2025 National Football League (Ireland)
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| League details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 25 January – 30 March, 2025 |
| Teams | 32 |
| League champions | |
| Winners | Kerry (24th win) |
| Captain | Gavin White |
| Manager | Jack O'Connor |
| League runners-up | |
| Runners-up | Mayo |
| Captain | Stephen Coen |
| Manager | Kevin McStay |
| Other division winners | |
| Division 2 | Monaghan |
| Division 3 | Offaly |
| Division 4 | Limerick |
← 2024 2026 → | |
The 2025 National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz Football League, was 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.[1][2][3]
This was 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.[4]
Kerry were the winners, becoming the first team to win the Corn Mhichíl Uí Mhuircheartaigh, named for Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.[5]
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:[6]
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
Division 2
Division 3
Division 4
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Wexford |
7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 148 | 85 | +63 | 14 | Advance to NFL Division 4 Final and promotion to 2026 NFL Division 3 |
| 2 |  Limerick |
7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 157 | 120 | +37 | 10 | |
| 3 |  Wicklow |
7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 149 | 133 | +16 | 9 | |
| 4 |  Carlow |
7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 129 | 127 | +2 | 7 | |
| 5 |  Tipperary |
7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 119 | 132 | −13 | 5 | |
| 6 |  Longford |
7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 111 | 141 | −30 | 5 | |
| 7 |  London |
7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 117 | 146 | −29 | 4 | |
| 8 |  Waterford |
7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 111 | 157 | −46 | 2 |
Matches
Round 1
| 25 January 2025 Round 1 | Carlow |
2-13 (19) – (19) 1-16 | Tipperary |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-10 - 0-7) | Venue: Dr. Cullen Park | |||
| Gls: A Amond 1 (pen), R Dunphy 1 Pts: C Crowley 0-4 (1f), A Amond 0-2, R Dunphy 0-2, K Murphy 0-2 (tpf), M Bambrick 0-1, C Doyle 0-1, J Murphy 0-1 |
Report | Gls: S O'Connor 1 Pts: S O'Connor 0-5 (2f), M Russell 0-4 (1tp), S O'Brien 0-3 (1tpf), E Power 0-1, J Harney 0-1, B Comerford 0-1 (f), C Smith 0-1 (f) |
Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford)
|
| 25 January 2025 Round 1 | Wexford |
2-24 (30) – (12) 2-6 | London |
Wexford | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-15 - 1-2) | Venue: Wexford Park | |||
| Report | Referee: David Hickey (Carlow)
|
| 26 January 2025 Round 1 | Longford |
2-12 (18) – (18) 1-15 | Limerick |
Longford | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 2-4 - 1-5) | Venue: Pearse Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Mark Dorrian (Donegal)
|
Waterford's Round 1 trip to Wicklow was one of several league fixtures postponed because of Storm Éowyn.[8]
| 8 February 2025 Round 1 | Wicklow |
3-17 (26) – (22) 1-19 | Waterford |
Aughrim | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 2-10 - 0-4) | Venue: Echelon Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Diarmuid Boylan (Monaghan)
|
Round 2
| 1 February 2025 Round 2 | Tipperary |
3-13 (22) – (21) 1-18 | Longford |
Clonmel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 2-3 - 0-11) | ||||
| Report | Referee: Niall Quinn (Clare)
|
| 1 February 2025 Round 2 | Waterford |
0-12 (12) – (21) 2-15 | Carlow |
Dungarven | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-5 - 1-6) | Venue: Fraher Field | |||
| Report | Referee: Jonathon Hayes (Limerick)
|
| 2 February 2025 Round 2 | London |
1-20 (23) – (21) 0-21 | Wicklow |
Ruislip, London | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-6 - 0-10) | ||||
| Report | Referee: Alan Coyne (Westmeath)
|
| 2 February 2025 Round 2 | Limerick |
0-13 (13) – (17) 0-17 | Wexford |
Rathkeale | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-7 - 0-6) | ||||
| Report | Referee: Christopher Ryan (Galway)
|
Round 3
| 15 February 2025 Round 3 | Wexford |
2-12 (18) – (9) 0-9 | Carlow |
Wexford | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-8 - 0-3) | Venue: Wexford Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Andrew Smith (Meath)
|
| 16 February 2025 Round 3 | London |
0-11 (11) – (19) 1-16 | Limerick |
Ruislip, London | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-8 - 1-6) | Venue: McGovern Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Pat Clarke (Cavan)
|
| 16 February 2025 Round 3 | Waterford |
0-9 (9) – (17) 1-14 | Tipperary |
Waterford | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-7 - 1-5) | Venue: Walsh Park | |||
| Report | Referee: David Hickey (Carlow)
|
| 16 February 2025 Round 3 | Wicklow |
2-15 (21) – (12) 0-12 | Longford |
Aughrim | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-8 - 0-6) | Venue: Echelon Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford)
|
Round 4
| 22 February 2025 Round 4 | Tipperary |
0-17 (17) – (18) 2-12 | London |
Thurles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-7 - 2-3) | Venue: Semple Stadium | |||
| Report | Referee: Niall Quinn (Clare)
|
| 22 February 2025 Round 4 | Carlow |
0-13 (13) – (20) 1-17 | Limerick |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-6 - 0-7) | Venue: Dr. Cullen Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Christopher Ryan (Galway)
|
| 23 February 2025 Round 4 | Longford |
2-11 (17) – (15) 1-12 | Waterford |
Longford | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 2-6 - 1-6) | Venue: Pearse Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Enda McFeely (Donegal)
|
After a pitch inspection deeming Wexford Park unplayable, Wexford's game against Wicklow was postponed to 8 March 2025[10].
