2021 National Football League (Ireland)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
League details
Dates15 May – 19 June, 2021
Teams31
League champions
Other division winners
Division 3Derry
Division 4 ShieldWexford
← 2020
2022 →

The 2021 National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz National Football League, was the 90th 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 compete; Kilkenny do not participate. London will not participate, due to restrictions around travel in place to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2]

In December 2020, it was announced that each division would be divided into North and South sections in order to reduce fixtures and minimise cross-border matches.[3] This plan had been hinted at as early as September 2020.[4] Teams would play three league games, plus possibly two knockout matches, allowing the tournament to be finished in just five rounds of games.[5][6][7] In February 2021, it was announced that the league would be delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games and that cancelling it would be a last resort.[8][9][10] It began on 15 May 2021.[11][12]

Due to COVID-19, finals were not played if a team had a championship game scheduled for the following week. This resulted in three divisions having their finals cancelled and being awarded jointly. Kerry and Dublin shared the Division 1 title; Kildare and Mayo Division 2; and Antrim and Louth Division 4.[13][14] Offaly and Derry would have shared the Division 3 title, but chose to play the final instead. It was a pilot COVID test event with 2,400 spectators permitted, and Derry won.[15]

Format[]

League structure[]

Teams by Province and Division
Province Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Division 4 Total
Connacht 2 1 0 2 5
Leinster 1 4 3 3 11
Munster 1 2 2 1 6
Ulster 4 1 3 1 9
Britain 0 0 0 0 0
Total 8 8 8 7 31

The 2021 National Football League consists of three divisions of eight teams and one of seven. Each division is divided into a North and South section; each team plays every other team in its section once. Two points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw.

In the top division, Division 1, teams compete to become the National Football League (NFL) champions. The top two in each section qualify for the NFL semi-finals.

Teams compete for promotion and relegation to a higher or lower league. In Divisions 2, 3 and 4, the top two teams in each group play in the divisional semi-finals, with each team that reaches the divisional final being promoted.

Division finals are not played if a team is scheduled to play a championship match on 26/27 June 2021; the division title will be shared.[16]

The bottom two teams in each section in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 enter relegation playoffs, with the losers relegated.

The third-placed teams in each section in Division 4 enter the Division 4 Shield Final.[17]

Tiebreakers for league ranking[]

As per the Official GAA Guide - Part 1 - Section 6.21[18] -

If two teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the group 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 group game;

If three or more teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the group 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 walk over, 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 under rule 1 above
  3. A Play-Off

Division 1[]

Locations of the 2021 NFL Division 1 teams.
Red pog.svg Red: North section; Green pog.svg Green: South section.












Division 1 North[]

Table[]

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Colours of Donegal.svg Donegal 3 1 2 0 38 36 +2 4 Advance to NFL semi-finals
2 Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone 3 1 1 1 37 34 +3 3
3 Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh 3 1 1 1 35 36 −1 3 Advance to a relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 2
4 Colours of Monaghan.svg Monaghan 3 0 2 1 35 39 −4 2
Updated to match(es) played on 29 May 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Matches[]

Round 1[]
Round 2[]

Round 3[]

Division 1 South[]

Table[]

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Colours of Kerry.svg Kerry (C) 3 2 1 0 75 47 +28 5 Advance to NFL semi-finals
2 Colours of Dublin.svg Dublin (C) 3 2 1 0 68 55 +13 5
3 Colours of Galway.svg Galway (R) 3 1 0 2 51 71 −20 2 Advance to Division 1 relegation playoffs; two losers are relegated to Division 2
4 Colours of Roscommon.svg Roscommon (R) 3 0 0 3 47 68 −21 0
Updated to match(es) played on 30 May 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) NFL champions (shared); (R) Relegated

Matches[]

Round 1[]
Round 2[]

Round 3[]

Division 1 Relegation Playoffs[]

13 June 2021
15:00 IST (UTC+1)
Relegation playoff
Armagh 1-17 (20) – (11) 0-11 Roscommon
Athletic Grounds, Armagh
Referee: Sean Hurson
13 June 2021
15:45 IST (UTC+1)
Relegation playoff
Monaghan 1-21 (24) – (23) 2-17
(a.e.t.) 		Galway
St. Tiernach's Park, Clones
Referee: David Gough

Division 1 Finals[]

12 June 2021
17:00 IST (UTC+1)
Semi-Final
Kerry 6-15 (33) – (17) 1-14 Tyrone
(HT: 5-06 – 0-07)
Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
Referee: Conor Lane
12 June 2021
19:15 IST (UTC+1)
Semi-Final
Donegal 1-14 (17) – (21) 1-18 Dublin
(HT: 0-07 – 1-08)
Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan
Referee: Ciaran Branagan

Dublin and Kerry shared the 2021 NFL title, as Kerry had a championship game on 26 June 2021.

