# 2018 Ladies' National Football League

The 2018 Ladies' National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Lidl Ladies' National Football League, is a ladies' Gaelic football competition taking place in early 2018.
For the first time, LNFL games were broadcast live on Eir Sport.
Dublin were the winners, defeating Mayo in the final.

## Format
### League structure

The 2018 Ladies' National Football League consists of four divisions of eight teams. Each team plays every other team in its division once. 3 points are awarded for a win and 1 for a draw.
Teams by Province :
| Province | Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 4 |
| Connacht | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Leinster | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Munster | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Ulster | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
If two teams are level on points, the tie-break is:
* winners of the head-to-head game are ranked ahead
* if the head-to-head match was a draw, then whichever team scored more points in the game is ranked ahead (e.g. 1-15 beats 2-12)
* if the head-to-head match was an exact draw, ranking is determined by the points difference (i.e. total scored minus total conceded in all games)
* if the points difference is equal, ranking is determined by the total scored
If three or more teams are level on league points, rankings are determined solely by points difference.

### Finals, promotions and relegations

The top four teams in Division 1 contest the Ladies' National Football League semi-finals (first plays fourth and second plays third).
The top four teams in divisions 2, 3 and 4 contest the semi-finals of their respective divisions. The division champions are promoted.
The last-placed teams in divisions 1, 2 and 3 are relegated.

## Division 1
### Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Dublin | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 126 | 92 | +34 | 18 | Advance to Semi-Finals |
| 2 | Cork | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 130 | 97 | +33 | 15 | Advance to Semi-Finals |
| 3 | Mayo | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 120 | 102 | +18 | 15 | Advance to Semi-Finals |
| 4 | Galway | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 111 | 97 | +14 | 13 | Advance to Semi-Finals |
| 5 | Donegal | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 153 | 89 | +64 | 13 | |
| 6 | Monaghan | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 89 | 47 | +42 | 6 | |
| 7 | Westmeath | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 27 | −9 | 3 | |
| 8 | Kerry | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 75 | 130 | −55 | 0 | Relegation to Division 2 |
* Kerry defeated Mayo, but Mayo were awarded the points as Kerry had fielded an ineligible player.
* Galway are ranked ahead of Donegal because, although the head-to-head game was a draw, Galway scored more points (0-16 to 1-13).

### Finals
#### Semi-finals

* 22 April 2018 (2018-04) 3 p.m. Semi-Final 1
* Report
| Dublin | 2-8 (14) – (13) 2-7 | Galway |
| Pts: Niamh McEvoy 1-1 Sinéad Aherne 0-3 (all frees) Nicole Owens 1-0 Noëlle Healy 0-2 Sinéad Goldrick 0-1 Lauren Magee 0-1 | | Pts: Tracey Leonard 0-5 (four frees) Leanne Coen 1-1 Mairead Seoighe 1-0 Olivia Divilly 0-1 |
* Coralstown/Kinnegad GAA, Kinnegad Referee: Séamus Mulvihill (Kerry)
* 22 April 2018 (2018-04) 3 p.m. Semi-Final 2
* Report
| Cork | 3-12 (21) – (23) 1-20 | Mayo |
| Pts: O Finn 1-9 (5f) L Coppinger 2-0 C O’Sullivan 0-2 E Scally 0-1 | | Pts: Sarah Rowe 0-9 (4f) G Kelly 0-7 (3f) S Cafferky 1-1 N Kelly 0-1 A Gilroy 0-1 F McHale 0-1 |
* St. Brendan's Park, Birr Referee: Brendan Rice (Down)

### Final

* TG4
* 6 May 2018 (2018-05-06) 16:00 IST (UTC+1) Final
| Dublin | 3-15 (24) – (13) 1-10 | Mayo |
| (HT: 2-10 – 1-05) |||
| Gls: Sinéad Aherne (pen), Noëlle Healy, Laura McGinley Pts: Sinéad Aherne (9, 5f), Nicole Owens (2), Noëlle Healy, Olwen Carey, Niamh McEvoy, Lyndsey Davey | | Gls: Sarah Rowe (pen) Pts: Sarah Rowe (5, 2f), Grace Kelly (2, 2f), Fiona Doherty, Sinead Cafferky, Niamh Kelly |
* Parnell Park, Dublin Referee: Brendan Rice (Down)

## Division 2
### Table

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts | Notes |
| Waterford | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 137 | 87 | +50 | 18 | Advance to Division 2 semi-finals |
| Tipperary (P) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 136 | 91 | +45 | 18 | Advance to Division 2 semi-finals |
| Armagh | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 168 | 97 | +71 | 13 | Advance to Division 2 semi-finals |
| Cavan | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 142 | 95 | +47 | 13 | Advance to Division 2 semi-finals |
| Tyrone | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 132 | 126 | +6 | 12 |
| Laois | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 97 | 151 | –54 | 6 |
| Clare | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 97 | 141 | –44 | 3 |
| Sligo | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 78 | 199 | –121 | 0 | Relegated to Division 3 for 2019 |
* Armagh v. Cavan was a draw (2-14 each); the teams are ranked by score difference.

