National Football League (Ireland)

Annual Gaelic football competition

National Football League

Current season or competition:
2025 National Football League
Irish| Sraith Náisiúnta Peile
Code| Gaelic football
Founded| 1925–1926; 99 years ago (1926)
Region| Ireland (GAA)
Trophy| Irish National Insurance Cup
No. of teams| 32 (8 teams in 4 divisions)
Title holders|  Kerry (24th title)
Most titles|  Kerry (24 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 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.

Kerry are the current league champions, having won the 2025 league.

## History

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

## Winners

[edit]

County  | Title(s)  | Runners-up  | Years won  | Years runner-up

|
|
|
|

Kerry | 24  | 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, 2025 | 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  | 9  | 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, 2025
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  | —  | 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 ten NFL seasons between 1949–50 and 1988–89. They are not counted as runners-up for these seasons as they did not have to play any games to reach the final.

### Wins by provinces

[edit]

Province  | Title(s)

|

Munster | 32
Leinster | 25
Connacht | 18
Ulster | 17
North America | 3

## Division 1

[edit]

### 2025 Teams

[edit]

The following eight teams are competing in Division 1 during the 2025 league.

Team  | Position in table in 2024 | In Division since  | Most recent relegation  | Division 1 titles

|
|
|
|

Armagh | Division 2 runners-up  | 2025  | 2023  | 1
Derry | Champions  | 2024  | 2015  | 6
Donegal | Division 2 champions  | 2025  | 2023  | 1
Dublin | Runners-up  | 2024  | 2022  | 14
Galway | 6th  | 2023  | 2021  | 4
Kerry | 3rd  | 2003  | 2001  | 24 (including 2025 title)
Mayo | 4th  | 2022  | 2020  | 13
Tyrone | 5th  | 2017  | 2015  | 2

## Division 2

[edit]

### 2025 Teams

[edit]

The following eight teams are competing in Division 2 during the 2025 league.

Team  | Position in table in 2024 | In Division since  | Most recent promotion  | Most recent relegation  | Division 2 titles

|
|
|
|
|

Cavan | 3rd  | 2024  | 2018  |  | 0
Cork | 4th  | 2021  | 2009  | 2019  | 1
Down | Division 3 runners-up  | 2025  | 2015  | 2022  | 0
Louth | 6th  | 2023  | 2006  | 2018  | 2
Meath | 5th  | 2021  | 2019  | 2012  | 1
Monaghan | 8th (Division 1)  | 2025  | 2014  | 2012  | 2
Roscommon | 7th (Division 1)  | 2025  | 2022  | 2008  | 4
Westmeath | Division 3 champions  | 2025  | 2013  | 2021  | 3

### List of Finals

[edit]

Year  | Winners  | Runners-up  | Venue

|
|
|

County  | Score  | County  | Score
2025 | Monaghan | 1-26  | Roscommon | 0-19  | Croke Park
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

[edit]

#  | County  | Titles  | Runners-Up  | Years won  | Years runners-up

|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Roscommon | 4  | 2  | 2015, 2018, 2020, 2022 | 2007, 2025
2  |  Donegal | 3  | 2  | 2011, 2019, 2024 | 2006, 2014
Westmeath | 3  | 1  | 2001, 2003, 2008 | 2013
4  |  Monaghan | 3  | 1  | 2005, 2014, 2025 | 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

[edit]

### 2025 Teams

[edit]

The following eight teams are competing in Division 3 during the 2025 league.

Team  | Position in table in 2024 | In Division since  | Most recent promotion  | Most recent relegation  | Division 3 titles

|
|
|
|
|

Antrim | 5th  | 2022  | 2010  | 2017  | 0
Clare | 3rd  | 2024  | 2016  |  | 1
Fermanagh | 7th (Division 2)  | 2025  | 2023  | 2020  | 0
Kildare | 8th (Division 2)  | 2025  | 2016  | 2015  | 0
Laois | Division 4 champions  | 2025  | 2019  | 2021  | 0
Leitrim | Division 4 runners-up  | 2025  |  |  | 0
Offaly | 6th  | 2023  | 2021  | 2014  | 0
Sligo | 4th  | 2024  | 2010  |  | 1

