The 1987–88 National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Royal Liver National Football League, was the 57th staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for the Gaelic Athletic Association county teams of Ireland.
Meath won the league, beating Dublin in a replayed final.GAA Final Teams
Format
Divisions Division One: 8 teams Division Two: 8 teams Division Three: 16 teams. Split into two regional groups of 8 (North and South)
Round-robin format Each team played every other team in its division (or group where the division is split) once, either home or away.
Points awarded 2 points were awarded for a win and 1 for a draw.
Titles Teams in all three divisions competed for the National Football League title.
Knockout stage qualifiers Division One: top 4 teams Division Two: top 2 teams Division Three (North): group winners Division Three (South): group winners
Knockout phase structure In the quarter-finals, the match-ups were as follows: Quarter-final 1: First-placed team in Division One v First-placed team in Division Three (South) Quarter-final 2: Second-placed team in Division One v First-placed team in Division Three (North) Quarter-final 3: Third-placed team in Division One v Second-placed team in Division Two Quarter-final 4: Fourth-placed team in Division One v First-placed team in Division Two The semi-final match-ups are: Semi-final 1: Winner Quarter-final 1 v Winner Quarter-final 4 Semi-final 2: Winner Quarter-final 2 v Winner Quarter-final 3
The final match-up is: Winner Semi-final 1 v Winner Semi-final 2.
Promotion and relegation
Division One: bottom 2 teams demoted to Division Two Division Two: top 2 teams promoted to Division One. Bottom 2 teams demoted to Division Three. Division Three (North): group winners promoted to Division Two. Division Three (South): group winners promoted to Division Two.
Separation of teams on equal points
In the event that teams finish on equal points, then a play-off will be used to determine group placings if necessary, i.e. where to decide relegation places or quarter-finalists.
League Phase Results and Tables
Division One
Division One (A) play-offs
Table TeamPldWDLPtsStatus 7 5 2 0 12 Advance to quarter-finals 7 4 2 1 10 7 4 12 9 7 3 04 6 7 2 1 4 5 7 2 1 4 5 7 21 4 5 Relegated to Division Two of the 1988–89 NFL 7 1 2 4 4
Division Two TeamPldWDLPtsStatus 7 5 1 1 11 Advance to quarter-finals; promoted to Division One of the 1988–89 NFL 7 5 1 1 11 7 3 31 9 7 4 12 9 7 3 04 6 7 2 14 5 7 12 4 4 Relegated to Division Three of the 1988–89 NFL 7 01 6 1
Division Three
Division Three (South)
Promotion play-offs
Division Three (North) table TeamPldWDLPtsStatus 7 6 1 0 13 Advance to quarter-finals; promoted to Division Two of the 1988–89 NFL 7 4 2 1 10 7 4 12 9 7 3 0 4 6 7 3 0 4 6 7 2 3 3 6 7 20 5 4 7 1 0 6 2
Division Three (South) table TeamPldWDLPtsStatus 7 5 0 2 10 Advance to quarter-finals; promoted to Division Two of the 1988–89 NFL 7 5 0 2 10 7 5 02 10 7 5 0 2 10 7 3 0 4 6 7 2 0 5 4 7 20 5 4 7 1 0 6 2 "GAA Scoreboard", Irish Independent 29/02/1988, p. 15
Division Three Final
GK1 Niall O'Donnell (Clan na Gael)RCB2 Pat Matthews (St Mary's)FB3 David Mulligan (St Joseph's)LCB4 Stephen Melia (John Mitchels)RHB5 Dessie Callaghan (Newtown Blues)CHB6 Martin McCann (Dundalk Young Irelands)LHB7 Peter Fitzpatrick (Clan na Gael) (c)MF8 Séamus O'Hanlon (Clan na Gael)MF9 Gerry Curran (Clan na Gael)RHF10 Kevin Gorham (Dundalk Young Irelands)CHF11 Paul Reneghan (Geraldines)LHF12 Brendan McEntee (Oliver Plunketts)RCF13 Johnny McDonnell (St Fechin's)FF14 Richie Culhane (Newtown Blues)LCF15 Kevin Dawe (Dreadnots)Substitutes: 16 Vincent Litchfield (Kilkerley Emmets) for Dawe GK1 Christy GroganRCB2 Gerry Fox (Seán Connollys)FB3 John Toher (Killoe Young Emmets)LCB4 Seán O'Shea (Civil Service, Dublin)RHB5 Cathal Lee (Colmcille)CHB6 Joe McCabe (Ballymahon)LHB7 Mickey Harkins (St. Mary's) MF8 Mark McNamara (Mostrim)MF9 Francis McNamee (Fr. Manning Gaels)RHF10 Gerry Clarke (Forgney)CHF11 Philip Kiernan (St Patrick's) (c)LHF12 John Keegan (St Patrick's)RCF13 Mickey O'Hara (Mostrim)FF14 Dessie Barry (Longford Slashers)LCF15 John McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets)Substitutes: 16 Declan Rowley (Killoe Young Emmets) for Clarke
Knockout stage Quarter-final
GK1 Mickey McQuillan (St Patrick's)RCB2 Robbie O'Malley (St Colmcille's)FB3 Mick Lyons (Summerhill)LCB4 Terry Ferguson (Gaeil Colmcille)RHB5 Kevin Foley (Trim)CHB6 Liam Harnan (Moynalvey)LHB7 Martin O'Connell (St Michael's)MF8 Liam Hayes (Skryne)MF9 Gerry McEntee (Nobber)RHF10 David Beggy (Navan O'Mahonys)CHF11 P.J. Gillic (Carnaross)LHF12 Brendan Reilly (Dunboyne)RCF13 Colm O'Rourke (Skryne)FF14 Brian Stafford (Kilmainhamwood)LCF15 Bernard Flynn (St Colmcille's)Substitutes: 16 Frank Foley (Trim) for Harnan 17 Mattie McCabe (Seneschalstown) for Beggy GK1 Niall O'Donnell (Clan na Gael)RCB2 Pat Matthews (Oliver Plunketts)FB3 David Mulligan (St Joseph's)LCB4 Stephen Melia (John Mitchels)RHB5 Dessie Callaghan (Newtown Blues)CHB6 Martin McCann (Dundalk Young Irelands)LHB7 Peter Fitzpatrick (Clan na Gael) (c)MF8 Séamus O'Hanlon (Clan na Gael)MF9 Gerry Curran (Clan na Gael)RHF10 Eugene Judge (Newtown Blues)CHF11 Paul Reneghan (Geraldines)LHF12 Davie McDonnell (Dundalk Gaels)RCF13 Jimmy McDonnell (Civil Service, Dublin)FF14 Richie Culhane (Newtown Blues)LCF15 Kevin Dawe (Dreadnots)Substitutes: 16 Cathal O'Hanlon (Clan na Gael) for Judge
Semi-final
Final
References