2021 Ladies' National Football League

2021 Ladies' National Football League

League details
Dates	22 May – 27 June 2021
Teams	31
League champions
Winners	Dublin (2nd win)
Captain	Sinéad Aherne
Manager	Mick Bohan
League runners-up
Runners-up	Cork
Captain	Martina O'Brien
Manager	Ephie Fitzgerald
Other division winners
Division 2	Meath
Division 3	Laois
Division 4	Louth
← 2020 2022 →

The 2021 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 summer 2021. Division placings were the same as for the 2020 competition, which was unfinished due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Revised fixtures were announced on 6 April 2021, with the tournament taking place in late May and June. ^[6] Dublin were the winners. ^[7]

Format

League structure

The 2021 Ladies' National Football League consists of three divisions of eight teams and one of seven. Each division is divided into a North and South section with four teams in each section, except that there are three teams in 4 South. Each team plays every other team in its section 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	0	2	1
Leinster	2	2	4	3
Munster	3	2	0	1
Ulster	1	4	2	2

Tiebreakers for league ranking

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

The top two teams in each section in Division 1 contest the Ladies' National Football League semi-finals.

The top two teams in each section in divisions 2, 3 and 4 contest the semi-finals of their respective divisions. The division champions are promoted.

The last-placed teams in each section in divisions 1, 2 and 3 play a relegation playoff against each other, with the losers relegated.

Division 1

Galway

Dublin

Donegal

Mayo

Cork

Tipperary

Waterford

Westmeath

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Locations of the 2021 LNFL Division 1 teams.
Red: North section; Green: South section.

Division 1 North

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Donegal	3	3	0	0	66	38	+28	9	Advance to LNFL semi-finals
2	Mayo	3	2	0	1	62	40	+22	6
3	Galway	3	1	0	2	68	67	+1	3
4	Westmeath	3	0	0	3	29	80	−51	0	Advance to relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 2

Updated to match(es) played on 6 June 2021. Source: ladiesgaelic.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Division 1 South

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Dublin (C)	3	3	0	0	80	44	+36	9	Advance to LNFL semi-finals
2	Cork	3	2	0	1	64	50	+14	6
3	Waterford	3	1	0	2	59	68	−9	3
4	Tipperary (R)	3	0	0	3	34	75	−41	0	Advance to Division 1 relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 2

Updated to match(es) played on 6 June 2021. Source: ladiesgaelic.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) League champions; (R) Relegated

Division 1 Relegation Playoff

Westmeath v Tipperary

12 June 2021 13:30 IST (UTC+1) Relegation playoff

Report

Westmeath	2-16 (22)–(16) 2-10	Tipperary

St Rynagh's Park , Banagher

Division 1 Finals

Donegal v Cork

12 June 2021 15:00 IST (UTC+1) Semi-Final

Report

Donegal	3-13 (22)–(25) 5-10	Cork

St Jarlath's Park , Tuam

Dublin v Mayo

12 June 2021 17:15 IST (UTC+1) Semi-Final

Report

Dublin	4-15 (27)–(10) 0-10	Mayo
(HT: 3-03 – 0-04)

LIT Gaelic Grounds , Limerick

Cork v Dublin

26 June 2021 19:30 IST (UTC+1) LNFL Final

Report

Cork	1-13 (16)–(21) 2-15	Dublin
(HT: 1-06 – 1-10)

Croke Park , Dublin Referee: Séamus Mulvihill (Kerry)

Division 2

Division 2 North

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Cavan	3	3	0	0	61	49	+12	9	Advance to Division 2 semi-finals; division winners are promoted to Division 1
2	Monaghan	3	2	0	1	63	50	+13	6
3	Armagh	3	1	0	2	53	54	−1	3
4	Tyrone	3	0	0	3	49	73	−24	0	Advance to Division 2 relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 3

Updated to match(es) played on 6 June 2021. Source: ladiesgaelic.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Division 2 South

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Kerry	3	3	0	0	76	46	+30	9	Advance to Division 2 semi-finals; division winners are promoted to Division 1
2	Meath (P)	3	2	0	1	81	29	+52	6
3	Clare	3	1	0	2	37	66	−29	3
4	Wexford (R)	3	0	0	3	29	82	−53	0	Advance to Division 2 relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 3

Updated to match(es) played on 6 June 2021. Source: ladiesgaelic.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Division 2 Relegation Playoff

Tyrone v Wexford

20 June 2021 14:00 IST (UTC+1) Relegation playoff

Report

Tyrone	11-07 (40)–(11) 0-11	Wexford

Lann Léire GFC, Dunleer Referee: Declan Carolan

Division 2 Finals

Cavan v Meath

12 June 2021 13:00 IST (UTC+1) Semi-Final

Report

Cavan	0-09 (9)–(13) 0-13	Meath

Kingspan Breffni Park , Cavan

Kerry v Monaghan

12 June 2021 15:00 IST (UTC+1) Semi-Final

Report

Kerry	1-14 (17)–(17) 2-11 (a.e.t.) (4–3 fk)	Monaghan

Páirc an Chreagáin , Mountbellew

Kerry v Meath

TG4

26 June 2021 17:00 IST (UTC+1) Division 2 Final

Report

Kerry	1-09 (12)–(22) 2-16	Meath
(HT: 0-05 – 1-09)

