2024 National Hurling League Explained

League:	2024 National Hurling League
Dates:	3 February – 6 April 2024
Teams:	35
Team1:	Clare
Captain1:	Conor Cleary
Manager1:	Brian Lohan
Titles:	5th
Team2:	Kilkenny
Captain2:	Paddy Deegan
Manager2:	Derek Lyng
Twoa:	Laois
Twob:	Derry
Threea:	Mayo
Threeb:	Warwickshire
Previous:	2023
Next:	2025

The 2024 National Hurling League (NHL), known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz Hurling League (AHL), was the 93rd season of the National Hurling League, an annual hurling competition held in Ireland for county teams. Three English county teams also feature.^[1]

On 6 April, Clare defeated Kilkenny by 3-16 to 1-20 to win the final.^[2] ^[3]

Format

League structure

Thirty-five teams compete in the 2024 NHL –

twelve teams organised in two six-team groups of approximately equal strength in Division 1^[4]
six teams in Divisions 2A, 2B and 3A
five teams in Division 3B.

All thirty-two county teams from Ireland take part. London, Lancashire and Warwickshire complete the lineup.^[5] ^[6]

Teams by Province and Division
Province	Div 1	Div 2A	Div 2B	Div 3A	Div 3B	Total
	1	0	1	2	1	5
	5	4	1	1	1	12
	5	1	0	0	0	6
	1	1	3	3	1	9
	0	0	1	0	2	3

Total	12	6	6	6	5	35

Each team plays all the other teams in their group or division once, either home or away. Two points are awarded for a win, and one for a draw.

Tie-breaker

If only two teams are level on league points, the team that won the head-to-head match is ranked ahead. If this game was a draw, score difference (total scored minus total conceded in all games) is used to rank the teams.
If three or more teams are level on league points, score difference is used to rank the teams.

Finals, promotions and relegations

Division 1

The top two teams in each group play in the NHL semi-finals and final.
The top three teams in each group are placed in Division 1A for the 2025 NHL.
The fourth-placed team with the better record is placed in Division 1A for 2025, with the worse fourth-placed team in Division 1B.
The fifth- and sixth-placed teams go into Division 1B.^[7]

Division 2A

Second and third-placed teams meet in the Division 2A semi-final
Semi-final winner plays first-placed team in the Division 2A final
The two finalists play in Division 1B for 2025
The other four teams are placed in Division 2 for 2025

Division 2B

Second and third-placed teams meet in the Division 2B semi-final
Semi-final winner plays first-placed team in the Division 2B final
Top three teams are placed in Division 2 for 2025
Bottom three teams are relegated to Division 3 for 2025

Division 3A

Second and third-placed teams meet in the Division 3A semi-final
Semi-final winner plays first-placed team in the Division 3A final
Top four teams are placed in Division 3 for 2025
Bottom two teams are relegated to Division 4 for 2025

Division 3B

Second and third-placed teams meet in the Division 3B semi-final
Semi-final winner plays first-placed team in the Division 3B final
All teams are relegated to Division 4 for 2025

For the 2025 NHL season, the teams will be in five divisions of seven teams - Divisions 1A, 1B, 2, 3 and 4.^[8]

Division 1

Division 1 Format

The top twelve teams compete in Division 1 in two six-team groups of approximately equal strength. This group structure was introduced in 2020; the groups were redrawn for 2022 and 2023.^[4]

Each team play all the other teams in their group once. Two points are awarded for a win and one for a draw. The top two teams in each group qualify for the NHL semi-finals.^[9]

Division 1 Group A Table

width=165	Team	width=20	Pld	width=20	W	width=20	D	width=20	L	width=40	F	width=40	A	width=20	Diff	width=20	Pts
Clare	5	4	1	0	106	98	8	9
Kilkenny	5	3	1	1	106	98	8	7
Cork	5	3	0	2	142	105	37	6
Wexford	5	1	3	1	105	114	-9	5
Waterford	5	1	0	4	111	108	3	2
	5	0	1	4	97	144	-47	1

Division 1 Group A Rounds 1 to 5

Division 1 Group A Round 5

Division 1 Group B Table

width=165	Team	width=20	Pld	width=20	W	width=20	D	width=20	L	width=45	F	width=40	A	width=20	Diff	width=20	Pts
Limerick	5	4	1	0	144	92	52	9
Tipperary	5	4	0	1	148	111	37	8
Galway	5	3	1	1	151	92	59	7
Dublin	5	2	0	3	112	135	-23	4
Westmeath	5	1	0	4	95	146	-51	2
Antrim	5	0	0	5	80	154	-74	0

Division 1 Group B Rounds 1 to 5

Division 1 Group B Round 5

Comparison of fourth-placed teams

width=20	Group	width=165	Team	width=20	Pld	width=20	W	width=20	D	width=20	L	width=45	F	width=40	A	width=20	Diff	width=20	Pts
A	Wexford	5	1	3	1	105	114	-9	5
B	Dublin	5	2	0	3	112	135	-23	4

