The Importance of the National Football League

It's been a while (Christmas and the likes) but today's blog will look at the recent history of the NFL, the state of the competition today and its importance to teams hoping to collect Sam come September.

The League's importance has changed immensely since the GAA decided to move its staging to an after Christmas slot. Before the move, the league was, according to GAA writer Eugene McGee, a competition played by 'understrength teams' who took 'big money off the fans under false pretences' on behalf of the association. 1 Seán Moran, writing in The Irish Times, went further and called for the National Football League to be abandoned in place of a 'league-based championship.' 2

Their arguments seemed reasonable. In the previous twenty years only three teams (Kerry twice, Meath, Cork) had gone onto win the All-Ireland following a league victory. Eleven of the remaining sixteen League champions in the period failed even to win their provincial championship in the year of their league victory. The competition was drawn out from late October to April, and teams often put out weakened sides in front of small crowds. By the end of the last century, the GAA was making all of €1.3 million from the NFL, gross. 3 The NFL was not seen as an important competition.

Media criticism, coupled with the falling revenues from the competition, led to the GAA to re-arrange the league to a purely post-Christmas competition. The change gave the league a new relevance as teams began to use it as a competition during which new tactics could be tried out in advance of The Championship. A competitive edge was maintained throughout, especially in Division 1, with the league running right up until the end of April.

As well as a competition to improve and fine tune tactics, the League has also acted as a means of creating momentum for teams heading into the All-Ireland Championship. Since the turn to purely post-Christmas competition, the winner of the League has gone onto win the All-Ireland on five occasions. Of the remaining six winners, Armagh and Cork have gone onto win their provincial championship before losing at the All-Ireland semi-final stage to the eventual winner. In 2011, Dublin went through the League unbeaten and led Cork by eight points at one stage in the second-half of the final. Although the Dubs (somehow) managed to lose from that position, they went onto win the All-Ireland that September. Thus, League form can be crucial in giving a team momentum going into the Championship.

In more difficult economic times, the competition has become more consistently popular, if not overwhelmingly so. While rural attendances have fallen slightly, games in Croke Park have more than made up for the differences. The opening round of the 2009 league saw Dublin and Tyrone clash at Croke Park in front of over 79,000 punters. 4 The Spring Series of 2011 and 2012 have seen just over 240,000 pay into GAA HQ over the course of the eight sets of games. The clamber to make sure that the series took place this year shows its importance to the GAA, who are making less money now than they were five years ago. 5 and 6

It is safe to say therefore, that the GAA's decision twelve years ago to revamp the league has been a positive one for the association. Games with increased competitiveness, closer to the Championship, mean that teams are willing to put a lot more into their league preparations. The improved quality has led to increased interest and those marketing the GAA have been able to increase the numbers attending matches. Thus, the League is undoubtedly important both to the teams themselves, and to the GAA as a source of revenue.

1 Eugene McGee, 'Public not fooled by National League hype' in Irish Independent, 23rd of October 2000, p. 29.
2 Seán Moran, 'League escapes radical revamp' in The Irish Times, 23rd of August 2000, p. 20.
3 McGee, Independent, p. 29.
4 Conor Lally, 'Full house sees fireworks begin after final whistle: Light fantastic: Croke Park spectacle marks GAA's 125th anniversary' in The Irish Times, 2nd of February 2009, p. 9.
5 Ian O'Riordan, 'Kildare to help Dublin host Spring series' in The Irish Times, 12th of December 2012. Available at http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1212/1224327772757.html; accessed 17/01/2013.
6 Seán Moran, 'Revenues are along expected lines - GAA' in The Irish Times, 8th of March 2012. Available at http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0308/1224313004602.html; accessed 17/01/2013.