# 2025 National Football League (Ireland)

The 2025 National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz Football League, is the 94th staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for county teams. Thirty-one county teams from Ireland, plus London, compete; New York do not participate in the National League, though they take part in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Kilkenny do not compete in senior football.
This will be the first inter-county competition to feature the new Football Review Committee (FRC) rule changes adopted in 2024, including the two-point shot for scoring outside the 40-metre arc.

## Format
### League structure

Teams by province and division :
| Province | Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 4 | Total |
| Connacht | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Leinster | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
| Munster | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Ulster | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 |
The 2025 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

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Galway | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 99 | 76 | +23 | 8 | Advance to NFL Final |
| 2 | Donegal | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 103 | 93 | +10 | 8 | Advance to NFL Final |
| 3 | Dublin | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 99 | 97 | +2 | 6 | |
| 4 | Armagh | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 91 | 89 | +2 | 5 | |
| 5 | Mayo | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 87 | 95 | −8 | 5 | |
| 6 | Kerry | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 110 | 109 | +1 | 4 | |
| 7 | Tyrone | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 87 | 93 | −6 | 3 | Relegation to 2026 NFL Division 2 |
| 8 | Derry | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 95 | 119 | −24 | 1 | Relegation to 2026 NFL Division 2 |

### Matches
#### Round 1

| 25th January 2025 | Galway | 1-12 (15) – (9) 0-9 | Armagh | Pearse Stadium |
| | Galway: C Gleeson, J McGrath, S Fitzgerlad, D O’Flaherty (0-01), D McHugh, J Daly, S Kelly, P Conroy (0-02, 1tp), C McDaid, C Sweeney, F O Laoi (0-01), C Darcy, C O’ Curraoin (0-05, 3f, 1tp), M Tierney (1-01 1-00 pen, 1f ) S O’Neill. Subs: Shane Walsh (0-02, 1tpf) for McDaid (41), John Maher for M Tierney (45), J Heaney for S O’Neill (53), Kieran Molloy for S Kelly (62), Johnny Heaney for O Laoi (66). | | Armagh: B Hughes, T McCormack, B McCambridge, A Forker, C Mackin, J Duffy, G McCabe, B Crealey, N Grimley, O Conaty (0-04), R Grugan (0-04, 3f), D McMullen, S McPartlan, A Murnin, Campbell. Subs: Conor Turbitt (0-01, 1f) for McParltan (h-t), Ross McQuillan for Forker (37), Cian McConville for J Duffy (48), Jarly Og Burns for T McCormack (59), Ethan Rafferty for Hughes (59). | Report |