Division 1 scoring statistics

Overall

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	David Williams	Westmeath	2-44	50	5	10.00
2	Aidan McCarthy	Clare	2-36	42	6	7.00
3	Jason Forde	Tipperary	1-37	40	4	10.00
3	Evan Niland	Galway	0-40	40	4	10.00
5	Séamus Casey	Wexford	3-26	35	5	7.00
6	Patrick Horgan	Cork	1-31	34	4	8.50
7	Eoin Cody	Kilkenny	3-23	32	7	4.57
8	Gearóid O'Connor	Tipperary	1-28	31	4	7.75
	Cian O'Sullivan	Dublin	1-28	31	5	6.20
	Eoghan Cahill	Dublin	0-31	31	4	7.75

In a single game

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	David Williams	Westmeath	2-12	18	Tipperary
2	Aidan McCarthy	Clare	2-10	16	Kilkenny
3	Gearóid O'Connor	Tipperary	1-13	16	Galway
4	Conal Cunning	Antrim	1-10	13	Dublin
Evan Niland	Galway	0-13	13	Antrim
Mark Rodgers	Clare	0-13	13	Cork
7	Séamus Casey	Wexford	1-09	12	Cork
Donal Burke	Dublin	1-09	12	Galway
Gearóid O'Connor	Tipperary	0-12	12	Dublin
Jason Forde	Tipperary	0-12	12	Westmeath
Jason Forde	Tipperary	0-12	12	Antrim

Division 2A

Division 2A Table

width=165	Team	width=20	Pld	width=20	W	width=20	D	width=20	L	width=35	F	width=35	A	width=20	Diff	width=20	Pts
Carlow (P)	5	4	0	1	132	102	30	8
Laois (P)	5	4	0	1	146	103	43	8
Down	5	2	1	2	125	121	4	5
	5	2	1	2	116	116	0	5
Kerry	5	1	0	4	103	132	-29	2
	5	1	0	4	95	143	-48	2

Division 2A Rounds 1 to 5

Division 2A Round 5

Division 2A scoring statistics

Overall

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Marty Kavanagh	Carlow	4-46	58	6	9.66
2	Pearse Óg McCrickard	Down	0-46	46	6	7.66
3	Jack Sheridan	Kildare	3-34	43	4	10.75
4	Pádraig O'Hanrahan	Meath	1-33	36	5	7.20
5	Aaron Dunphy	Laois	1-30	33	6	5.50
6	Daithí Sands	Down	6-09	27	6	4.50
6	Chris Nolan	Carlow	1-24	27	6	4.50
8	Tomás Keyes	Laois	4-13	25	6	4.16
9	Maurice O'Connor	Kerry	1-21	24	5	4.80
10	Stephen Maher	Laois	0-23	23	4	5.75

In a single game

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Jack Sheridan	Kildare	1-13	16	Laois
2	Jack Sheridan	Kildare	1-12	15	Down
3	Aaron Dunphy	Laois	1-10	13	Meath
4	Daithí Sands	Down	3-03	12	Meath
Marty Kavanagh	Carlow	1-09	12	Laois
Shane Conway	Kerry	1-09	12	Meath
7	Ross King	Laois	1-07	10	Kerry
Maurice O'Connor	Kerry	1-07	10	Kildare
Marty Kavanagh	Carlow	1-07	10	Down
Marty Kavanagh	Carlow	0-10	10	Laois
Pearse Óg McCrickard	Down	0-10	10	Kildare

Division 2B

Division 2B Table

width=165	Team	width=20	Pld	width=20	W	width=20	D	width=20	L	width=35	F	width=35	A	width=20	Diff	width=20	Pts
Derry	5	4	1	0	138	88	50	9
Donegal	5	3	1	1	124	95	29	7
Tyrone	5	2	1	2	99	98	1	5
London	5	2	0	3	115	121	-6	4
Roscommon	5	1	1	3	84	118	-34	3
Wicklow	5	0	2	3	96	136	-40	2

Division 2B Rounds 1 to 5

Division 2B Round 5

Division 2B scoring statistics

Overall

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Aidy Kelly	Tyrone	0-54	54	7	7.71
2	Gerard Gilmore	Donegal	1-48	51	5	10.20
3	Jack Goulding	London	4-35	47	4	11.75
4	Cormac O'Doherty	Derry	0-33	33	6	5.50
5	Luke Evans	Wicklow	0-30	30	5	6.00

In a single game

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Jack Goulding	London	3-11	20	Wicklow
2	Aidy Kelly	Tyrone	0-18	18	Wicklow
3	Jack Goulding	London	1-13	16	Derry
4	Gerard Gilmore	Donegal	0-13	13	London
5	Robbie Fallon	Rosocmmon	2-06	12	Wicklow
Gerard Gilmore	Donegal	1-09	12	Wicklow
Luke Evans	Wicklow	0-12	12	London
8	Jack Goulding	London	0-11	11	Tyrone
9	Aidy Kelly	Tyrone	0-10	10	Roscommon
Paddy Fallon	Roscommon	0-10	10	London
Gerard Gilmore	Donegal	0-10	10	Tyrone

