The 2026 National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz Football League, was the 95th staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for county teams. Thirty-one county teams from Ireland, plus London, competed. Kilkenny do not compete in senior football.

Format

League structure Teams by Province and Division Province Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Division 4 Total Connacht 3 0 1 1 5 Leinster 1 4 3 3 11 Munster 1 1 2 2 6 Ulster 3 3 2 1 9 England 0 0 0 1 1 Total 8 8 8 8 32

The 2026 National Football League consists of four divisions of eight teams. Each team plays every other team in its division once. Two points are awarded for a win, one point is awarded for a draw and none are awarded for a loss.

In the top division, Division 1, teams compete to become the National Football League (NFL) champions. The top two teams qualify for the NFL Final, with the winners crowned NFL champions.

Teams compete for promotion and relegation to a higher or lower league. In Divisions 2, 3 and 4, the first and second-places teams are promoted and play in the respective divisional finals, while the bottom two teams of divisions 1, 2 and 3 are relegated.

Tiebreakers for league ranking As per the Official GAA Guide - Part 1 - Section 6.21 -

If two teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the league phase, the following tie-breaking criteria are applied: Where two teams only are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the previous game in the Competition;

If three or more teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the league phase, the following tie-breaking criteria are applied: Scoring Difference (subtracting the total scores against from total scores for); Highest Total Score For; A Play-Off.

In the event that two teams or more finish with equal points, but have been affected by a disqualification, loss of game on a proven objection, retirement or walkover, the tie shall be decided by the following means: Score Difference from the games in which only the teams involved, (teams tied on points), have played each other. (subtracting the total Scores Against from total Scores For) Highest Total Score For, in which only the teams involved, have played each other, and have finished equal in (i) A Play-Off

Division 1

Table

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Final

GK 1 Gavin Mulreany FB 2 Caolan McColganFB 3 Brendan McCole FB 4 Eoghan Bán GallagherHB 5 Ryan McHugh HB 6 Caolan McGonagleHB 26 Max Campbell MF 8 Jason McGeeMF 9 Hugh McFaddenHF 10 Shane O'Donnell (c)HF 11 Michael Langan (c)HF 12 Peadar MoganFF 13 Conor O'DonnellFF 14 Michael Murphy FF 15 Shea Malone Substitutes: 16 Pádraig Mac Giolla Bhríde 17 Stephen McMenamin 18 Oisin Caulfield 19 Mark Curran 20 Seanán Carr 21 Paul O'Hare 22 Sean Martin 23 Jamie Brennan 24 Eoin McHugh 25 Kevin Muldoon 7 Finnbarr Roarty Manager:Jim McGuinness

GK 1 Shane MurphyFB 17 Tadhg Morley FB 3 Jason Foley FB 4 Dylan Casey HB 5 Tom O'Sullivan HB 6 Mike Breen HB 7 Armin HeinrichMF 8 Mark O'Shea MF 20 Liam Smith HF 10 Joe O'Connor HF 11 Seán O'Shea HF 12 Graham O'Sullivan FF 13 Dylan Geaney FF 14 David Clifford FF 15 Keith Evans Substitutes: 16 Seán Broderick 2 Joey Nagle 18 Cillian Trant 19 Micheál Burns 9 Thomas O'Donnell 21 Donagh O'Sullivan 22 Charlie Keating 23 Eddie Healy 24 Tom Leo O'Sullivan 25 Tomás Kennedy 26 Paul Geaney (c) Manager:Jack O'Connor

Division 1 Scoring Statistics RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalMatchesAverage1David CliffordKerry4-425477.712Diarmuid MurtaghRoscommon4-304267.003Daire CreggRoscommon2-323875.434Oisín O'NeillArmagh1-333675.14Ryan O'DonoghueMayo1-333675.14Robert FinnertyGalway1-333675.147Seán O'SheaKerry0-333384.138Conor O'DonnellDonegal4-172983.63Michael LanganDonegal0-292983.6310Cian McConvilleArmagh1-252874.00

Scoring Events

Widest winning margin: 21 points Mayo 4-26 – 2-11 Roscommon Most goals in a match: 6 Mayo 4-26 – 2-11 Roscommon Donegal 3-20 – 3-16 Monaghan

Most points in a match: 49 Armagh 2-24 – 1-25 Dublin Most goals by one team in a match: 4 Mayo 4-26 – 2-11 Roscommon Most points by one team in a match: 29 Kerry 2-29 – 0-19 Mayo Highest aggregate score: 58 points Armagh 2-24 – 1-25 Dublin Lowest aggregate score: 28 points Kerry 1-18 – 0-07 Monaghan

Division 2

Table

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Final

GK 1 Patrick Doyle FB 2 Maurice Shanley FB 3 Daniel O'Mahony FB 4 Seán MeehanHB 5 Brian O'DriscollHB 6 Tommy WalshHB 7 Luke Fahy MF 8 Colm O'CallaghanMF 9 Ian Maguire (c)HF 10 Paul WalshHF 11 Mark Cronin HF 12 Seán McDonnell FF 13 Chris Óg JonesFF 14 Dara Sheedy FF 15 Steven SherlockSubstitutes: 16 Micheál Aodh Martin 17 Kevin O'Donovan 18 Rory Maguire 19 Darragh Cashman 20 Seán Walsh 21 Conor Cahalane 22 David Buckley 23 Ruairí Deane 24 Eoghan McSweeney 25 Conor Corbett 26 Brian Hurley Manager:John Cleary

