The 2012 National Football League known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz National Football League was the 81st staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for the Gaelic Athletic Association county teams of Ireland. The League began on Saturday 4 February 2012. Thirty-two Gaelic football county teams from the island of Ireland, plus London, participated.
On 29 April, Cork defeated Mayo by 2-10 to 0-11 to win their eight league title and their third in a row.
Format
League structure
The 2012 format of the National Football League was a system of four divisions. The top three divisions consisted of 8 teams, and Division 4 contained nine teams. Each team played every other team in its division once, either home or away. 2 points were awarded for a win and 1 for a draw.
Tie-breaker
If only two teams were level on points: The team that won the head-to-head match was ranked first If this game was a draw, points difference (total scored minus total conceded in all games) was used to rank the teams If points difference was identical, total scored was used to rank the teams If still identical, a play-off was required If three or more teams were level on points, points difference was used to rank the teams.
Finals, promotions and relegations
The top four teams in Division 1 contested the 2012 NFL semi-finals (first played fourth and second played third) and final. The top two teams in divisions 2, 3 and 4 were promoted, and contested the finals of their respective divisions. The bottom two teams in divisions 1, 2 and 3 were relegated.
Division 1
Table
Rounds 1 to 7
Division 1 Semi-finals
1Attendance figure is total of both semi-finals played consecutively
Division 1 final
2Attendance figure is total of the Division 1 and Division 2 finals played consecutively
Division 2
Table
Rounds 1 to 7
Division 2 final
2Attendance figure is total of the Division 1 and Division 2 finals played consecutively
Division 3
Table
Rounds 1 to 7
Division 3 final
3Attendance figure is total of the Division 3 and Division 4 finals played consecutively
Division 4
Table
Rounds 1 to 8
Division 4 final
4Attendance figure is total of the Division 3 and Division 4 finals played consecutively
Statistics
All scores correct as of 26 March 2016
Scoring
Widest winning margin: 46
Kilkenny 0-4 - 9-23 Fermanagh (Division 4) Most goals in a match: 9 Kilkenny 0-4 - 9-23 Fermanagh (Division 4) Most points in a match: 39 Monaghan 2-24 - 1-15 Louth (Division 2) Most goals by one team in a match: 9 Kilkenny 0-4 - 9-23 Fermanagh (Division 4) Highest aggregate score: 54 points Kilkenny 0-4 - 9-23 Fermanagh (Division 4) Lowest aggregate score: 16 points Donegal 1-7 - 0-6 Cork (Division 1) London 0-4 - 2-6 Carlow (Division 4)