Division 3A

Division 3A Table

width=165	Team	width=20	Pld	width=20	W	width=20	D	width=20	L	width=35	F	width=35	A	width=20	Diff	width=20	Pts
Mayo	5	5	0	0	125	65	60	10
Sligo	5	3	1	1	126	112	14	7
Cavan	5	3	0	2	109	105	4	6
Armagh	5	1	1	3	86	97	-11	3
Louth	5	1	0	4	103	132	-29	2
Monaghan	5	1	0	4	91	129	-38	2

Division 3A Rounds 1 to 5

Division 3A Round 5

Division 3A scoring statistics

Overall

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch	Sligo	3-49	58	7	8.28
2	Alex O'Boyle	Armagh	2-50	56	5	11.20
3	Darren Geoghegan	Louth	2-45	51	5	10.20
4	Nicholas Kenny	Cavan	2-33	39	6	6.50
5	Cormac Phillips	Mayo	1-33	36	6	6.00

In a single game

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch	Sligo	2-12	18	Louth
2	Leo Moloney	Monaghan	1-12	15	Sligo
3	Darren Geoghegan	Louth	0-14	14	Sligo
Alex O'Boyle	Armagh	0-14	14	Monaghan
5	Shane Boland	Mayo	2-07	13	Sligo
Liam O'Brien	Cavan	1-10	13	Louth
Niall Arthur	Monaghan	0-13	13	Louth
8	Adrain Phillips	Mayo	3-03	12	Monaghan
Darren Geoghegan	Louth	1-09	12	Cavan
Alex O'Boyle	Armagh	1-09	12	Sligo
Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch	Sligo	0-12	12	Cavan

Division 3B

Division 3B Table

All teams are placed in Division 4 for 2025

width=165	Team	width=20	Pld	width=20	W	width=20	D	width=20	L	width=35	F	width=35	A	width=20	Diff	width=20	Pts
Fermanagh	4	4	0	0	78	37	41	8
Longford	4	2	1	1	67	51	16	5
Warwickshire	4	1	1	2	81	95	-14	3
Leitrim	4	1	1	2	62	87	-25	3
Lancashire	4	0	1	3	66	84	-18	1

Division 3B Rounds 1 to 5

Division 3B Round 1

}

Division 3B Round 5

Division 3B scoring statistics

Overall

Rank	Player	Club	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Jack Grealish	Warwickshire	1-32	35	6	5.83
2	David Devine	Warwickshire	2-26	32	6	5.33
3	Reuben Murray	Longford	1-23	26	5	5.20
4	Joe Murray	Leitrim	1-21	24	4	6.00
5	Luca McCuskar	Fermanagh	0-21	21	5	4.20

In a single game

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Jack Grealish	Warwickshire	1-11	14	Longford
2	David Devine	Warwickshire	1-08	11	Lancashire
3	Joe Murray	Leitrim	0-10	10	Warwickshire
4	Michael Mulcahy	Longford	2-02	8	Warwickshire
Cathal Mullane	Longford	2-02	8	Leitrim
Paddy Lynam	Longford	0-08	8	Warwickshire
Jack Grealish	Warwickshire	0-08	8	Leitrim
Joe Murray	Leitrim	0-08	8	Lancashire
David Lynch	Lancashire	0-08	8	Leitrim
10	Reuben Murray	Longford	1-04	7	Lancashire
John Duffy	Fermanagh	0-07	7	Leitrim
Reuben Murray	Longford	0-07	7	Warwickshire
Kevin McKernan	Warwickshire	0-07	7	Longford
David Devine	Warwickshire	0-07	7	Fermanagh

Notes and References

Web site: NHL fixture list unveiled for Limerick’s 2024 campaign. Mal. Keaveney. November 19, 2023. Limerick Post Newspaper.
Web site: Goal-hungry Clare hold off Kilkenny in Allianz Hurling League final to end trophy drought. 6 April 2023. RTE Sport. 8 April 2024.
Web site: Clare get timely boost with first National League title in eight years as spectre of Limerick awaits. 6 April 2023. Irish Independent. 8 April 2024.
Web site: 2022 National Hurling and Football Leagues: Groups confirmed for all divisions . Sky Sports.
Web site: Congress approves new championship restructure for 2023 with 94.7% approval . SportsJOE.ie.
Web site: Mullan . Damian . Fascinating ties in Allianz Hurling League Round Two . www.colerainechronicle.co.uk.
Web site: New Allianz Hurling League structure for 2025 ratified. www.gaa.ie.
Web site: Hurling League set for major revamp as GAA reveal new structure. December 6, 2023. Independent.ie.
Web site: 2024 GAA league and championship - who’s playing who, and when?. The Irish Times.