The 1987–88 National Football League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Royal Liver National Football League, was the 57th staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for the Gaelic Athletic Association county teams of Ireland.
Meath won the league, beating Dublin in a replayed final.[1][2][3]
Divisions
- Division One: 8 teams
- Division Two: 8 teams
- Division Three: 16 teams. Split into two regional groups of 8 (North and South)
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.
- 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 Results and Tables
Division One
Division One (A) play-offs
Table
Division Two
Division Three
Division Three (South)
Division Three (North) table
Division Three (South) table
[9]
Division Three Final
|
|
|
|
| GK |
1 |
Christy Grogan
|
| RCB |
2 |
Gerry Fox (Seán Connollys)
|
| FB |
3 |
John Toher (Killoe Young Emmets)
|
| LCB |
4 |
Seán O'Shea (Civil Service, Dublin)
|
| RHB |
5 |
Cathal Lee (Colmcille)
|
| CHB |
6 |
Joe McCabe (Ballymahon)
|
| LHB |
7 |
Mickey Harkins (St. Mary's)
|
| MF |
8 |
Mark McNamara (Mostrim)
|
| MF |
9 |
Francis McNamee (Fr. Manning Gaels)
|
| RHF |
10 |
Gerry Clarke (Forgney)
|
| CHF |
11 |
Philip Kiernan (St Patrick's) (c)
|
| LHF |
12 |
John Keegan (St Patrick's)
|
| RCF |
13 |
Mickey O'Hara (Mostrim)
|
| FF |
14 |
Dessie Barry (Longford Slashers)
|
| LCF |
15 |
John McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets)
|
| Substitutes:
|
|
16 |
Declan Rowley (Killoe Young Emmets) for Clarke
|
|
Knockout stage
Quarter-final
Semi-final
Final
References
- ^ GAA Final Teams Archived 2015-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Moran, Sean. "No love lost in 1988". The Irish Times.
- ^ "NFL Final 1988 | Inpho Photography". inpho.ie.
- ^ "How they stand", Cork Examiner, 14 March 1988, p. 19
- ^ "Terrace Talk :: Kerry Football :: 1988 League". www.terracetalk.com.
- ^ "Backs shine as Longford press ahead", Irish Independent, 14 March 1988, p. 10
- ^ "Limerick stay in the race", Cork Examiner, 14 March 1988, p.14
- ^ "GAA Results", Irish Independent, 21 March 1988, p.13
- ^ "GAA Scoreboard", Irish Independent 29/02/1988, p. 15
- ^ "Louth take title and earn trip". Irish Independent. 9 May 1988.
- ^ {{cite news|title=[[Louth - The Undisputed Division Three Champions|work=Dundalk Democrat|date=14 May 1988}}
- ^ "Battling Louth give Meath a real fright", Irish Independent, 14 March 1988, p. 10
- ^ "GAA Results", Irish Independent, 21 March 1988, p. 13
- ^ a b "GAA Results", Irish Press 4 April 1988, p. 11