1980–81 National Football League (Ireland)
{{short description|Gaelic football competition}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox GAA League
|league = 1980–81 National Football League
|image =
|dates = October 1980 – 10 May 1981
|teams =
|team1 = Galway
|captain1 = Barry Brennan
|manager1 =
|titles =3rd
|team2 = Roscommon
|captain2 = Danny Murray
|manager2 =
|two =
|three =
|four =
|previous = 1979–80
|next = 1981–82
}}
The 1980–81 National Football League was the 50th staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for the Gaelic Athletic Association county teams of Ireland.
Galway defeated Roscommon in an all-Connacht final.[http://www.gaa.ie/about-the-gaa/gaa-history/final-teams/0/6/0/0/7/ GAA Final Teams][http://www.terracetalk.com/kerry-football/game/477/1981-Kerry-Vs-Galway Terrace Talk 1981][http://www.crokepark.ie/gaa-museum/gaa-archive/gaa-years/1980-1989/1984-(6) GAA Archive 1981]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Format
=Titles=
Teams in all four divisions competed for one league title.
=Divisions=
- Division One: 8 teams
- Division Two: 8 teams
- Division Three: 8 teams
- Division Four: 8 teams
=Round-robin format=
Each team played every other team in its division once, either home or away.
=Points awarded=
2 points were awarded for a win and 1 for a draw.
=Knockout stage qualifiers=
- Division One: top 4 teams "League play-offs cause confusion", Cork Examiner, 10 March 1982, p. 15
- Division Two: top 2 teams
- Division Three: top team
- Division Four: top team
=Knockout phase structure=
In the Preliminary quarter-finals, the match-ups were as follows
- Preliminary Quarter-final 1: Fourth-placed team in Division One v First-placed team in Division Four
- Preliminary Quarter-final 2: Second-placed team in Division Two v First-placed team in Division Three
In the quarter-finals, the match-ups were as follows
- Quarter-final 1: Winner Preliminary Quarter-final 1 v First-placed team in Division Two
- Quarter-final 2: Winner Preliminary Quarter-final 2 v Third-placed team in Division One
The semi-final match-ups are:
- Semi-final 1: First-placed team in Division One v Winner Quarter-final 1
- Semi-final 2: Second-placed team in Division One v Winner Quarter-final 2
=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 stage
=Division One=
==Regulation Games==
{{football box collapsible
| date = 5 October 1980
| round = Round 1
| team1 = Cork
| score = 0-10 — 0-13
| team2 = Kerry
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| report =
| stadium = Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork"GAA Results at a glance", Irish Press, 06/10/1980, p. 13,
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
{{football box collapsible
| date = 5 October 1980
| round = Round 1
| team1 = Roscommon
| score = 3-14 — 0-8
| team2 = Kildare
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| report =
| stadium = Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon"GAA Results at a glance", Irish Press, 06/10/1980, p. 13,
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
{{football box collapsible
| date = 5 October 1980
| round = Round 1
| team1 = Armagh
| score = 3-10 — 0-9
| team2 = Offaly
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| report =
| stadium = Athletic Grounds, Armagh"GAA Results at a glance", Irish Press, 06/10/1980, p. 13,
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
==Division One play-offs==
{{football box collapsible
| date = 15 March 1981
| round = For 3rd Place
| team1 = Dublin
| score = 1-7 — 1-5
| team2 = Armagh
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| report =
| stadium = Croke Park, Dublin"GAA in brief", Irish Press, 16/03/1981, p. 14,
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
==Tables==
| style=border-collapse:collapse border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5 | ||||||
| align=center bgcolor=#efefef
!Team !Pld !W !D !L !Pts !Notes | ||||||
| align=center style="background:#bbccff;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Kerry.svg {{GG|Kerry|football}} | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 11 | rowspan=4|Qualified for Knockout Stages |
| align=center style="background:#bbccff;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Roscommon.svg {{GG|Roscommon|football}} | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | |
| align=center style="background:#bbccff;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Dublin.svg {{GG|Dublin|football}} | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | |
| align=center style="background:#bbccff;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Armagh.svg {{GG|Armagh|football}} | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Cork.svg {{GG|Cork|football}} | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | rowspan=2| |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Offaly.svg {{GG|Offaly|football}} | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
| align=center style="background:#FF8888;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Down.svg {{GG|Down|football}} | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | rowspan=2|Relegated to Division Two of the 1981–82 NFL |
| align=center style="background:#FF8888;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Kildare.svg {{GG|Kildare|football}} | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
=Division Two=
==Division Two Regulation Games==
{{football box collapsible
| date = 5 October 1980
| round = Round 1
| team1 = Derry
| score = 2-12 — 2-3
| team2 = Laois
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| report =
| stadium = Ballinascreen"GAA Results at a glance", Irish Press, 06/10/1980, p. 13,
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
==Tables==
| style=border-collapse:collapse border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5 | ||||||
| align=center bgcolor=#efefef
!Team !Pld !W !D !L !Pts !Notes | ||||||
| align=center style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Galway.svg {{GG|Galway|football}} | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 12 | rowspan=2|Promoted to Division One of the 1981–82 NFL and qualified for Knockout Stages |
