2018 Ladies' National Football League


The 2018 Ladies' National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Lidl Ladies' National Football League,[1] is a ladies' Gaelic football competition taking place in early 2018.[2][3]

2018 Ladies' National Football League
League details
Dates28 January – 7 May 2018
Teams32
League champions
WinnersDublin (1st win)
CaptainSinéad Aherne
ManagerMick Bohan
League runners-up
Runners-upMayo
CaptainSarah Tierney
ManagerPeter Leahy
Other division winners
Division 2Tipperary
Division 3Wexford
Division 4Wicklow
2017
2019

For the first time, LNFL games were broadcast live on Eir Sport.[4][5]

Dublin were the winners, defeating Mayo in the final.[6][7]

Format

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League structure

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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

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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

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Table

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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
3   Mayo 7 5 0 2 120 102 +18 15
4   Galway 7 4 1 2 111 97 +14 13
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
Updated to match(es) played on 8 April 2018. Source: ladiesgaelic.ie
  • Kerry defeated Mayo, but Mayo were awarded the points as Kerry had fielded an ineligible player.[8]
  • 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).[9]

Finals

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Semi-finals

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22 April 2018 (2018-04)
3 p.m.
Semi-Final 1
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
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

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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

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Table

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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
  Armagh 7 4 1 2 168 97 +71 13
  Cavan 7 4 1 2 142 95 +47 13
  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

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Semi-finals

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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

Final

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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)
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

Division 3

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Table

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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
  Down 7 5 0 2 84 99 –15 15
  Kildare 7 4 0 3 116 94 +22 12
  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.[11]
  • Kildare are ranked ahead of Roscommon as they won the head-to-head game between the teams.[12]

Finals

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Semi-finals

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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

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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)
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

Division 4

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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
  Limerick 7 4 1 2 113 53 +60 13
  Antrim 7 4 0 3 90 79 +11 12
  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.[13]

Finals

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Semi-finals

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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

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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)
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

References

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  1. ^ "Marketing News - Marketing Institute of Ireland". mii.ie. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Upcoming Fixtures | Ladies Gaelic Football". Ladiesgaelic.ie. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Cavan and Westmeath Set for Lidl NFL Division 2 Final Showdown | Ladies Gaelic Football". Archived from the original on 19 June 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Dublin, Mayo, Cork & Kerry to feature on LIVE eir sport Lidl National League coverage - Ladies Gaelic Football". 1 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Eir Sport Announce Live Coverage Of Ladies Gaelic Football League Clashes - Pundit Arena". www.punditarena.com. February 2018.
  6. ^ "Dublin women see off Mayo to earn maiden league title". www.irishtimes.com. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Aherne the star turn as Dublin blitz Mayo to secure first league crown". www.the42.ie. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  8. ^ Duffy, Emma. "Kerry docked points for fielding unregistered player as Division 1 heats up".
  9. ^ "Lidl Ladies National Football League 2018 Round 5 (Re-fixture) previews - Galway Bay FM". 6 April 2018. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Dublin women see off Mayo to earn maiden league title". The Irish Times. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  11. ^ meathladiesgaelicfootball.ie/meath-too-strong-for-down/
  12. ^ "Semi-final pairings confirmed in Ladies National Football Leagues". 8 April 2018.
  13. ^ "O'Sullivans lead Rebel charge as Kerry are swept aside while Dublin, Mayo and Galway secure victories - Independent.ie".