2017 National Football League (Ireland)
# 2017 National Football League (Ireland)

The 2017 National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz Football League, was the 86th staging of the National Football League, an annual Gaelic football tournament for Gaelic Athletic Association county teams. Thirty-one county teams from the island of Ireland, plus London, compete. Kilkenny do not participate.

On 9 April 2017 Kerry won their 20th National League title, beating Dublin by 0-20 to 1-16 in the final. Dublin were the reigning champions and were bidding for their fifth successive title.

Eir Sport (formerly Setanta) and TG4 provided live coverage of the league on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons respectively. RTÉ2 broadcast highlights programme Allianz League Sunday on Sunday evenings. TG4 broadcast the final of each division live.

## Format

### League structure

The 2017 National Football League consists of four divisions of eight teams. Each team plays every other team in its division once, usually four home and three away or three home and four away. Two points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw.

Teams Displayed By Province :

| Province | Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 4 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Connacht | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Leinster | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| Munster | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Ulster | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| Britain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |

### Tie-breaker

If only two teams are level on league points -

* The team that won the head-to-head match is ranked first
* If this game was a draw, score difference (total scored minus total conceded in all games) is used to rank the teams
* If score difference is identical, total scored is used to rank the teams
* If still identical, a play-off is required

If three or more teams are level on league points, score difference is used to rank the teams.

### Finals, promotions and relegations

**Division 1**

Following the decision to abolish the National Football League semi finals for 2017, the top two teams in Division 1 contest the National Football League final. The bottom two teams are relegated to Division 2.

**Division 2, Division 3 & Division 4**

The top two teams in Divisions 2, 3 and 4 are promoted and contest the finals of their respective divisions. The bottom two teams in Divisions 2 and 3 are relegated.

## Division 1

### Division 1 table

Qualify for Division 1 final  Automatic relegation to Division 2

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dublin | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 6-109 | 4-72 | 43 | 11 |
| Kerry | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6-103 | 7-87 | 13 | 8 |
| Donegal | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5-90 | 7-74 | 10 | 8 |
| Monaghan | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7-79 | 5-82 | 3 | 8 |
| Mayo | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3-90 | 4-90 | -3 | 8 |
| Tyrone | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3-87 | 4-81 | 3 | 7 |
| Cavan | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4-72 | 2-101 | -23 | 4 |
| Roscommon | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6-85 | 7-128 | -46 | 2 |

* Kerry, Donegal, Monaghan and Mayo are ranked by score difference.

### Division 1 Final

| 9 April 2017 4:00 pm Final | Kerry | 0-20 - 1-16 | Dublin | Croke Park, Dublin Attendance: 53,840 Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon) Man of the Match: David Moran (Kerins O'Rahilly's) |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 9 April 2017 4:00 pm Final | Paul Geaney 0-8 (0-5f), David Moran 0-3 (1 '45), Michael Geaney and Donnchadh Walsh 0-2 each, Kevin McCarthy, Jack Savage, Paul Murphy, Jack Barry and Bryan Sheehan 0-1 each | Report | Dean Rock 0-6 (0-4f), Paul Mannion 1-2, Ciarán Kilkenny and Ciaran Reddin 0-2 each, Philly McMahon, James McCarthy, Paul Flynn and Diarmuid Connolly 0-1 each | Croke Park, Dublin Attendance: 53,840 Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon) Man of the Match: David Moran (Kerins O'Rahilly's) |

## Division 2

### Division 2 table

Qualify for Division 2 final and automatic promotion to Division 1  Automatic relegation to Division 3

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Galway | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 12-99 | 6-86 | 31 | 11 |
| Kildare | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 11-102 | 3-94 | 32 | 10 |
| Meath | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11-107 | 5-91 | 34 | 9 |
| Cork | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4-90 | 6-86 | -2 | 7 |
| Clare | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 9-78 | 6-99 | -12 | 5 |
| Down | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3-85 | 10-85 | -18 | 5 |
| Derry | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8-79 | 11-104 | -34 | 5 |
| Fermanagh | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1-87 | 12-85 | -31 | 4 |

* Clare, Down and Derry finished on five league points and are ranked by score difference.