GK 1 Seán BrennanFB 2 Seamus Lavin FB 3 Seán RaffertyFB 4 Brian O'Halloran HB 5 Donal Keogan HB 6 Seán CoffeyHB 7 Ciarán CaulfieldMF 8 Bryan MentonMF 9 Jack FlynnHF 10 Jack O'Connor HF 11 Ruairí KinsellaHF 12 Cian McBride FF 13 Jordan Morris FF 14 Eoghan Frayne (c)FF 15 Aaron Lynch Substitutes: 16 Billy Hogan 17 Killian Smyth 18 Ronan Ryan 19 Cathal Hickey 20 Conor Gray 21 Charlie O'Connor 22 Oisín Martin 23 James Conlon 24 Jason Scully 25 Conor Duke 26 Keith CurtisManager:Robbie Brennan

Division 2 Scoring Statistics RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalMatchesAverage1Sam MulroyLouth2-434977.002Shane McGuiganDerry1-434676.573Jordan MorrisMeath3-324185.13Steven SherlockCork0-414185.135Ethan JordanTyrone2-273365.506Brian McLoughlinKildare1-273074.297Keith O'NeillOffaly0-262664.33Niall LoughlinDerry2-202673.719Ruairí KinsellaMeath1-212483.00Darragh CanavanTyrone0-242464.00

Scoring Events

Widest winning margin: 23 points Derry 2-25 – 0-08 Offaly Most goals in a match: 5 Meath 3-24 – 2-22 Tyrone Cavan 2-20 – 3-15 Offaly Most points in a match: 50 Cork 1-31 – 2-19 Kildare Louth 1-25 – 0-25 Kildare Most goals by one team in a match: 3 Kildare 3-17 – 0-17 Offaly Derry 3-15 – 1-18 Kildare Cork 3-15 – 0-19 Offaly Meath 3-24 – 2-22 Tyrone Offaly 3-15 – 2-20 Cavan Most points by one team in a match: 31 Derry 1-31 – 0-14 Cork Cork 1-31 – 2-19 Kildare Highest aggregate score: 61 points Meath 3-24 – 2-22 Tyrone Lowest aggregate score: 29 points Cavan 0-16 – 0-13 Kildare

Division 3

Table

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Final

Division 3 Scoring Statistics RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalMatchesAverage1Pat HavernDown1-545787.132Mark McInerneyClare3-445377.573Evan O'CarrollLaois4-314376.144Luke LoughlinWestmeath3-283775.295Eoin ClearyClare1-323575.006Aaron GriffinClare1-293274.57Seán NolanWexford0-323284.008Odhran MurdockDown2-243083.75James NaughtonLimerick2-243074.2910Garvan JonesFermanagh0-282874.00

Scoring Events

Widest winning margin: 16 points Westmeath 4-21 – 3-08 Limerick Most goals in a match: 7 Westmeath 4-21 – 3-08 Limerick Most points in a match: 51 Sligo 2-23 – 0-28 Clare Most goals by one team in a match: 4 Westmeath 4-21 – 3-08 Limerick Most points by one team in a match: 29 Down 1-29 – 1-19 Wexford Highest aggregate score: 57 points Sligo 2-23 – 0-28 Clare Lowest aggregate score: 26 points Laois 1-10 – 0-13 Limerick Wexford 0-16 – 1-07 Sligo

Division 4

Table

Round 1

Longford's Round 1 trip to Waterford was postponed due to an unplayable pitch.

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Final

Scoring Statistics RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalMatchesAverage1Seán O'ConnorTipperary4-425477.712Chris BlakeCarlow2-364285.253Cian SmithTipperary0-363675.14Joseph McGillLondon0-363675.145Dominic McEnhillAntrim0-323274.576Mark JacksonWicklow0-313174.43Dylan FarrellLongford2-253174.438Colm HultonCarlow1-273083.759Matthew CareyLongford2-232983.6310Barry McNultyLeitrim1-252855.60Oran KennyLongford1-252883.50Eoin DarcyWicklow2-222874.00

Scoring Events

Widest winning margin: 23 points Carlow 4-22 – 2-05 Leitrim Most goals in a match: 6 Carlow 4-22 – 2-05 Leitrim Most points in a match: 42 London 0-21 – 0-21 Tipperary Wicklow 2-26 – 0-16 London Most goals by one team in a match: 4 Antrim 4-18 – 0-11 Waterford Carlow 4-22 – 2-05 Leitrim Most points by one team in a match: 27 Longford 1-27 – 1-14 Antrim Highest aggregate score: 53 points Longford 2-21 – 2-20 Wicklow Lowest aggregate score: 23 points Wicklow 0-14 – 0-09 Waterford

References