The final day of the season was like an election count. And like all elections there are a number of new faces on the national scene.
Wexford and Limerick footballers will play in Division One for the first time in history next year. Limerick finish top of Division Two A courtesy of a 3-17 to 0-10 defeat of Wicklow.
In Two B Wexford exorcised the demons of 12 months ago when Carlow cost them a seat at the top table by edging to a narrow victory against the same opposition, 1-9 to 0-11. Joining them will be midland neighbours Westmeath - bouncing back after a year in Division Two - and Longford who scored a famous win over Derry, 1-12 to 0-10, and eliminated the Ulster favourites from the promotion race.
There was consolation for the northern province in the Division One semi-finals with three of the semi-finalists from Ulster. Pride of place goes to Fermanagh who passed Cavan for second place by beating Mayo in Charlestown. A late point from Raymond Gallagher did the trick as Cavan fell at home to Sligo on a 1-12 to 1-16 scoreline.
Fermanagh will face holders Tyrone whose substantial defeat, 1-17 to 0-14, of Cork gave them top spot in Division One A and cost their opponents a semi-final place on scoring difference. Armagh took advantage despite losing narrowly in Tralee. Their All-Ireland re-match with Kerry was decided by a late Marc O Se goal for a 1-13 to 2-8 home win.
Laois under Mick O'Dwyer made a return to the NFL semi-finals for the first time in six years. Their match against Armagh is a re-run of last season's Division Two semi-final, which was the All-Ireland champions' last defeat until a few weeks ago. Laois had their first League win at Portlaoise over neighbours Kildare since 1934 to cap a hugely successful first phase in O'Dwyer's latest project. They weathered a revival from their manager's former charges, Kildare, to finish strongly winning 1-14 to 1-9.
Relegation issues went the distance. Donegal recorded their first win of the season - not enough to save them from relegation but sufficient to bring Roscommon (rather than Dublin) with them. There is, however, likely to be a recount in Division One B with Sligo, Down and Kildare filling the bottom three places but who exactly is to be eliminated has yet to be decided.
The GAA's Games Administration Committee was to ordain a re-match between Kildare and Sligo to decide the destination of the two points won on the field by Kildare but given to Sligo after a technical objection. GAC were waiting to see if such a refixture would be necessary.
That isn't clear. Kildare are definitely relegated and any rematch couldn't change their circumstances. It could, however, affect Down. Were Kildare to beat Sligo, Down would survive. It remains to be seen if GAC feel it is worthwhile to overturn a strictly correct decision when it would be of no benefit to the county directly affected, Kildare.