Division 2[]

Locations of the 2021 NFL Division 2 teams.
Red pog.svg Red: North section; Green pog.svg Green: South section.












Division 2 North[]

Table[]

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Colours of Mayo.svg Mayo (P) 3 3 0 0 74 50 +24 6 Advance to Division 2 semi-finals; both finalists are promoted to Division 1
2 Colours of Meath.svg Meath 3 2 0 1 55 55 0 4
3 Colours of Down.svg Down 3 1 0 2 41 60 −19 2 Advance to a relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 3
4 Colours of Westmeath.svg Westmeath (R) 3 0 0 3 45 50 −5 0
Updated to match(es) played on 30 May 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Matches[]

Round 1[]
Round 2[]

Round 3[]

Division 2 South[]

Table[]

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Colours of Kildare.svg Kildare (P) 3 2 0 1 55 41 +14 4 Advance to Division 2 semi-finals; both finalists are promoted to Division 1
2 Colours of Clare.svg Clare 3 2 0 1 56 47 +9 4
3 Colours of Cork.svg Cork 3 2 0 1 54 49 +5 4 Advance to a relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 3
4 Colours of Laois.svg Laois (R) 3 0 0 3 33 61 −28 0
Updated to match(es) played on 30 May 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Matches[]

Round 1[]
Round 2[]

Round 3[]

Division 2 Relegation Playoffs[]

12 June 2021
14:00 IST (UTC+1)
Relegation playoff
Cork 3-22 (31) – (25) 0-25 Westmeath
Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
Referee: Cormac Reilly
12 June 2021
18:15 IST (UTC+1)
Relegation playoff
Down 2-19 (25) – (18) 2-12 Laois
Páirc Esler, Newry
Referee: Jerome Henry

Division 2 Finals[]

13 June 2021
13:45 IST (UTC+1)
Semi-Final
Clare 2-18 (24) – (28) 2-22 Mayo
Cusack Park, Ennis
Referee: Niall Cullen
13 June 2021
14:00 IST (UTC+1)
Semi-Final
Kildare 1-14 (17) – (14) 0-14 Meath
St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge
Referee: Barry Cassidy

Kildare and Mayo shared the Division 2 title, as Mayo had a championship game on 26 June 2021.

Division 3[]

Locations of the 2021 NFL Division 3 teams.
Red pog.svg Red: North section; Green pog.svg Green: South section.

Division 3 North[]

Table[]

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Colours of Derry.svg Derry (P) 3 3 0 0 49 14 +35 6 Advance to Division 3 semi-finals; both finalists are promoted to Division 2
2 Colours of Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh 3 1 1 1 24 42 −18 3
3 Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan (R) 3 1 0 2 36 31 +5 2 Advance to a relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 4
4 Colours of Longford.svg Longford 3 0 1 2 21 43 −22 1
Updated to match(es) played on 29 May 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Matches[]

Round 1[]
Round 2[]

Round 3[]

Division 3 South[]

Table[]

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Colours of Offaly.svg Offaly (P) 3 3 0 0 33 27 +6 6 Advance to Division 3 semi-finals; both finalists are promoted to Division 2
2 Colours of Limerick.svg Limerick 3 2 0 1 30 30 0 4
3 Colours of Tipperary.svg Tipperary (R) 3 1 0 2 32 31 +1 2 Advance to a relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 4
4 Colours of Wicklow.svg Wicklow 3 0 0 3 28 35 −7 0
Updated to match(es) played on 29 May 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Matches[]

Round 1[]
Round 2[]

Round 3[]

Division 3 Relegation Playoffs[]

12 June 2021
14:00 IST (UTC+1)
Relegation playoff
Cavan 0-18 (18) – (20) 3-11 Wicklow
Páirc Tailteann, Navan
Referee: Barry Judge
13 June 2021
15:45 IST (UTC+1)
Relegation playoff
Longford 1-13 (16) – (9) 0-09 Tipperary
Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford
Referee: Seamus Mulhare

Division 3 Finals[]

12 June 2021
16:00 IST (UTC+1)
Semi-Final
Derry 0-17 (17) – (13) 0-13 Limerick
12 June 2021
18:00 IST (UTC+1)
Semi-Final
Offaly 1-14 (17) – (12) 0-12 Fermanagh
O'Connor Park, Tullamore
Referee: Patrick Maguire
19 June 2021
17:00 IST (UTC+1)
Final
Derry 0-21 (21) – (9) 1-06 Offaly
Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: Sean Lonergan
Attendance: 2,400[15]

Division 4[]

Locations of the 2021 NFL Division 4 teams.
Red pog.svg Red: North section; Green pog.svg Green: South section; Black pog.svg Grey: Not competing.


