2017 National Football League (Ireland)

The 2017 National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz Football League, was the 86th staging of the National Football League, an annual Gaelic football tournament for Gaelic Athletic Association county teams. Thirty-one county teams from the island of Ireland, plus London, compete. Kilkenny do not participate.
On 9 April 2017 Kerry won their 20th National League title, beating Dublin by 0-20 to 1-16 in the final. Dublin were the reigning champions and were bidding for their fifth successive title.
Eir Sport and TG4 provided live coverage of the league on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons respectively. RTÉ2 broadcast highlights programme Allianz League Sunday on Sunday evenings. TG4 broadcast the final of each division live.

Format

League structure

The 2017 National Football League consists of four divisions of eight teams. Each team plays every other team in its division once, usually four home and three away or three home and four away. Two points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw.

Tie-breaker

If only two teams are level on league points -

The team that won the head-to-head match is ranked first
If this game was a draw, score difference is used to rank the teams
If score difference is identical, total scored is used to rank the teams
If still identical, a play-off is required

If three or more teams are level on league points, score difference is used to rank the teams.

Finals, promotions and relegations

Division 1

Following the decision to abolish the National Football League semi finals for 2017, the top two teams in Division 1 contest the National Football League final. The bottom two teams are relegated to Division 2.

Division 2, Division 3 & Division 4

The top two teams in Divisions 2, 3 and 4 are promoted and contest the finals of their respective divisions. The bottom two teams in Divisions 2 and 3 are relegated.

League Statistics

All scores correct as of 12 April 2017

Scoring Events

Widest winning margin: 30
* Armagh 6-22 – 0-10 Offaly
Most goals in a match: 7
*Galway 5-15 – 2-15 Derry
*Offaly 3-15 – 4-11 Laois
Most points in a match: 43
*Dublin 2-29 – 0-14 Roscommon
Most goals by one team in a match: 6
*Armagh 6-22 – 0-10 Offaly
Highest aggregate score: 51 points
*Galway 5-15 – 2-15 Derry
Lowest aggregate score: 14 points
*Monaghan 0-07 – 0-07 Cavan

Top Scorer: Overall

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	John Heslin	Westmeath	3-60	69	8	8.6
2	Paul Geaney	Kerry	3-42	51	8	6.4
3	Conor Sweeney	Tipperary	4-38	50	8	6.2
4	Donal Kingston	Laois	5-34	49	7	7
5	Dean Rock	Dublin	0-48	48	8	6
6	Paul Broderick	Carlow	3-35	44	6	7.3
7	Robbie Smyth	Longford	0-39	39	7	5.6
8	Seanie Furlong	Wicklow	1-35	38	6	6.3
8	Jack McCarron	Monaghan	3-29	38	6	6.3
10	Emlyn Mulligan	Leitrim	1-33	36	7	5.1
11	E Cleary	Clare	1-31	34	7	4.9
12	Donal Lenihan	Meath	2-27	33	7	4.7
13	Nigel Dunne	Offaly	1-29	32	7	4.6
14	Rory Mason	London	1-28	31	6	5.2
14	Ryan Burns	Louth	3-22	31	8	3.9

Top Scorer: Single game

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	John Heslin	Westmeath	1-11	14	Leitrim
2	John Heslin	Westmeath	1-10	13	Wexford
2	Conor Sweeney	Tipperary	2-07	13	Longford
2	Donal Kingston	Laois	3-04	13	Offaly
5	Jack McCarron	Monaghan	1-09	12	Dublin
5	Paul Broderick	Carlow	2-06	12	Waterford
7	Colm O'Neill	Cork	0-11	11	Derry
7	Ben Brosnan	Wexford	0-11	11	London
7	Conor Sweeney	Tipperary	2-05	11	Louth
10	Paul Broderick	Carlow	0-10	10	Wicklow
10	John Heslin	Westmeath	0-10	10	Wicklow
10	C J McGourty	Antrim	1-07	10	Longford
10	Jack McCarron	Monaghan	1-07	10	Roscommon
10	Peter Harte	Tyrone	2-04	10	Kerry
10	Paul Geaney	Kerry	2-04	10	Donegal
10	Michael Quinlivan	Tipperary	3-01	10	Armagh