2021 National Football League (Ireland)

The 2021 National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz National Football League, is due to be 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 may participate, depending on restrictions around travel in place to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][3]

League details
Dates27 February – 4 April, 2021[1]
Teams31 or 32
League champions
← 2020
2022 →

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. Teams will play three league games, plus possibly two knockout matches, allowing the tournament to be finished in just five rounds of games.[4][5][6]

Format

League structure
Teams by Province and Division
ProvinceDivision 1Division 2Division 3Division 4Total
Connacht21025
Leinster143311
Munster12216
Ulster41319
Britain00011
Total888832

The 2021 National Football League consists of four divisions of eight teams. 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.

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

The bottom two teams in each section in division 4 enter the semi-finals of a shield competition.

Tiebreakers for league ranking

As per the Official GAA Guide - Part 1 - Section 6.21[7] -

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

If three or more teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the league 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 in (i)
  3. A Play-Off

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

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Armagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to NFL semi-finals
2 Donegal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Monaghan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to a relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 2
4 Tyrone 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 27 February 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Round 1
Round 2

Round 3

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Kerry 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to NFL semi-finals
2 Roscommon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Dublin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Division 1 relegation playoffs; two losers are relegated to Division 2
4 Galway 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 27 February 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Round 1
Round 2

Round 3

Division 1 Relegation Playoffs
27/28 March 2021
Relegation playoff
3rd place Division 1 North v 4th place Division 1 South
27/28 March 2021
Relegation playoff
3rd place Division 1 South v 4th place Division 1 North

Division 1 Finals
27/28 March 2021
Semi-Final
1st place Division 1 North v 2nd place Division 1 South
27/28 March 2021
Semi-Final
1st place Division 1 South v 2nd place Division 1 North
3/4 April 2021
NFL Final
Semi-final winner v Semi-final winner

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

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Mayo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Division 2 semi-finals; both finalists are promoted to Division 1
2 Meath 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Down 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to a relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 3
4 Westmeath 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 27 February 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Round 1
Round 2

Round 3

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Clare 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Division 2 semi-finals; both finalists are promoted to Division 1
2 Cork 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Laois 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to a relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 3
4 Kildare 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 27 February 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Round 1
Round 2

Round 3

Division 2 Relegation Playoffs
27/28 March 2021
Relegation playoff
3rd place Division 2 North v 4th place Division 2 South
27/28 March 2021
Relegation playoff
3rd place Division 2 South v 4th place Division 2 North

Division 2 Finals
27/28 March 2021
Semi-Final
1st place Division 2 North v 2nd place Division 2 South
27/28 March 2021
Semi-Final
1st place Division 2 South v 2nd place Division 2 North
3/4 April 2021
Division 2 Final
Semi-final winner v Semi-final winner

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

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Cavan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Division 3 semi-finals; both finalists are promoted to Division 2
2 Derry 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Fermanagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to a relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 4
4 Longford 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 27 February 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Round 1
Round 2

Round 3

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Wicklow 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Division 3 semi-finals; both finalists are promoted to Division 2
2 Offaly 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Tipperary 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to a relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 4
4 Limerick 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 27 February 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Round 1
Round 2

Round 3

Division 3 Relegation Playoffs
27/28 March 2021
Relegation playoff
3rd place Division 3 North v 4th place Division 3 South
27/28 March 2021
Relegation playoff
3rd place Division 3 South v 4th place Division 3 North

Division 3 Finals
27/28 March 2021
Semi-Final
1st place Division 3 North v 2nd place Division 3 South
27/28 March 2021
Semi-Final
1st place Division 3 South v 2nd place Division 3 North
3/4 April 2021
Division 3 Final
Semi-final winner v Semi-final winner

Division 4
Locations of the 2021 NFL Division 4 teams.
Red: North section; Green: South section.

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Antrim 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Division 4 semi-finals; both finalists are promoted to Division 3
2 Sligo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Leitrim 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Division 4 Shield semi-finals
4 Louth 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 27 February 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Round 1
Round 2

Round 3

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Waterford 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Division 4 semi-finals; both finalists are promoted to Division 3
2 Carlow 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Wexford 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Division 4 Shield semi-finals
4 Londonnote 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 27 February 2021. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

^ London may not compete, depending on restrictions on travel regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Round 1
Round 2

Round 3

Division 4 Shield
27/28 March 2021
Shield Semi-Final
3rd place Division 4 North v 4th place Division 4 South
27/28 March 2021
Shield Semi-Final
3rd place Division 4 South v 4th place Division 4 North
3/4 April 2021
Division 4 Shield Final
Semi-final winner v Semi-final winner

Division 4 Finals
27/28 March 2021
Semi-Final
1st place Division 4 North v 2nd place Division 4 South
27/28 March 2021
Semi-Final
1st place Division 4 South v 2nd place Division 4 North
3/4 April 2021
Division 4 Final
Semi-final winner v Semi-final winner

References
  1. https://punditarena.com/gaa/daniel-hussey/2021-gaa-calendar/
  2. Connaughton, Gary. "Promotion & Relegation Permutations For All Four Divisions Of National Football League". Balls.ie.
  3. "Allianz FL results & reports: Mayo and Leitrim go down". October 25, 2020 – via www.rte.ie. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. Fogarty, John (December 19, 2020). "New League structure as GAA master calendar for 2021 revealed". Irish Examiner.
  5. "Longford pitted with provincial champions in 2021 National Football League". www.longfordleader.ie.
  6. https://www.gaa.ie/news/2021-league-and-championships-overview/
  7. "GAA Official Guide - Part 1" (PDF). gaa.ie. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
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