| 25th January 2025 | Dublin | 1-17 (20) – (18) 1-15 | Mayo | Croke Park |
| | Dublin: Gavin Sheridan; David Byrne, Theo Clancy, Eoin Murchan; Cian Murphy, Brian Howard, Greg McEnaney (0-02); Killian McGinnis (0-01), James Madden; Ciaran Kilkenny (0-02), Kevin Lahiff (1-02), Sean Bugler (0-07); Colm Basquel (0-01), Eoghan O'Donnell, Brian O'Leary. Subs: Sean MacMahon for Murchan (45), Tom Lahiff for Madden (51), Luke Breathnach (0-02) for O'Leary (51), Niall Scully for Kevin Lahiff (59), Sean Lowry for O'Donnell (66). | | Mayo: Colm Reape (0-01); Sam Callinan, Rory Brickenden, Enda Hession; Stephen Coen, David McBrien, Donnacha McHugh; Fenton Kelly, Mattie Ruane; Conor Reid (1-00), Paul Towey (0-02), Davitt Neary (0-02); Fergal Boland (0-04, 1 tp), Frank Irwin (0-02), Ryan O'Donoghue (0-03, 0-02f). Subs: Darren McHale (0-01) for Towey (51), Cian McHale for Irwin (59), Bob Tuohy for McHugh, Sean Morahan for Kelly (62), Diarmud O'Connor for Neary (64). | |
| 8th February 2025 | Kerry | 1-18 (21) – (23) 0-23 | Donegal | Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney |
| | Kerry: S Ryan; D Bourke, J Foley, T O’Sullivan 0-1; G O’Sullivan 0-1, T Morley, S O’Brien; D O’Connor 1-1, BD O’Sullivan 0-1; P Clifford 0-2, S O’Shea 0-5 (0-2f, 1tp), C Trant; C Geaney 0-3 (0-2f), D O’Sullivan, D Geaney 0-3. Subs: Mike Breen for T Morley (30), R Murphy for C Trant (H/T), P Geaney for D O’Sullivan, C Ó Beaglaoich 0-1 for BD O’Sullivan (both 50) and K Spillane for C Geaney (59) | | Donegal: S Patton; F Roarty, B McCoole, P Mogan 0-1; R McHugh 0-5 (1tp), EB Gallagher 0-1, C Moore 0-1; M Langan, C Thompson 0-2; D Ó Baoill, C O’Donnell 0-3, S O’Donnell 0-2; H McFadden, O Gallen 0-3 (1tp), C McGonagle. Subs: P McBrearty 0-3 (1tpf) for M Langan (inj, 4), J Brennan 0-2 for H McFadden (50), E McHugh for D Ó Baoill (58), M Curran for R McHugh (60), O Doherty for O Gallen (67) | Report |
| 26th January 2025 | Tyrone | 2-13 (19) – (12) 1-9 | Derry | Healy Park, Omagh |
| | Tyrone: N Morgan; A Clarke, P Teague (1-00), N Devlin (0-01); M McKernan (1-02), F Burns, S O’Hare (0-01); B Kennedy (0-01), L Gray; S O’Donnell, K McGeary, C Daly; D McCurry (0-03, 1tp), M Donnelly (0-02, 1f), R Cassidy (0-01, f). Subs: C Kilpatrick for Gray (47) E McElholm (0-02) for Cassidy (47), R Brennan for Burns (58), B Cullen for O’Hare (66), M Bradley for Donnelly (70) | | Derry: O Lynch; D Baker, E McEvoy, D Gilmore; C Doherty, B Rogers (0-02 (1tp), D Cassidy; C Glass (1-00), A Tohill; E Doherty (0-01), C McFaul (0-01), P Cassidy (0-01); N Toner, S McGuigan (0-04, 2f), L Murray. Subs: B McCarron for McFaul (43), C Murphy for Toner (53), C McGrogan for P Cassidy (66), M Doherty for D Cassidy (66) | Report |