Division 4 North[]

Table[]

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim (P) 3 3 0 0 63 60 +3 6 Advance to Division 4 semi-finals; both finalists are promoted to Division 3
2 Colours of Louth.svg Louth (P) 3 2 0 1 63 45 +18 4
3 Colours of Sligo.svg Sligo 3 1 0 2 63 67 −4 2 Advance to Division 4 Shield Final
4 Colours of Leitrim.svg Leitrim 3 0 0 3 50 67 −17 0
Updated to match(es) played on 30 May 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted

Matches[]

Round 1[]
Round 2[]

Round 3[]

Division 4 South[]

Table[]

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Colours of Carlow.svg Carlow 2 2 0 0 43 27 +16 4 Advance to Division 4 semi-finals; both finalists are promoted to Division 3
2 Colours of Waterford.svg Waterford 2 1 0 1 29 43 −14 2
3 Colours of Wexford.svg Wexford 2 0 0 2 35 37 −2 0 Advance to Division 4 Shield Final
Updated to match(es) played on 29 May 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
  • London did not compete, due to restrictions on travel regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Matches[]

Round 1[]
Round 2[]
Round 3[]

Division 4 Shield[]

13 June 2021
15:00 IST (UTC+1)
Shield Final
Sligo 0-9 (9) – (21) 2-15 Wexford
O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
Referee: David Hickey

Division 4 Finals[]

12 June 2021
16:00 IST (UTC+1)
Semi-Final
Carlow 1-15 (18) – (26) 1-23 Louth
Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow
Referee: Barry Tiernan
13 June 2021
12:15 IST (UTC+1)
Semi-Final
Waterford 0-11 (11) – (18) 1-15 Antrim
Fraher Field, Dungarvan
Referee: David Murnane

Antrim and Louth shared the Division 4 title, as Louth had a championship game on 27 June 2021.

League statistics[]

Scoring events[]

  • David Tubridy (Clare) became top scorer in National Football League history against Cork in May 2021,[19] his total score in the competition after this game (22–412, i.e. 478 points) causing him to overtake Mickey Kearins (Sligo, 1961–1978).[20]

References[]

  1. ^ Connaughton, Gary. "Promotion & Relegation Permutations For All Four Divisions Of National Football League". Balls.ie.
  2. ^ "Allianz FL results & reports: Mayo and Leitrim go down". October 25, 2020 – via www.rte.ie. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "Inter-county leagues and championships revamped for 2021 season". BBC Sport. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  4. ^ Keys, Colm (23 September 2020). "Shorter inter-county season on the cards for 2021 as GAA braced for more Covid disruption". Irish Independent. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  5. ^ Fogarty, John (December 19, 2020). "New League structure as GAA master calendar for 2021 revealed". Irish Examiner.
  6. ^ "Longford pitted with provincial champions in 2021 National Football League". www.longfordleader.ie.
  7. ^ "2021 League and Championships – Overview". www.gaa.ie.
  8. ^ "No Activity For Clare GAA Sides Until Easter At The Earliest". February 11, 2021.
  9. ^ Fogarty, John (January 27, 2021). "What will the delayed GAA season look like? Here are four possible scenarios". Irish Examiner.
  10. ^ Fogarty, John (January 26, 2021). "GAA officials redrawing League and Championship calendars". Irish Examiner.
  11. ^ GBFM, Sport (April 8, 2021). "GAA: 2021 Inter-County Fixtures Plan Released".
  12. ^ Nolan, Pat (April 12, 2021). "Dublin set to be left without a home game in Allianz League". Irish Mirror.
  13. ^ "Dublin share League title with Kerry after win over Donegal: As it happened". independent.
  14. ^ Fogarty, John (June 10, 2021). "As leagues that may or may not have finals conclude, the GAA's obscure history of shared titles". Irish Examiner.
  15. ^ a b McCormack, Richie. "GAA confirm limited attendance for NFL Division 3 final at Croke Park". Newstalk.
  16. ^ "NFL semis and relegation play-off pairings confirmed". May 30, 2021 – via www.rte.ie. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. ^ "UPDATED: Croke Park reveals counties agreed to Allianz NFL Division 4 Shield Final pairing as Leitrim end League campaign". www.leitrimobserver.ie.
  18. ^ "GAA Official Guide - Part 1" (PDF). gaa.ie. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Tubridy's record haul cannot stop Rebels but Banner qualify with Division 1 now in their sights". Irish Independent. 31 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Banner hero David Tubridy already has more history in his sights after becoming highest league scorer of all time". Irish Independent. 1 June 2021.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""