The 1996–97 National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Church & General National Football League, was the 66th staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for the Gaelic Athletic Association county teams of Ireland.
Format The teams are in four divisions, three of 8 teams and one of 9. Each team plays all the other teams in its division once: either home or away. Teams earn 2 points for a winn and 1 for a draw. The top two teams in Divisions 2, 3 and 4 are promoted, while the bottom two teams in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 are relegated.
Eight teams contest the NFL quarter-finals: The top 4 teams in Division 1 The top 2 teams in Division 2 The first-placed teams in Divisions 3 and 4
Promotion and relegation
At the point at which the league was played, promotion and relegation was to be as follows:
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: top 2 teams promoted to Division Two. Bottom 2 teams demoted to Division Four. Division Four: top 2 teams promoted to Division Three.
After the season had finished, it was decided to move to a 'mixed-ability' league for a one-season experiment in the 1997–98 NFL season, which meant that there was no relegation or promotion in 1996–97.O'Riordan, Tom, "New format turns league on its head", Irish Independent, 27 August 1997, p. 21
Results and tables
Division 1 TeamPldWDLPtsStatus 7 5 0 2 10 Advance to Knockout stage 7 5 0 2 10 7 4 12 9 7 3 2 2 8 72145 7 2 1 4 5 7 2 1 4 5 7 12 4 4
Division 2
Play-Off
Division 2 TeamPldWDLPtsStatus 7 5 0 2 10 Advance to Knockout stage 7 5 0 2 10 Laois advanced to Knock out stage as Division 2 Runner Up 7 3 22 8 7 3 13 7 7 2 32 7 7 2 23 6 7 30 4 6 7 10 6 2
Division 3 TeamPldWDLPtsStatus 7 5 2 0 12 Advance to knockout stage 7 5 11 11 7 5 02 10 7 4 0 3 8 7 3 1 3 7 7 2 05 4 7 1 15 3 7 0 1 6 1
Division 4 won, with finishing second.
Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
GK1 Kevin O'Dwyer (O'Donovan Rossa)RCB2 Ronan McCarthy (Douglas)FB3 Mark O'Connor (Bantry Blues)LCB4 Owen Sexton (Kilbrittain)RHB5 Ciarán O'Sullivan (Urhan)CHB6 Niall Cahalane (Castlehaven) (c)LHB7 Martin Cronin (Nemo Rangers)MF8 Damien O'Neill (Bantry Blues)MF9 Liam Honohan (Bishopstown)RHF10 Michael O'Donovan (Mallow)CHF11 Steven O'Brien (Nemo Rangers)LHF12 Brian Corcoran (Erin's Own)RCF13 Ollie O'Sullivan (Garnish)FF14 Colin Corkery (Nemo Rangers)LCF15 Aidan Dorgan (Grenagh)Substitutes: 16 Seán Óg Ó hAilpín (Na Piarsaigh) for Honohan 17 John Buckley (Knocknagree) for Ollie O'Sullivan 18 Mark Farr (Dohenys) for O'Connor GK1 Niall O'Donnell (Clan na Gael)RCB2 Nicky Malone (Lann Léire)FB3 Gareth O'Neill (Cooley Kickhams)LCB4 Ray Rooney (Dundalk Gaels)RHB5 Gerry Curran (Clan na Gael)CHB6 John Donaldson (Stabannon Parnells)LHB7 Stephen Melia (O'Dwyers, Dublin)MF8 Séamus O'Hanlon (Clan na Gael) (c)MF9 Ken Reilly (Stabannon Parnells)RHF10 Alan Rooney (St Mary's)CHF11 David Reilly (Stabannon Parnells)LHF12 Colin Kelly (Newtown Blues)RCF13 Stefan White (Clan na Gael)FF14 Cathal O'Hanlon (Clan na Gael)LCF15 Pat Butterly (Stabannon Parnells)Substitutes: 16 Ollie McDonnell (St Joseph's) for A. Rooney 17 Brendan Kerin (St Mary's) for D. Reilly 18 Alan Doherty (St Mary's) for Butterly
Semi-finals
Final
References
External links