The first six rounds in all four divisions were scheduled to have been played before 24 March 2018, allowing the final round seven matches to be played on that date. Due to poor winter weather, some fixtures in Division 2 (round 6) and Division 4 (rounds 5 and 6) had not been played by that date. The GAA decided to proceed with the final round seven matches in the four divisions before the completion of the earlier rounds. This decision proved controversial - for instance, in the rescheduled Division 2 match between Louth and Meath which was played on 31 March 2018, Meath needed to win to avoid relegation while Louth had nothing to play for as they were already relegated irrespective of the result. Meath beat Louth by 1-12 to 0-07, thereby ensuring that Down were relegated.
Eir Sport and TG4 provide live TV coverage of the league on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons respectively. The highlights programmes are RTÉ2's League Sunday on Sunday evenings and TG4's GAA 2018 on Monday evenings.
The league concluded on 1 April 2018 with Dublin defeating Galway in the division 1 final. It was their fifth Division 1 title in six years.[1][2]
Format
League structure
The 2018 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.
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
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
Possible problem: 875 total for != 873 total against
Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2018. Source: GAA.ie Rules for classification: 1) League points 2) Where only two teams are level, the winner of the game between the two teams is ranked first 3) Scoring Difference 4) Highest Total Score For 5) A Play-Off.
Brian Fenton 1-3 Dean Rock 1-2 (0-2f), Colm Basquel 0-3, Brian Howard, Ciarán Kilkenny, Niall Scully 0-2 each, John Small, Bernard Brogan, Kevin McManamon 0-1 each
Seán O'Shea 0-4 (1 '45), Gavin Crowley 1-0, Paul Geaney 0-3, Mícheál Burns and Barry John Keane 0-2, Paul Murphy, Barry O'Sullivan, David Clifford, Brendan O'Sullivan 0-1 each
Referee: Derek O'Mahoney (Tipperary) Man of the Match: Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
Niall Scully and Colm Basquel (0-1f) 0-4 each, Brian Fenton, Ciarán Kilkenny, Paul Mannion (0-1f) 0-2 each, Eric Lowndes, Brian Howard, Paddy Andrews, Eoghan O'Gara, Ciaran Reddin, Paddy Small 0-1 each
Aidan O'Shea 1-1, Cillian O'Connor 0-4 (0-3f), Andy Moran 0-3, Rob Hennelly (0-2f), Diarmuid O'Connor, Adam Gallagher, Conor Loftus (0-1f) 0-2 each, Eoin O'Donoghue, Kevin McLoughlin, Jason Doherty 0-1 each
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan) Man of the Match: Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)
Ciarán Kilkenny 0-5, Dean Rock (0-2f) and Cormac Costello (0-2f) 0-2 each, Jonny Cooper, Paddy Andrews, Paddy Small (0-1f), Conor McHugh (0-1f) 0-1 each
Vincent Corey and Jack McCarron 1-1 each, Conor McCarthy 0-3 (0-2f), Conor McManus 0-2 (0-1f), Karl O'Connell, Dessie Mone, Ryan McAnespie, Kieran Hughes, Fintan Kelly 0-1 each
Attendance: 22,085 Referee: David Gough (Meath) Man of the Match: Drew Wylie (Ballybay)
Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2018. Source: GAA.ie Rules for classification: 1) League points 2) Where only two teams are involved, the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the competition 3) Scoring Difference 4) Highest Total Score For 5) A Play-Off.
Updated to match(es) played on 28 February 2018. Source: GAA.ie Rules for classification: 1) League points 2) Where only two teams are involved, the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the competition 3) Scoring Difference 4) Highest Total Score For 5) A Play-Off.
Updated to match(es) played on 24 February 2018. Source: GAA.ie Rules for classification: 1) League points 2) Where only two teams are involved, the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the competition 3) Scoring Difference 4) Highest Total Score For 5) A Play-Off.
Three games (Laois v Antrim, Waterford v Leitrim and Wicklow v Limerick) were postponed due to poor weather. The CCCC decided to cancel them as the results were irrelevant to determining the league finalists. Several managers and the Gaelic Players Association criticised the decision as undermining the integrity of the division, arguing that Division 1 games would not be cancelled in the same fashion.[3]
Division 4 Rounds 1 to 7
Round 1
London v Carlow
Saturday, January 27
London
2-9 – 2-14
Carlow
McGovern Park, Ruislip
1:00pm
Liam Gavaghan 1-4 (0-4f), Eoin Murray 1-0 pen, Adrian Moyles (0-1f) and Killian Butler 0-2 each, Ryan Elliot 0-1
Paul Broderick 0-6 (0-5f), Jordan Morrissey and Eoghan Ruth 1-1 each, Darragh Foley 0-2f, Daniel St. Ledger, Ciaran Moran, Sean Murphy, Gary Kelly 0-1 each
Referee: James Bermingham (Cork)
Laois v Limerick
Saturday, January 27
Laois
2-12 – 0-09
Limerick
O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
7:00pm
Gary Walsh 1-6 (0-4f), Paul Kingston 1-0, Eoin Lowry 0-3, Daniel O'Reilly 0-2, Aaron Dowling 0-1
Gary Walsh 1-8 (0-6f), Eoin Lowry 1-1 (1-0 pen), Trevor Collins 1-0, Evan O'Carroll 0-3, Paul Kingston and Ross Munnelly 0-2 each
Referee: Barry Judge (Sligo) Man of the Match: John O'Loughlin (St. Brigid's)
Limerick v Carlow
Sunday, February 4
Limerick
0-13 – 2-11
Carlow
Newcastlewest, Limerick
2:00pm
Jamie Lee 0-4 (0-2f), Danny Neville 0-2, Garrett Noonan, Sean O'Dea, Jim Liston, Darragh Treacy, Peter Nash, Seamus O'Carroll, Josh Ryan (0-1f) 0-1 each