### Finals
#### Semi-finals

* 22 April 2018 (2018-04) 1 p.m. Semi-Final 1
| Waterford | 0-8 – 1-8 | Cavan |
* Coralstown/Kinnegad GAA, Kinnegad Referee: Garryown McMahon (Mayo)
* 22 April 2018 (2018-04) Semi-Final 2
| Tipperary | 3-10 – 4-6 | Armagh |
* St. Brendan's Park, Birr

### Final

| 6 May 2018 14:00 Final | Cavan | 3-11 – 0-21 | Tipperary | Parnell Park Referee: Stephen McNulty (Wicklow) Man of the Match: Aisling Moloney (Cahir) |
| 6 May 2018 14:00 Final | Aisling Sheridan 2-0, Roisin O'Keeffe 1-2, Bronagh Sheridan 0-4 (0-1f), Aisling Maguire 0-3f, Sinéad Greene and Donna English 0-1 each | Report | Aishling McCarthy 0-10 (0-6f), Aisling Moloney 0-5, Mairead Morrissey 0-2, Jenny Grant, Gillian O'Brien, Niamh Lonergan, Roisin Howard 0-1 each | Parnell Park Referee: Stephen McNulty (Wicklow) Man of the Match: Aisling Moloney (Cahir) |

## Division 3
### Table

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts | Notes |
| Wexford (P) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 114 | 88 | +26 | 18 | Advance to Division 3 semi-finals |
| Meath | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 173 | 82 | +91 | 15 | Advance to Division 3 semi-finals |
| Down | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 99 | –15 | 15 | Advance to Division 3 semi-finals |
| Kildare | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 116 | 94 | +22 | 12 | Advance to Division 3 semi-finals |
| Roscommon | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 103 | 83 | +20 | 12 |
| Offaly | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 126 | 131 | –5 | 7 |
| Longford | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 47 | 125 | –78 | 4 |
| Leitrim | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 83 | –61 | 0 | Relegated to Division 4 for 2019 |
* Meath are ranked ahead of Down as they won the head-to-head game between the teams.
* Kildare are ranked ahead of Roscommon as they won the head-to-head game between the teams.

### Finals
#### Semi-finals

* 22 April 2018 (2018-04) 2 p.m. Semi-Final 1
| Wexford | 2-14 – 0-11 | Kildare |
* Bill Delaney Park, Stradbally, County Laois Referee: John Gallagher
* 22 April 2018 (2018-04) 1 p.m. Semi-Final 2
| Meath | 6-17 – 0-3 | Down |
* Inniskeen Grattans GAC, Inniskeen Referee: Jonathan Murphy

### Final

| 7 May 2018 16:00 Final | Wexford | 3-10 – 1-12 | Meath | St. Brendan's Park, Birr Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan) Man of the Match: Catriona Murray (Clonee) |
| 7 May 2018 16:00 Final | Catriona Murray 3-5 (0-3f), Bernie Breen 0-2, Niamh Butler, Clara Donnelly, Fiona Rochford 0-1 each | Report | Stacey Grimes 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-1f), Niamh Gallogly and Vikki Wall 0-2 each, Katie Byrne, Aoibhin Cleary, Marion Farrelly, Niamh O'Sullivan, Fiona O'Neill 0-1 each | St. Brendan's Park, Birr Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan) Man of the Match: Catriona Murray (Clonee) |

## Division 4

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts | Notes |
| Wicklow (P) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 49 | +64 | 21 | Advance to Division 4 semi-finals |
| Louth | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 120 | 69 | +51 | 15 | Advance to Division 4 semi-finals |
| Limerick | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 113 | 53 | +60 | 13 | Advance to Division 4 semi-finals |
| Antrim | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 90 | 79 | +11 | 12 | Advance to Division 4 semi-finals |
| Fermanagh | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 84 | 85 | –1 | 12 |
| Carlow | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 115 | 94 | +21 | 7 |
| Derry | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 41 | 110 | –69 | 3 |
| Kilkenny | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 153 | –137 | 0 |
* Antrim are ranked ahead of Fermanagh as they won the head-to-head game between the teams.

### Finals
#### Semi-finals

* 22 April 2018 (2018-04) 3 p.m. Semi-Final 1
| Wicklow | 7-13 – 0-9 | Antrim |
* Inniskeen Grattans GAC, Inniskeen Referee: Declan Carolan
* 22 April 2018 (2018-04) 2 p.m. Semi-Final 2
| Louth | 1-15 – 0-9 | Limerick |
* McCann Park, Portarlington Referee: Yvonne Duffy

### Final

| 7 May 2018 14:00 Final | Wicklow | 4-17 – 2-8 | Louth | St. Brendan's Park, Birr Referee: Gerry Carmody (Mayo) Man of the Match: Marie Kealy (Baltinglass) |
| 7 May 2018 14:00 Final | Marie Kealy 3-3 (0-1f), Jackie Kinch 0-5, Meadhbh Deeney 1-3 (0-1f), Amy Murphy 0-2, Lorna Fusciardi, Laura Hogan, Clodagh Fox, Naoise Baker 0-1 each | Report | Kate Flood 1-3 (0-1f), Lauren Boyle 1-2 (0-1f), Paula Murray, Susan Byrne, Catherine McGlew 0-1 each | St. Brendan's Park, Birr Referee: Gerry Carmody (Mayo) Man of the Match: Marie Kealy (Baltinglass) |