#### Round 2

| 1st February 2025 | Mayo | 0-16 (16) – (26) 0-26 | Galway | MacHale Park, Castlebar |
| | Mayo: C Reape; S Callinan, R Brickenden, E Hession; S Coen, D McBrien, S Morahan (0-01); D McHugh (0-01), M Ruane; C Reid (0-02), F Boland, D Neary (0-03); P Towey (0-05, 1tp), F Irwin (0-01), R O’Donoghue (0-03, 3f). Subs: D MacHale for Boland (44); D O’Connor for Reid (47); E McLaughlin for Ruane (53); B Tuohy for O’Connor (56, inj); C McHale for Irwin (61). | | Galway: C Gleeson (0-01, '45); J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, D O'Flaherty; D McHugh (0-01), L Silke, S Kelly (0-02), P Conroy (0-03), C McDaid; J Maher, F Ó’Laoí, C Darcy; C Ó’Curraoin (0-8, 1f, 2tp, 2tpf); S Walsh (0-09, 2tp, 2tpf) , S O’Neill. Subs: J Glynn for Kelly (47); R Finnerty (0-02, 2fs) for O’Neill (48); C Sweeney for McDaid (51); J Heaney for Ó Laoi (61); C Costello for Walsh (66). | |
| 1st February 2025 | Donegal | 0-20 (20) – (16) 0-16 | Dublin | MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey |
| | Donegal: S Patton; F Roarty, B McCole, P Mogan 0-1; R McHugh, E Ban Gallagher, C Moore; C McGonagle, M Langan 0-2; D O Baoill 0-6 (2tp, 0-2), H McFadden, S O’Donnell 0-2; C Thompson 0-1 (free), C O’Donnell 0-1, O Gallen 0-4 (1f).Subs: J Brennan for McFadden (51), P McBrearty 0-3 (2f) for C O’Donnell (51), E McHugh for R McHugh (61), O Doherty for S O’Donnell (61), M Curran for Gallagher (63) | | Dublin: G Sheridan; D Byrne, T Clancy, S MacMahon; B Howard, C Murphy, G McEneaney 0-2; J Madden, K McGinnis 0-2; K Lahiff, S Bugler 0-2, C Kilkenny 0-3 (1tp); C Basquel 0-3, E O’Donnell, B O’Leary.Subs: T Lahiff for K Lahiff (26), C Tyrell for Byrne (29), N Scully 0-1 for Madden (29), L Breathnach 0-2 for Basquel (44), S Lowry 0-1 for O’Donnell (63) | Report |
| 2nd February 2025 | Derry | 1-24 (27) – (30) 5-15 | Kerry | Celtic Park, Derry |
| | Derry: N McNicholl; D Baker (0-1), E McEvoy, M Doherty; C Doherty, B Rogers (0-3, 1tp), D Gilmore (0-2, 0-1m); C Glass (0-2, 0-1 45), A Tohill; C Murphy, Paul Cassidy (0-2), E Doherty (0-3); N Toner (0-4, 0-2f), S McGuigan (1-4, 0-1f), B McCarron (0-2, 1tp). Subs: L Murray (0-1) for C Murphy (48), P McGurk for McCarron (54), D Higgins for Tohill (60), D Cassidy for Gilmore (61). Blood sub: J McDermott for Baker (64-66) | | Kerry: S Ryan; D Burke, J Foley, T O’Sullivan; G O’Sullivan, T Morley, Seán O’Brien (0-1); D O’Connor (0-1), BD O’Sullivan (0-2); P Clifford, S O’Shea (0-5, 0-2f, 1 tpf), R Murphy; C Geaney (2-2), K Spillane, D Geaney (0-2, 1tp). Subs: D O’Sullivan (1-2) for R Murphy (46), K Evans for K Spillane (50), P Geaney (2-0) for C Geaney (55), C Ó Beaglaoich for BD O’Sullivan (58), E Healy for S O’Brien (65) | Report |
| 2nd February 2025 | Armagh | 1-23 (26) – (18) 0-18 | Tyrone | Athletic Grounds, |
| | Armagh E Rafferty 0-5 (2tp); T McCormack 0-1, B McCambridge, J Hall 0-1; C Mackin, A Forker 0-2 (tp), G McCabe; B Crealey, R McQuillan 0-3 (1tp); O Conaty 0-1, R Grugan 0-1 (f), D McMullen 0-1; J Duffy, A Murnin 1-4, C Turbitt 0-4 (0-1f). Subs S Campbell for R McQuillan (55), C McConville for R Grugan (66), J Og Burns for C Mackin (67) | | Tyrone N Morgan; A Clarke, P Teague, N Devlin; F Burns, M McKernan 0-5 (2tp), S O’Hare 0-2; B Kennedy 0-1, L Gray 0-1; S O’Donnell 0-2, K McGeary 0-1, A Donaghy; D McCurry 0-6 (2tpf),M Donnelly, R Cassidy. Subs E McElholm 0-1 for R Cassidy (h/t), C Kilpatrick for A Donagh (h/t), C Daly for F Burns (45), R Brennan for L Gray (45), C McShane for M Donnelly (66) | Report |

#### Round 3

16th February 2025: Derry v Galway, Celtic Park, 13:00
16th February 2025: Mayo v Tyrone, Castlebar
16th February 2025: Donegal v Armagh, MacCumhaill Park, 15:00

#### Round 4

23rd February 2025: Armagh v Mayo, Box-IT Athletic Grounds, 17:00
23rd February 2025: Dublin v Derry, Croke Park, 19:00
23rd February 2025: Tyrone v Kerry, Healy Park, 13:45, TG4
23rd February 2025: Galway v Donegal, Tuam Stadium, 15:45, TG4