### Division 2 Final

| 9 April 2017 2:00 pm Final | Galway | 0-18 – 0-16 | Kildare | Croke Park Referee: Derek O’Mahony (Tipperary) Man of the Match: Paul Conroy (St. James') |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 9 April 2017 2:00 pm Final | Shane Walsh and Sean Armstrong (0-1f) 0-3 each, Johnny Heaney, Michael Daly, Gary O’Donnell, Paul Conroy 0-2 each, Eamonn Brannigan, Gareth Bradshaw, Liam Silke, Gary Sice (0-1f) 0-1 each | Report | Niall Kelly 0-5, Kevin Feely 0-4 (0-3f), Tommy Moolick, Mark Donnellan (0-1f), David Hyland, Keith Cribbin, Fergal Conway, Fionn Dowling, Cathal McNally 0-1 each | Croke Park Referee: Derek O’Mahony (Tipperary) Man of the Match: Paul Conroy (St. James') |

## Division 3

### Division 3 table

Qualify for Division 3 final and automatic promotion to Division 2  Automatic relegation to Division 4

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Louth | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 7-88 | 4-89 | 8 | 10 |
| Tipperary | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 12-96 | 5-98 | 19 | 10 |
| Armagh | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 15-103 | 9-76 | 45 | 9 |
| Sligo | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8-87 | 8-89 | -2 | 7 |
| Offaly | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 7-97 | 18-90 | -26 | 6 |
| Longford | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4-94 | 10-82 | -6 | 5 |
| Antrim | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4-78 | 6-91 | -19 | 5 |
| Laois | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 10-80 | 9-103 | -20 | 4 |

* Louth are ranked ahead of Tipperary as they won the head-to-head game between the teams.
* Longford v. Antrim was a draw so the teams are ranked by score difference.

### Division 3 Final

| 8 April 2017 5:00 pm Final | Tipperary | 3-19 – 0-19 | Louth | Croke Park Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow) Man of the Match: Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials) |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 8 April 2017 5:00 pm Final | Conor Sweeney 2-5 (0-3f), Liam Casey 1-1, Kevin O’Halloran (0-2f) & Michael Quinlivan (0-2f) 0-3 each, Jack Kennedy 0-2, Alan Campbell, Robbie Kiely, Josh Keane, Liam Boland, Liam McGrath 0-1 each | Report | Ryan Burns 0-5 (0-4f), Tommy Durnin and Jim McEneaney (0-3f) 0-3 each, Pauric Smith and Declan Byrne (0-1f) 0-2 each, Derek Maguire, Andy McDonnell, Bevan Duffy, Eoin O’Connor 0-1 each | Croke Park Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow) Man of the Match: Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials) |

## Division 4

### Division 4 table

Qualify for Division 4 final and automatic promotion to Division 3

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Westmeath | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 13-128 | 5-74 | 78 | 13 |
| Wexford | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3-85 | 6-92 | -16 | 10 |
| Carlow | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10-90 | 7-84 | 25 | 9 |
| Limerick | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 6-81 | 4-86 | 1 | 8 |
| Leitrim | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 7-98 | 8-90 | 5 | 8 |
| Waterford | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6-77 | 9-73 | -8 | 4 |
| Wicklow | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3-83 | 8-101 | -33 | 2 |
| London | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6-72 | 8-119 | -53 | 2 |

* Limerick are ranked ahead of Leitrim as they won the head-to-head game between the teams.
* Wicklow are ranked ahead of London as they won the head-to-head game between the teams.