Croke Park , Dublin Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford)

Division 3

Division 3 North

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Sligo	3	3	0	0	44	29	+15	9	Advance to Division 3 semi-finals; Division winners are promoted to Division 2
2	Roscommon	3	2	0	1	60	49	+11	6
3	Down	3	1	0	2	52	61	−9	3
4	Fermanagh (R)	3	0	0	3	40	57	−17	0	Advance to a relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 4

Updated to match(es) played on 6 June 2021. Source: ladiesgaelic.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(R) Relegated

Division 3 South

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Laois [a] (P)	3	2	0	1	59	46	+13	6	Advance to Division 3 semi-finals; division winners are promoted to Division 2
2	Kildare [a]	3	2	0	1	41	42	−1	6
3	Longford [b]	3	1	0	2	31	41	−10	3
4	Wicklow [b]	3	1	0	2	34	36	−2	3	Advance to a relegation playoff; losers are relegated to Division 4

Updated to match(es) played on 6 June 2021. Source: ladiesgaelic.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted
Notes:

1. Laois are ranked ahead of Kildare because they won the head-to-head game between the teams (2-16 to 2-13)
2. Longford are ranked ahead of Wicklow because they won the head-to-head game between the teams (1-7 to 0-8)

Division 3 Relegation Playoff

Fermanagh v Wicklow

20 June 2021 14:00 IST (UTC+1) Relegation playoff

Report

Fermanagh	1-12 (15)–(16) 1-13	Wicklow

Coralstown/Kinnegad GAA, Kinnegad Referee: Lorraine O'Sullivan

Division 3 Finals

Sligo v Kildare

13 June 2021 14:00 IST (UTC+1) Semi-Final

Report

Sligo	1-08 (11)–(20) 2-14	Kildare
(HT: 0-03 – 0-05)

St Brigid's GAA, Kiltoom

Laois v Roscommon

13 June 2021 14:00 IST (UTC+1) Semi-Final

Report

Laois	4-15 (27)–(24) 5-09	Roscommon
(HT: 3-05 – 2-04)

Tang Gaelic Grounds, Tang

Kildare v Laois

27 June 2021 16:00 IST (UTC+1) Division 3 Final

Kildare	3-06 (15)–(16) 2-10	Laois

Baltinglass GAA Grounds , Baltinglass

Division 4

Division 4 North

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Leitrim	3	3	0	0	68	36	+32	9	Advance to Division 4 semi-finals; division champions are promoted to Division 3
2	Louth (P)	3	2	0	1	66	42	+24	6
3	Antrim	3	1	0	2	47	63	−16	3
4	Derry	3	0	0	3	31	71	−40	0

Updated to match(es) played on 6 June 2021. Source: ladiesgaelic.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(P) Promoted

Division 4 South

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Offaly	2	2	0	0	46	35	+11	6	Advance to Division 4 semi-finals; division champions are promoted to Division 3
2	Limerick	2	1	0	1	29	29	0	3
3	Carlow	2	0	0	2	27	38	−11	0

Updated to match(es) played on 6 June 2021. Source: ladiesgaelic.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Division 4 Finals

Leitrim v Limerick

13 June 2021 13:30 IST (UTC+1) Semi-Final

Report

Leitrim	4-12 (24)–(13) 2-07	Limerick

Fr. Conroy Park , Milltown, County Galway Referee: Ciaran Groome (Offaly)

Offaly v Louth

13 June 2021 16:30 IST (UTC+1) Semi-Final

Report

Offaly	2-04 (10)–(19) 3-10	Louth

Conneff Park , Clane

Leitrim v Louth

27 June 2021 14:00 IST (UTC+1) Division 4 Final

Report

Leitrim	1-14 (17)–(21) 4-09	Louth
(HT: 0-08 – 4-03)

St. Tiernach's Park , Clones Referee: Lorraine O'Sullivan

References

1. "Marketing News - Marketing Institute of Ireland". mii.ie. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
2. Cormican, Eoghan (6 January 2021). "LGFA delay start of National League campaign". Irish Examiner.
3. "2021 - Master Fixture Plan" (PDF). ladiesgaelic.ie. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
4. "Prediction Time: What to expect in 2021". Gaelic Life. 3 January 2021.
5. Gunn, Louise (2 January 2021). "Ladies Football: Maxi Curran has unfinished business with strong contenders Donegal". The Irish News.
6. Nolan, Pat (6 April 2021). "LGFA confirm format for 2021 Lidl Ladies National Football League". Irish Mirror.
7. "Dublin women's footballers have upper hand against Cork in Division One final".