The 2013 National Football League known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz National Football League was the 82nd staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for the Gaelic Athletic Association county teams of Ireland. The League began on Saturday 1 February 2014. Thirty-one Gaelic football county teams from the island of Ireland, plus London, participated. Kilkenny, who participated in previous years, withdrew from the competition.
The reigning League Champions were Cork. 2012 All-Ireland Champions Donegal competed in the top division, as did Mayo whom they beat in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. The losing All-Ireland finalists in 2010 and 2011, respectively Down and Kerry, were there too. The top division was completed by newly promoted Kildare and Tyrone and 2011 All-Ireland Champions Dublin. All-Ireland Champions Donegal travelled to Croke Park to play Kildare in their first league game of the season on 3 February 2013.
On 28 April, Dublin defeated Tyrone by 0-18 to 0-17 to win their first league title since 1993. Two late points by Dean Rock and one by Jack McCaffrey in the final four minutes steered Dublin to victory
Format
League structure The 2013 format of the National Football League was a system of four divisions of eight teams. Each team played every other team in its division once, either home or away. 2 points were awarded for a win and 1 for a draw.
Tie-breaker If only two teams were level on points: The team that won the head-to-head match was ranked first If this game was a draw, points difference (total scored minus total conceded in all games) was used to rank the teams If points difference was identical, total scored was used to rank the teams If still identical, a play-off was required If three or more teams were level on points, points difference was used to rank the teams.
Finals, promotions and relegations The top four teams in Division 1 contested the 2013 NFL semi-finals (first played fourth and second played third) and final. The top two teams in divisions 2, 3 and 4 were promoted, and contested the finals of their respective divisions. The bottom two teams in divisions 1, 2 and 3 were relegated.
Division 1
Table
Rounds 1 to 7
Division 1 Semi-finals
Division 1 final
Division 2
Table
Rounds 1 to 7
Division 2 final
Division 3
Table
Rounds 1 to 7
Division 3 final
Division 4
Table
Rounds 1 to 7
Division 4 final
Statistics All scores correct as of 26 March 2016
Scoring Widest winning margin: 15 Derry 2-17 - 1-5 Westmeath (Division 2) Most goals in a match: 8 Monaghan 5-13 - 3-10 Wicklow (Division 3) Most points in a match: 33 Armagh 0-21 - 1-12 Galway (Division 2) Westmeath 0-17 - 0-16 Armagh (Division 2) Most goals by one team in a match: 5 Monaghan 5-13 - 3-10 Wicklow (Division 3) Highest aggregate score: 47 points Monaghan 5-13 - 3-10 Wicklow (Division 3) Lowest aggregate score: 14 points Waterford 0-6 - 0-8 Limerick (Division 4)
Top scorers Overall Rank Player CountyTally Total Matches Average 1Bernard Brogan Dublin2-38 44 6 7.3Sean McCormack Longford4-32 44 7 6.3 3Emlyn Mulligan Leitrim1-40 43 7 6.1Mickey Newman Meath4-31 43 7 6.1 5Donal O'Hare Down2-35 41 7 5.9 6Conor McManus Monaghan2-32 38 7 5.4John Heslin Westmeath2-32 38 7 5.4 8Michael Murphy Donegal1-34 37 7 5.3 9James Kielt Derry3-27 36 8 4.5Adrian Marren Sligo2-30 36 7 5.1Barry Grogan Tipperary2-30 36 7 5.1 12Ian Ryan Limerick1-32 35 7 5 13David Tubridy Clare1-31 34 7 4.9 14Shane Lennon Louth3-20 29 6 4.8 15Stephen O'Neill Tyrone3-19 28 8 3.5 Single game Rank Player CountyTally Total Opposition 1Bernard Brogan Dublin 1-10 13 MayoConor McManus Monaghan 2-7 13 Wicklow 3Sean McCormack Longford 1-7 10 WestmeathJohn Heslin Westmeath 1-7 10 LaoisSean McCormack Longford 2-4 10 Galway 6Michael Murphy Donegal 0-9 9 KildareDonal O'Hare Down 0-9 9 CorkDonal O'Hare Down 0-9 9 MayoMickey Newman Meath 1-6 9 AntrimBarry Grogan Tipperary 2-3 9 LeitrimGavin McParland Armagh 3-0 9 Wexford
References