1986–87 National Football League (Ireland)

The 1986–87 National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Ford National Football League, was the 56th staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for the Gaelic Athletic Association county teams of Ireland.

1986–87 National Football League
League details
DatesOctober 1986 – 26 April 1987
League champions
WinnersDublin (6th win)
CaptainBarney Rock
ManagerGerry McCaul
League runners-up
Runners-upKerry
CaptainMikey Sheehy
ManagerMick O'Dwyer

The quarter-final rounds were notable for the Dublin–Cork tie. After the game ended in a draw, Cork refused to play extra time and Dublin took the field unopposed, Barney Rock scoring a goal into an empty net before the referee awarded them victory (later chosen as one of the Top 20 GAA Moments). The Dubs went on to defeat Kerry in the final.[1][2][3][4]

Format

Divisions
  • Division One: 8 teams
  • Division Two: 8 teams
  • Division Three: 16 teams. Split into two regional groups of 8 (North and South)

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.

Knockout stage qualifiers
  • Division One: top 4 teams
  • Division Two: top 2 teams
  • Division Three (North): group winners
  • Division Three (South): group winners

Knockout phase structure

In the quarter-finals, the match-ups were as follows:

  • Quarter-final 1: First-placed team in Division One v First-placed team in Division Three (South)
  • Quarter-final 2: Second-placed team in Division One v First-placed team in Division Three (North)
  • Quarter-final 3: Third-placed team in Division One v Second-placed team in Division Two
  • Quarter-final 4: Fourth-placed team in Division One v First-placed team in Division Two

The semi-final match-ups are:

  • Semi-final 1: Winner Quarter-final 1 v Winner Quarter-final 4
  • Semi-final 2: Winner Quarter-final 2 v Winner Quarter-final 3

The final match-up is: Winner Semi-final 1 v Winner Semi-final 2.

Promotion and relegation
  • Division One: bottom 2 teams demoted to Division Two
  • Division Two: top 2 teams promoted to Division One. Bottom 2 teams demoted to Division Three.
  • Division Three (North): group winners promoted to Division Two.
  • Division Three (South): group winners promoted to Division Two.

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 relegation places or quarter-finalists.

League Phase Tables and Results

Play-Off
5 April 1987 For 6th Place Armagh 2-8 — 0-11 Roscommon Breffni Park, Cavan[5]

Table
Team Pld W D L Pts Status
Kerry 750210Advance to knockout stage
Meath 74129
Monaghan 74129
Dublin 74038
Mayo 73046
Armagh 72145
Roscommon 72145Relegated to Division Two of the 1987–88 NFL
Down 72054

[6]

Division Two
Team Pld W D L Pts Status
Cork 760112Promoted to Division One of the 1987–88 NFL and advance to knockout stage
Derry 750210
Donegal 73228
Kildare 74038
Laois 73046
Cavan 72145
Longford 72054Relegated to Division Three of the 1987–88 NFL
Tyrone 71153

Division Three (North) table
Team Pld W D L Pts Status
Galway 770014Promoted to Division Two of the 1987–88 NFL and advance to knockout stage
Antrim 74129
Offaly 73137
Louth 73137
Westmeath 72236
Sligo 72145
Leitrim 72145
Fermanagh 71153

Division Three (South) table
Team Pld W D L Pts Status
Clare 760112Promoted to Division Two of the 1987–88 NFL and advance to knockout stage
Tipperary 74129
Limerick 74129
Waterford 73137
Wicklow 73137
Wexford 73137
Carlow 72145
Kilkenny 70070

[6]

Knockout stages

Quarter-finals
Dublin0-10 – 1-7Cork
Report
Referee: Michael Greenan
  • Cork refused to play extra time and so Dublin were awarded the game.
Monaghan1-7 – 0-5Derry
Kerry1-10 – 0-10Clare
Galway1-8 – 0-9Meath

Semi-finals
Kerry2-11 – 2-9Monaghan
Referee: [7]
Dublin1-8 – 0-8Galway
Attendance: 15,800
Referee: J.J. Landers (Waterford)[8]

Final
Dublin1-11 – 0-11Kerry

References
  1. GAA Final Teams Archived 2015-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Terrace Talk :: Kerry Football :: :: 1987 League :: Final :: Kerry Vs Dublin". www.terracetalk.com.
  3. "GAA Archive 1987".
  4. "National football League Final 26/4/1987 | Inpho Photography". inpho.ie.
  5. "Early goals clinch it for Armagh", Irish Independent, 06/04/1987, p. 15
  6. "Your Gaelic Games Scoreboard", Irish Independent, 09/03/1987, p. 10
  7. "Terrace Talk :: Kerry Football :: 1987 League". www.terracetalk.com.
  8. "Unimpressive Dubs earn tilt at Kerry", Irish Independent, 20/04/1987, p. 10
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