National Hurling League

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National Hurling League

Founded	1925-26
Region	Ireland (GAA)
Number of teams	35
Current champions	Kilkenny (14th time)
Television broadcasters	TG4
Website	Official website
National Hurling League 2009

The National Hurling League (NHL) is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams (32 Irish County teams plus London and South Down and Fingal(sub county representations to increase hurlings reach)), it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One comprising the top eight teams in the country. It is sponsored by Allianz and therefore officially known as the Allianz National Hurling League.

The league is organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and is played from February until May when the final is held. The prize for the winning team is the Dr. Croke Cup.

The Division One title has been won at least once by ten different counties, nine of which have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Tipperary, who have won the competition 20 times. Kilkenny are the current champions.

History

The NHL was first held in 1925-1926, 38 years after the first All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, with Cork being the first winners. The League has traditionally played second fiddle to the All-Ireland, with most counties using it as a warm-up for the All-Ireland. This was not helped by the fact that the League was played in winter (November-March usually) while the championship had the more attractive summer dates and knockout structure.

In 2002 the league was changed to a February-April calendar, which has increased interest with attendances growing and live games broadcast on TG4.

Previous Winners

Recent finals

All-time results

The letters AI indicate the county also won the All-Ireland that year. The League has traditionally been seen as a poor predictor of summer form: only 25% (19 / 77) of League winners have gone on to win the All-Ireland.

• 1925–26 – AI Cork 3–7; Dublin 1–5
• 1926–27 – League not held
• 1927–28 – Tipperary won on points system with 14 points from eight games
• 1928–29 – Dublin 7–4; Cork 5–5
• 1929–30 – Cork 3–5; Dublin 3–0
• 1930–31 – Galway 4–5; Tipperary 4–4
• 1931–32 – League not held
• 1932–33 – AI Kilkenny 3–8; Limerick 1–3
• 1933–34 – AI Limerick 3–6; Dublin 3–3
• 1934–35 – Limerick won on points system with 15 points from eight games
• 1935–36 – AI Limerick won on points system with 15 points from eight games
• 1936–37 – Limerick won on points system with 13 points from eight games
• 1937–38 – Limerick 5–2; Tipperary 1–1
• 1938–39 – Dublin 1–8; Waterford 1–4
• 1939–40 – Cork 8–9; Tipperary 6–4
• 1940–41 – AI Cork 4–11; Dublin 2–7
• 1941–45 – League suspended for four seasons
• 1945–46 – Clare 2–10; Dublin 2–5 (replay)
• 1946–47 – Limerick 3–8; Kilkenny 1–7 (replay)
• 1947–48 – Cork 3–3; Tipperary 1–2
• 1948–49 – AI Tipperary 3–5; Cork 3–3
• 1949–50 – AI Tipperary 3–8; Kilkenny 1–10
• 1950–51 – Galway 6–7; Wexford 3–4
• 1951–52 – Tipperary 4–7; Wexford 4–6
• 1952–53 – AI Cork 2–10; Tipperary 2–7
• 1953–54 – Tipperary 3–10; Kilkenny 1–4
• 1954–55 – Tipperary 3–5; Wexford 1–5
• 1955–56 – AI Wexford 5–9; Tipperary 2–14
• 1956–57 – Tipperary 3–11; Kilkenny 2–7
• 1957–58 – Wexford 5–7; Limerick 4–8
• 1958–59 – Tipperary 0–15; Waterford 0–7
• 1959–60 – Tipperary 2–15; Cork 3–8
• 1960–61 – AI Tipperary 6–6; Waterford 4–9
• 1961–62 – Kilkenny 1–16; Cork1–8
• 1962–63 – Waterford 2–15; Tipperary 4–7
• 1963–64 – AI Tipperary 5–12; Wexford 1–4
• 1964–65 – AI Tipperary 3–14; Kilkenny 2–8
• 1965–66 – Kilkenny 0–9; Tipperary 0–7
• 1966–67 – Tipperary 3–9; Kilkenny 1–13
• 1967–68 – Tipperary New York
• 1968–69 – Cork 3–12; Wexford 1–14
• 1969–70 – Cork 2–17; Limerick 0–7

Performance by County

Division Placings for 2010 season

Teams not competing:

• New York
• Warwickshire

External links

• NHL Results and Fixtures
• Semi-final and final results 1926-2005