### List of Finals

[edit]

Year  | Winners  | Runners-up  | Venue

|
|
|

County  | Score  | County  | Score
2025 | Offaly | 2-17  | Kildare | 1-18  | Croke Park
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

[edit]

#  | 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
Offaly  | 1  | 1  | 2025  | 2021
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
Kildare  | 0  | 2  | \-  | 2016, 2025
Antrim  | 0  | 1  | \-  | 2010
Meath  | 0  | 1  | \-  | 2013
Laois  | 0  | 1  | \-  | 2019
Limerick  | 0  | 1  | \-  | 2022

## Division 4

[edit]

### 2025 Teams

[edit]

The following eight teams are competing in Division 4 during the 2025 league.

Team  | Position in table in 2024 | In Division since  | Most recent promotion  | Division 4 titles

|
|
|
|

Carlow | 5th  | 2020  | 2018  | 0
Limerick | 8th (Division 3)  | 2025  | 2023  | 1
London | 7th  | 2008  | Never promoted  | 0
Longford | 4th  | 2024  | 2015  | 1
Tipperary | 6th  | 2024  | 2022  | 1
Waterford | 8th  | 2012  | 2010  | 0
Wexford | 3rd  | 2019  | 2017  | 0
Wicklow | 7th (Division 3)  | 2025  | 2020  | 3

### List of Finals

[edit]

Year  | Winners  | Runners-up  | Venue

|
|
|

County  | Score  | County  | Score
2025 | Limerick | 3-11  | Wexford | 0-18  | Croke Park
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

[edit]

#  | County  | Titles  | Runners-Up  | Years won  | Years runners-up

|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Limerick | 4  | 0  | 2010, 2013, 2020, 2025 | \-
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
Wexford | 0  | 2  | \-  | 2017, 2025
Waterford | 0  | 1  | \-  | 2010
Roscommon | 0  | 1  | \-  | 2011
Fermanagh | 0  | 1  | \-  | 2012
Clare | 0  | 1  | \-  | 2014
Carlow | 0  | 1  | \-  | 2018

## Records and statistics

[edit]

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

## See also

[edit]

* Ladies' National Football League
* National Hurling League

## References

[edit]

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.

## External links

[edit]

* National League Results, Fixtures and Statistics
* 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

* v
* t
* e

National Football Leagues

Seasons|

* 1925–26
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* Finals
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* v
* t
* e

National Leagues of the Gaelic Athletic Association

National Football League (2026)

Division 1|

* Armagh
* Donegal
* Dublin
* Galway
* Kerry
* Mayo
* Monaghan
* Roscommon

Division 2|

* Cavan
* Cork
* Derry
* Kildare
* Louth
* Meath
* Offaly
* Tyrone

Division 3|

* Clare
* Down
* Fermanagh
* Laois
* Limerick
* Sligo
* Westmeath
* Wexford

Division 4|

* Antrim
* Carlow
* Leitrim
* Longford
* London
* Tipperary
* Waterford
* Wicklow

National Hurling League (2026)

Division 1A|

* Cork
* Kilkenny
* Galway
* Limerick
* Offaly
* Tipperary
* Waterford

Division 1B|

* Antrim
* Carlow
* Clare
* Down
* Dublin
* Kildare
* Wexford

Division 2|

* Derry
* Kerry
* Laois
* London
* Mayo
* Meath
* Westmeath

Division 3|

* Armagh
* Donegal
* Fermanagh
* Louth
* Roscommon
* Tyrone
* Wicklow

Division 4|

* Cavan
* Lancashire
* Leitrim
* Longford
* Monaghan
* Sligo
* Warwickshire

* v
* t
* e

Gaelic football

Rules|

* Ball
* Positions
* Scoring

Competitions|

* Senior Championship (2023)
* Senior Club Championship (2022–23)
* National Football League (2023)
* Tailteann Cup (2023)
* Under-20 Championship (2023)
* Minor Championship (2023)
* Junior Championship

Related topics|

* All Stars Awards
* Comparison with Australian football
* Comparison with rugby union
* Olympics
* Sam Maguire Cup

* Category

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