### Division 4 Final

| 8 April 2017 3:00 pm Final | Westmeath | 2-24 - 2-11 | Wexford | Croke Park Referee: Paul Faloon (Down) Man of the Match: Kieran Martin (Maryland) |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 8 April 2017 3:00 pm Final | John Heslin 0-8 (0-5f), Ger Egan 1-2 (1-0 pen), Shane Dempsey 1-1, Kieran Martin 0-4, Paul Sharry & Tommy McDaniels 0-3 each, John Connellan 0-2, Kelvin Reilly 0-1 | Report | Kevin O’Grady 1-1, Ciarán Lyng 0-4 (0-3f), Donal Shanley 1-2 (0-1f, 0-1 45), PJ Banville 0-2, Michael Furlong & Daithí Waters 0-1 each | Croke Park Referee: Paul Faloon (Down) Man of the Match: Kieran Martin (Maryland) |

## League Statistics

* All scores correct as of 12 April 2017

### Scoring Events

* Widest winning margin: 30
   * Armagh 6-22 – 0-10 Offaly (Division 3)
* Most goals in a match: 7
   * Galway 5-15 – 2-15 Derry (Division 2)
   * Offaly 3-15 – 4-11 Laois (Division 3)
* Most points in a match: 43
   * Dublin 2-29 – 0-14 Roscommon (Division 1)
* Most goals by one team in a match: 6
   * Armagh 6-22 – 0-10 Offaly (Division 3)
* Highest aggregate score: 51 points
   * Galway 5-15 – 2-15 Derry (Division 2)
* Lowest aggregate score: 14 points
   * Monaghan 0-07 – 0-07 Cavan (Division 1)

### Top Scorer: Overall

| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | John Heslin | Westmeath | 3-60 | 69 | 8 | 8.6 |
| 2 | Paul Geaney | Kerry | 3-42 | 51 | 8 | 6.4 |
| 3 | Conor Sweeney | Tipperary | 4-38 | 50 | 8 | 6.2 |
| 4 | Donal Kingston | Laois | 5-34 | 49 | 7 | 7 |
| 5 | Dean Rock | Dublin | 0-48 | 48 | 8 | 6 |
| 6 | Paul Broderick | Carlow | 3-35 | 44 | 6 | 7.3 |
| 7 | Robbie Smyth | Longford | 0-39 | 39 | 7 | 5.6 |
| 8 | Seanie Furlong | Wicklow | 1-35 | 38 | 6 | 6.3 |
| 8 | Jack McCarron | Monaghan | 3-29 | 38 | 6 | 6.3 |
| 10 | Emlyn Mulligan | Leitrim | 1-33 | 36 | 7 | 5.1 |
| 11 | E Cleary | Clare | 1-31 | 34 | 7 | 4.9 |
| 12 | Donal Lenihan | Meath | 2-27 | 33 | 7 | 4.7 |
| 13 | Nigel Dunne | Offaly | 1-29 | 32 | 7 | 4.6 |
| 14 | Rory Mason | London | 1-28 | 31 | 6 | 5.2 |
| 14 | Ryan Burns | Louth | 3-22 | 31 | 8 | 3.9 |

### Top Scorer: Single game

| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | John Heslin | Westmeath | 1-11 | 14 | Leitrim |
| 2 | John Heslin | Westmeath | 1-10 | 13 | Wexford |
| 2 | Conor Sweeney | Tipperary | 2-07 | 13 | Longford |
| 2 | Donal Kingston | Laois | 3-04 | 13 | Offaly |
| 5 | Jack McCarron | Monaghan | 1-09 | 12 | Dublin |
| 5 | Paul Broderick | Carlow | 2-06 | 12 | Waterford |
| 7 | Colm O'Neill | Cork | 0-11 | 11 | Derry |
| 7 | Ben Brosnan | Wexford | 0-11 | 11 | London |
| 7 | Conor Sweeney | Tipperary | 2-05 | 11 | Louth |
| 10 | Paul Broderick | Carlow | 0-10 | 10 | Wicklow |
| 10 | John Heslin | Westmeath | 0-10 | 10 | Wicklow |
| 10 | C J McGourty | Antrim | 1-07 | 10 | Longford |
| 10 | Jack McCarron | Monaghan | 1-07 | 10 | Roscommon |
| 10 | Peter Harte | Tyrone | 2-04 | 10 | Kerry |
| 10 | Paul Geaney | Kerry | 2-04 | 10 | Donegal |
| 10 | Michael Quinlivan | Tipperary | 3-01 | 10 | Armagh |