| align=center style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Mayo.svg {{GG|Mayo|football}} | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 10 | |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Tyrone.svg {{GG|Tyrone|football}} | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | rowspan=4| |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Derry.svg {{GG|Derry|football}} | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Meath.svg {{GG|Meath|football}} | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Monaghan.svg {{GG|Monaghan|football}} | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
| align=center style="background:#FF8888;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Laois.svg {{GG|Laois|football}} | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | rowspan=2|Relegated to Division Three of the 1981–82 NFL |
| align=center style="background:#FF8888;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Antrim.svg {{GG|Antrim|football}} | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
=Division Three=
| style=border-collapse:collapse border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5 | ||||||
| align=center bgcolor=#efefef
!Team !Pld !W !D !L !Pts !Notes | ||||||
| align=center style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Fermanagh.svg {{GG|Fermanagh|football}} | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 13 | rowspan=1|Promoted to Division Two of the 1981–82 NFL and Qualified for Knockout Stages |
| align=center style="background:#F8DE7E;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Cavan.svg {{GG|Cavan|football}} | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | rowspan=1|Promoted to Division Two of the 1981–82 NFL |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Donegal.svg {{GG|Donegal|football}} | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | rowspan=4| |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Louth.svg {{GG|Louth|football}} | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Wexford.svg {{GG|Wexford|football}} | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Tipperary.svg {{GG|Tipperary|football}} | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | |
| align=center style="background:#FF8888;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Sligo.svg {{GG|Sligo|football}} | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | rowspan=2|Relegated to Division Four of the 1981–82 NFL |
| align=center style="background:#FF8888;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Clare.svg {{GG|Clare|football}} | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
=Division Four=
| style=border-collapse:collapse border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5 | ||||||
| align=center bgcolor=#efefef
!Team !Pld !W !D !L !Pts !Notes | ||||||
| align=center style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Wicklow.svg {{GG|Wicklow|football}} | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | rowspan=1|Promoted to Division Three of the 1981–82 NFL and Qualified for Knockout Stages |
| align=center style="background:#F8DE7E;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Westmeath.svg {{GG|Westmeath|football}} | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 12 | rowspan=1|Promoted to Division Three of the 1981–82 NFL |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Longford.svg {{GG|Longford|football}} | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | rowspan=6| |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Waterford.svg {{GG|Waterford|football}} | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Leitrim.svg {{GG|Leitrim|football}} | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Limerick.svg {{GG|Limerick|football}} | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Carlow.svg {{GG|Carlow|football}} | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | |
| align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"
|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Kilkenny.svg {{GG|Kilkenny|football}} | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Knockout stage
=Preliminary quarter-finals=
{{football box
|date =22 March 1981
|time =
|team1 =Armagh
|score =2-11 – 1-10
|team2 =Wicklow
|goals1 =
|goals2=
|stadium = Croke Park, Dublin
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
----
{{football box
|date =22 March 1981
|time =
|team1 =Mayo
|score =2-9 – 0-9
|team2 =Fermanagh
|goals1 =
|goals2=
|stadium = Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon"Scores at a glance", Irish Press, 23/03/1981, p. 14
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
=Quarter-finals=
{{football box
|date =5 April 1981
|time =
|team1 =Mayo
|score =1-11 – 1-10
|team2 =Dublin
|goals1 =
|goals2=
|stadium = Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon"Mayo regain form to edge out Dublin", Irish Independent, 06/04/1981, p. 10
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
----
{{football box
|date =5 April 1981
|time =
|team1 =Galway
|score =1-11 – 2-3
|team2 =Armagh
|goals1 =
|goals2=
|stadium = Croke Park, Dublin"Galway underline Armagh weakness", Irish Independent, 06/04/1981, p. 10
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
=Semi-finals=
{{football box
|date =26 April 1981
|time =
|team1 =Galway
|score =0-10 – 0-8
|team2 =Kerry
|goals1 =
|goals2=
|stadium = Cusack Park, Ennis
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
----
{{football box
|date =26 April 1981
|time =
|team1 =Roscommon
|score =1-11 – 1-6
|team2 =Mayo
|goals1 =
|goals2=
|stadium = Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
=Final=
{{football box
|date =10 May 1981
|time =
|team1 =Galway
|score =1-11 – 1-3
|team2 =Roscommon
|goals1 =
|goals2=
|stadium = Croke Park, Dublin
| attendance = 22,876"For The Record, A History of the National Football and Hurling League Finals", Tom Morrison, Collins Press, 2002, {{ISBN|9781903464151}}
| referee = Paddy Collins (Westmeath) "For The Record, A History of the National Football and Hurling League Finals", Tom Morrison, Collins Press, 2002, {{ISBN|9781903464151}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|taAky5FnrTA|Galway v R'common 1981 NFL Final}}
{{National Football League (Ireland)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1980-81 National Football League (Ireland)}}