2022	2017
	Tipperary	2	0	2009, 2017	-
	Armagh	2	0	2015, 2018	-
4	Wexford	1	1	2008	2012
	Westmeath	1	1	2019	2011
	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	-
14	Fermanagh	0	4	-	2008, 2015, 2018, 2023
	Down	0	2	-	2009, 2020
	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

2024 Teams

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

Year	Winners		Runners-up		Venue
	County	Score	County	Score
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

#	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	-
5	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	-
	Laois	1	0	2018	-
	Derry	1	0	2019	-
	Cavan	1	0	2022	-
13	Waterford	0	1	-	2010
	Roscommon	0	1	-	2011
	Fermanagh	0	1	-	2012
	Clare	0	1	-	2014
	Wexford	0	1	-	2017
	Carlow	0	1	-	2018
	Leitrim	0	1	-	2019

Records and statistics

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

See also

• Ladies' National Football League
• National Hurling League

References

1. Scott, Ronan (30 January 2009). "Only the league...". Gaelic Life. p. 10.
2. . 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.

External links

• Semi-final and final results 1926–
• National Football League attendances, Seán Moran in The Irish Times, 29 April 2014
• "Five FL finals worth looking at again", Hogan Stand, 7 April 2021