1963–64 National Football League (Ireland)

The 1963–64 National Football League was the 33rd staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for the Gaelic Athletic Association county teams of Ireland.

1963–64 National Football League
League details
DatesOctober 1963 – 18 October 1964
League champions
WinnersNew York (2nd win)
CaptainTom Hennessy
League runners-up
Runners-upDublin
CaptainMickey Whelan

New York again got a bye to the final. Dublin met them after a win over Down in the Home Final, and travelled to The Bronx for the final, also billed as the "World Championship". A Brendan O'Donnell goal after half-time allowed NY to build up a seven-point lead, which a Dublin rally reduced to one point. Late in the game, players brawled on the field and were joined by a spectator, who received a black eye. New York captain Tom Hennessy scored a late point to seal victory.[1][2]

Format

Divisions
  • Division I: 8 team. Split into two groups (one of five, one of four)
  • Division II: 7 teams
  • Division III: 7 teams.
  • Division III: 9 teams. Split into two groups (one of five, one of four)

Round-robin format

Each team played every other team in its division (or group where the division is split) once, either home or away.

Points awarded

2 points were awarded for a win and 1 for a draw.

Titles

Teams in all three divisions competed for the National Football League title.

Division I also doubled as the Dr Lagan Cup

Knockout stage qualifiers
  • Division I: winners
  • Division II: winners
  • Division III: winners
  • Division IV: winners

Knockout phase structure

4 Division winners play Semi-finals

Promotion and relegation

None

Separation of teams on equal points

In the event that teams finish on equal points, then a play-off will be used to determine group placings if necessary, i.e. where to decide semi-finalists.

Group stage

Inter-group play-offs
1 March 1964 Semi-final Down 3-14 — 0-8 Derry Casement Park, Belfast[3]
8 March 1964 Semi-final Antrim 3-7 — 1-7 Fermanagh Clones[4]
15 March 1964 Final Down 0-12 — 1-7 Antrim Dungannon[5]

Division II
Team Pld W D L Pts Status
Cavan 650110Qualified for knockout stage
Meath 64028
Mayo 64028
Sligo 63036
Longford 63036
Leitrim 61052
Westmeath 61052

[7]

Division III
Team Pld W D L Pts Status
Dublin 650110Qualified for knockout stage
Galway 64119
Roscommon 63036
Offaly 63036
Wicklow 62135
Louth 62135
Laois 60151

[8]

Inter-group play-offs
8 March 1964 Final Kerry 1-21 — 2-6 Waterford Clonmel[9]

Knockout stages

Semi-finals
Down1-8 – 0-7Cavan
Dublin0-10 – 0-9Kerry

Finals
Dublin2-9 – 0-7Down
Attendance: 70,125
New York2-12 – 1-13Dublin
J Foley 1-3; B. O’Donnell 1-1; J. Foley, P. Casey 0-3 each; P. Cummins, T. Hennessey 0-2 each; E. McGuinness 0-1 Report Mickey Whelan 1-3; B McDonald 0-5; Ferguson, Davey, Fox, Timmons, Casey 0-1 each
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Patsy Geraghty (Galway)[14]

References
  1. GAA Final Teams
  2. Terrace Talk 1963
  3. "Kane storms the scene as Down sparkle", Irish Independent, 2 March 1964, p. 14
  4. "GAA facts", Irish Press, 9 March 1964, p.18
  5. "Down and Cavan reach semi finals", Irish Independent, 16 March 1964, p. 15
  6. "National League Positions" Irish Press, 29/10/1963, p. 15
  7. "Football League Tables", Irish Press, 09/03/1964, p. 18
  8. "Football League Tables", Irish Press, 09/03/1964, p. 18
  9. "Terrace Talk :: Kerry Football :: 1964 League".
  10. "National Football League", Irish Independent, 10 March 1964, p.17
  11. "Down go on to League Final", Irish Independent, 6 April 1964, p.15
  12. "Terrace Talk :: Kerry Football :: 1964 League".
  13. "For The Record, A History of the National Football and Hurling League Finals", Tom Morrison, Collins Press, 2002, ISBN 9781903464151
  14. "For The Record, A History of the National Football and Hurling League Finals", Tom Morrison, Collins Press, 2002, ISBN 9781903464151
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