National Football League (Ireland)

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For the latest competition see: 2007 or the Hurling equivalent: 2007

The National Football League (known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz Football League) is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company.

Contents

[edit] History

The NFL was first held in 1925-1926, 38 years after the first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, with Laois being the first winners. The League has traditionally played second fiddle to the All-Ireland, with most counties using it as a warm-up for the All-Ireland. This was not helped by the fact that the League was played in winter (November-March usually) while the championship had the more attractive summer dates and knockout structure.

In 2002 the league was changed to a February-April calendar, which has increased interest with attendances growing and live games broadcast on TG4. The 2007 season will be broadcast live on Setanta Sports.

The National Football League winners receive the Irish National Insurance Cup. It was first presented in 1929 to Kerry.

[edit] Division Placings for 2008 Season

Division 1

Mayo | Donegal | Laois | Kerry | Derry | Kildare | Tyrone | Galway

Division 2

Armagh | Dublin | Cork | Westmeath | Monaghan | Roscommon | Cavan | Meath

Division 3

Limerick | Fermanagh | Louth | Down | Longford | Leitrim | Wexford | Sligo

Division 4

Antrim | Offaly | Clare | Carlow | London | Tipperary | Waterford | Wicklow

[edit] Previous Winners

Team name in blue indicates the county also won the All-Ireland that year. The NFL is in general a poor prediction of summer form: only 23% (17 / 74) of League winners have gone on to win the All-Ireland. However, since the re-formatting of the competition in 2002, the winner of the national league has gone on to win the All-Ireland in 3 out of 4 occasions, Tyrone in 2003 and Kerry twice in 2004 and again in 2006.

[edit] Performance by County

County Winners Runners-up Winning Years
Image:KerryCrest.gif Kerry 18 4 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1959,1961, 1963, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1997, 2004, 2006
Image:Mayo crest.gif Mayo 11 4 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1949, 1954, 1970, 2001
Image:Dublinnewcrest.png Dublin 9 11 1953, 1955, 1958, 1964, 1976, 1978, 1987, 1991, 1993
Image:Meathnewcrest.jpg Meath 7 9 1933, 1946, 1951, 1975, 1988, 1990, 1994
Image:Corkcrest.gif Cork 5 5 1952, 1956, 1980, 1989, 1999
Image:Derrycrest.jpg Derry 5 4 1947, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2000
Image:Downnewcrest.jpg Down 4 4 1960, 1962, 1968, 1983
Image:Galwaynewcrest.jpg Galway 4 5 1957, 1965, 1967, 1981
Image:Laois.gif Laois 2 1 1926, 1986
Image:Cavannewcrest.jpg Cavan 2 5 1948, 1950
Image:TyroneCrest.gif Tyrone 2 1 2002, 2003
Image:Armaghcrest.png Armagh 1 3 2005
Image:Longfordnewcrest.jpg Longford 1 0 1966
Image:Monaghancrest.jpg Monaghan 1 1 1985
Image:Roscommonnewcrest.jpg Roscommon 1 2 1979
Image:Offalynewcrest.jpg Offaly 1 2 1998
Image:Donegalcrest.jpg Donegal 1 3 2007

[edit] External links


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