The National Football League (NFL; ) 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.
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.
Donegal are the current league champions, having won the 2026 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.
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.
Finals listed by year
Winners
+CountyTitle(s)Runners-upYears wonYears runner-up Kerry 24 8 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, 2026 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 YorkNew 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. 3 1949–50, 1963–64, 1966–67 Donegal 2 3 2007, 2026 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96 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 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 Clare 0 1 –1946–47 Fermanagh 0 1 – 1934–35
Wins by provinces +ProvinceTitle(s) Munster32 Leinster25 Connacht18 Ulster18 North America3
Division 1 2027 teams The following eight teams are competing in Division 1 during the 2027 league. TeamPosition in table in 2026In Division sinceMost recent relegationDivision 1 titles Armagh6th202520231 CorkDivision 2 runners-up202720168 DonegalChampions202520231 Galway5th202320214 KerryRunners-Up2003200124 Mayo3rd2022202013 MeathDivision 2 champions202720207 Roscommon4th202620241
Division 2 2027 teams The following eight teams are competing in Division 2 during the 2027 league. TeamPosition in table in 2026In Division sinceMost recent promotionMost recent relegationDivision 2 titles Cavan6th2024201820200 Derry4th2026202320171 DownDivision 3 champions2027201620250 Dublin7th (Division 1)20272023Never Relegated1 Louth3rd2023200620182 Monaghan8th (Division 1)2027202520123 Tyrone5th20262016Never Relegated1 WexfordDivision 3 runners-up2027Never Promoted20130
List of Finals YearWinnersRunners-upVenueCountyScoreCountyScore2026Meath1-22Cork2-17Croke Park2025Monaghan1-26Roscommon0-19Croke Park2024Donegal 0-15Armagh 0-14Croke Park2023Dublin4-06Derry0-11Croke Park2022Roscommon1-20Galway0-22Croke Park2021Kildare and Mayo share the titleN/A2020Roscommon0-11Armagh0-09Croke Park2019Donegal1-17Meath1-15Croke Park2018Roscommon4-16Cavan4-12Croke Park2017Galway0-18Kildare0-16Croke Park2016Tyrone1-17Cavan0-15Croke Park2015Roscommon1-17Down0-15Croke Park2014Monaghan1-16Donegal1-10Croke Park2013Derry1-18Westmeath0-15Croke Park2012Kildare0-16Tyrone0-11Croke Park2011Donegal2-11Laois0-16Croke Park2010Armagh0-17Down1-12Croke Park2009Cork1-14Monaghan0-12Croke Park2008Westmeath0-15Dublin0-10Páirc Tailteann2007Meath2-12Roscommon0-10Breffni Park2006Louth1-12 (R)Donegal1-09Breffni Park2005Monaghan3-13Meath3-12Croke Park2004Offaly1-16Down2-12Croke Park2003Westmeath1-16Limerick2-12Croke Park2002Kerry1-09Laois1-05Gaelic Grounds2001WestmeathCork2000Louth1-13Offaly0-13Croke Park1999Kerry and Sligo won Division 2A and 2B respectively
Roll of Honour #CountyTitlesRunners-upYears wonYears runners-up1 Roscommon422015, 2018, 2020, 2022 2007, 20252 Donegal32 2011, 2019, 2024 2006, 2014 Westmeath31 2001, 2003, 20082013 Monaghan312005, 2014, 2025 20095 Meath22 2007, 20262005, 2019 Kildare212012, 2021 2017 Kerry201999, 2002 - Louth202000, 2006 -9 Cork122009 2001, 2026 Armagh12 20102020, 2024 Offaly112004 2000 Derry112013 2023 Tyrone112016 2012 Galway11 20172022 Dublin11 20232008 Sligo101999 - Mayo102021 -18 Down03 -2004, 2010, 2015 Laois02 -2002, 2011 Cavan02 -2016, 2018 Limerick01 -2003
Division 3 2027 teams The following eight teams are competing in Division 3 during the 2027 league. TeamPosition in table in 2026In Division sinceMost recent promotionMost recent relegationDivision 3 titles CarlowDivision 4 champions2027Never Promoted20190 Clare6th20242016Never Relegated1 Kildare7th (Division 2)20272025Never Relegated0 Laois4th2025201920210 LongfordDivision 4 runners-up2027201220231 Offaly8th (Division 2)2027202520141 Sligo5th2024201020191 Westmeath3rd2026202420162
List of Finals YearWinnersRunners-upVenueCountyScoreCountyScore2026Down0-21Wexford0-18Croke Park2025Offaly2-17Kildare1-18Croke Park2024Westmeath2-10Down0-13Croke Park2023Cavan0-16Fermanagh1-07Croke Park2022Louth1-14Limerick1-12Croke Park2021Derry0-21Offaly1-06Croke Park2020Cork14 ptsDown9 ptsN/A2019Westmeath1-13Laois0-13Croke Park2018Armagh1-16Fermanagh0-17Croke Park2017Tipperary3-19Louth0-19Croke Park2016Clare2-17Kildare1-19Croke Park2015Armagh0-16Fermanagh0-11Croke Park2014Roscommon1-17Cavan0-18Croke Park2013Monaghan2-16Meath3-08Croke Park2012Longford1-12Wexford0-13Croke Park2011Louth1-15Westmeath0-13Croke Park2010Sligo0-19Antrim1-11Croke Park2009Tipperary0-18Down1-14Pearse Park2008Wexford3-15Fermanagh0-20Parnell Park
Roll of Honour #CountyTitlesRunners-upYears wonYears runners-up1 Louth212011, 20222017 Westmeath212019, 20242011 Tipperary202009, 2017 - Armagh202015, 2018 -5 Down13 20262009, 2020, 2024 Wexford1220082012, 2026 Cavan11 20232014 Offaly11 20252021 Sligo102010 - Longford102012 - Monaghan102013 - Roscommon102014 - Clare102016 - Cork102020 - Derry102021 -16 Fermanagh04 -2008, 2015, 2018, 2023 Kildare02 -2016, 2025 Antrim01 -2010 Meath01 -2013 Laois01 -2019 Limerick01 -2022
Division 4 2027 teams The following eight teams are competing in Division 4 during the 2027 league. TeamPosition in table in 2026In Division sinceMost recent promotionDivision 4 titles Antrim4th202620211 Fermanagh7th (Division 3)202720120 Leitrim7th202620240 Limerick8th (Division 3)202720254 London6th2008Never promoted0 Tipperary5th202420221 Waterford8th201220100 Wicklow3rd202520203
List of Finals YearWinnersRunners-upVenueCountyScoreCountyScore2026Carlow1-24Longford2-18Croke Park2025Limerick3-11Wexford0-18Croke Park2024Laois3-14Leitrim0-09Croke Park2023Sligo2-10Wicklow0-14Croke Park2022Cavan2-10Tipperary0-15Croke Park2021Antrim and Louth share the title2020Limerick10 ptsWicklow10 ptsN/A2019Derry0-20Leitrim0-16Croke Park2018Laois0-15Carlow0-11Croke Park2017Westmeath2-24Wexford2-11Croke Park2016Louth3-12Antrim1-14Croke Park2015Offaly4-16Longford1-12Croke Park2014Tipperary1-16Clare1-15Croke Park2013Limerick0-16Offaly1-11Croke Park2012Wicklow2-16Fermanagh1-11Croke Park2011Longford2-11Roscommon1-08Croke Park2010 Limerick1-16 Waterford1-14Croke Park2009 Sligo1-12 Antrim1-10Pearse Park2008 Offaly2-13 Tipperary0-13O'Moore Park
Roll of Honour