#### Round 5

1st March 2025: Mayo v Kerry, McHale Park, 17:00
1st March 2025: Armagh v Dublin, Athletic Grounds, 19:00
2nd March 2025: Donegal v Derry, Fr Tierney Park, 13:45
2nd March 2025: Galway v Tyrone, Pearse Stadium

#### Round 6

15th March 2025: Kerry v Armagh, Austin Stack Park, 17:00
15th March 2025: Donegal v Tyrone, MacCumhaill Park, 19:30
15th March 2025: Dublin v Galway, Croke Park, 20:00
16th March 2025: Derry V Mayo, Celtic Park, 15:45

#### Round 7

22/23 March 2025: Galway v Kerry, Pearse Stadium
22/23 March 2025: Tyrone v Dublin, Healy Park
22/23 March 2025: Mayo v Donegal, MacHale Park

### Final

* 29/30 March 2025
| First-placed team | v | Second-placed team |
* Croke Park, Dublin

## Division 2
### Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Monaghan | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 108 | 90 | +18 | 6 | Advance to NFL Division 2 Final and promotion to 2026 NFL Division 1 |
| 2 | Meath | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 99 | 83 | +16 | 6 | Advance to NFL Division 2 Final and promotion to 2026 NFL Division 1 |
| 3 | Roscommon | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 92 | 84 | +8 | 6 | |
| 4 | Cork | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 91 | 94 | −3 | 4 | |
| 5 | Louth | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 79 | 84 | −5 | 4 | |
| 6 | Cavan | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 89 | 97 | −8 | 4 | |
| 7 | Down | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 88 | 98 | −10 | 2 | Relegation to 2026 NFL Division 3 |
| 8 | Westmeath | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 92 | 107 | −15 | 0 | Relegation to 2026 NFL Division 3 |

### Final

* 29/30 March 2025
| First-placed team | v | Second-placed team |
* Croke Park, Dublin

## Division 3
### Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Kildare | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 28 | +21 | 4 | Advance to NFL Division 3 Final and promotion to 2026 NFL Division 2 |
| 2 | Offaly | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 33 | +12 | 4 | Advance to NFL Division 3 Final and promotion to 2026 NFL Division 2 |
| 3 | Clare | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 22 | +10 | 2 | |
| 4 | Antrim | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 31 | +2 | 2 | |
| 5 | Fermanagh | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 51 | −14 | 2 | |
| 6 | Laois | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 25 | −5 | 0 | |
| 7 | Sligo | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 39 | −13 | 0 | Relegation to 2026 NFL Division 4 |
| 8 | Leitrim | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 23 | −13 | 0 | Relegation to 2026 NFL Division 4 |

### Matches

On 15 March, one day before it was scheduled to be played in Ballinamore, Leitrim forfeited its Round 6 fixture against Fermanagh due to not having a full team available.

### Final

* 29/30 March 2025
| First-placed team | v | Second-placed team |
* Croke Park, Dublin

## Division 4
### Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Wexford | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 25 | +22 | 4 | Advance to NFL Division 4 Final and promotion to 2026 NFL Division 3 |
| 2 | Carlow | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 31 | +9 | 3 | Advance to NFL Division 4 Final and promotion to 2026 NFL Division 3 |
| 3 | Tipperary | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 40 | +1 | 3 | |
| 4 | London | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 51 | −16 | 2 | |
| 5 | Longford | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 39 | 40 | −1 | 1 | |
| 6 | Limerick | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 35 | −4 | 1 | |
| 7 | Wicklow | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 23 | −2 | 0 | |
| 8 | Waterford | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 21 | −9 | 0 | |

### Final

* 29/30 March 2025
| First-placed team | v | Second-placed team |
* Croke Park, Dublin

## Incidents

Live on television, in the National League meeting of Armagh and Donegal at MacCumhaill Park, Armagh's 2024 All-Ireland SFC-winning captain Aidan Forker headbutted Michael Murphy in the 44th minute. This was within moments of Murphy's reintroduction (as a substitute) to inter-county football, and referee Sean Hurson sent Forker off. Forker's headbutt of Michael Murphy was widely compared to Zinedine Zidane's headbutt during the 2006 FIFA World Cup final, though — unlike Zidane's opponent — Murphy stood firm and did not even move.