| 8 March 2025 Round 4 | Wexford |
0-20 (20) – (12) 0-12 | Wicklow |
Wexford | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-12 - 0-4) | Venue: Wexford Park | |||
| Report | Referee: David Hickey (Carlow)
|
Round 5
| 1 March 2025 Round 5 | Waterford |
0-11 (11) – (23) 2-17 | Wexford |
Dungarvan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-5 - 1-11) | Venue: Fraher Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Chris Maguire (Clare)
|
| 1 March 2025 Round 5 | Limerick |
2-21 (24) – (17) 3-8 | Tipperary |
Rathkeale | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-13 - 2-6) | Venue: Mick Neville Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Andrew Smith (Meath)
|
| 2 March 2025 Round 5 | London |
1-12 (15) – (16) 0-16 | Longford |
Ruislip, London | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-8 - 0-8) | Venue: McGovern Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Kevin Faloon (Armagh)
|
| 2 March 2025 Round 5 | Wicklow |
2-18 (24) – (20) 2-14 | Carlow |
Aughrim | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-12 - 0-10) | Venue: Echelon Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Pat Clarke (Cavan)
|
Round 6
| 15 March 2025 Round 6 | Carlow |
2-20 (26) – (13) 0-13 | Longford |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 2-13 - 0-2) | Venue: Dr. Cullen Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Niall Quinn (Clare)
|
| 15 March 2025 Round 6 | Wexford |
1-13 (16) – (15) 1-12 | Tipperary |
Wexford | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-5 - 0-9) | Venue: Wexford Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)
|
| 15 March 2025 Round 6 | Waterford |
1-19 (22) – (17) 2-11 | London |
Dungarven | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-7 - 0-6) | Venue: Fraher Field | |||
| Report | Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)
|
| 16 March 2025 Round 6 | Wicklow |
3-15 (24) – (24) 1-21 | Limerick |
Aughrim | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-7 - 1-8) | Venue: Echelon Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
|
Round 7
| 23 March 2025 Round 7 | Limerick |
4-24 (36) – (20) 1-17 | Waterford |
Rathkeale | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 2-9 - 1-8) | Venue: Mick Neville Park | |||
| Referee: Barry Judge (Sligo)
|
| 23 March 2025 Round 7 | Tipperary |
0-12 (12) – (21) 0-21 | Wicklow |
Clonmel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-6 - 0-12) | ||||
| Report | Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford)
|
| 23 March 2025 Round 4 | Longford |
1-10 (13) – (24) 2-18 | Wexford |
Longford | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 2-6 - 1-6) | Venue: Pearse Park | |||
| Report | Referee: Pat Clarke (Cavan)
|
| 23 March 2025 Round 7 | London |
1-17 (20) – (21) 1-18 | Carlow |
Ruislip, London | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-8 - 0-10) | Venue: McGovern Park | |||
| Referee: Andrew Smith (Meath)
|
Final
Incidents
Live on television,[13] 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.[14] This was within moments of Murphy's reintroduction (as a substitute) to inter-county football, and referee Sean Hurson sent Forker off.[15][16][17] 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.[18][19][20]