2004 National Hurling League Explained

League:2004 National Hurling League
Dates:14 February – 9 May 2004
Teams:32
Team1:Galway
Captain1:Ollie Canning
Manager1:Conor Hayes
Titles:8th
Team2:Waterford
Captain2:Ken McGrath
Manager2:Justin McCarthy
Two:Down
Three:Sligo
Threes:Donegal
Previous:2003
Next:2005

The 2004 National Hurling League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz National Hurling League, was the 73rd edition of the National Hurling League (NHL), an annual hurling competition for the GAA county teams. Galway won the league, beating Waterford in the final.[1] [2] [3]

Structure

Division 1

There are 12 teams in Division 1, divided into 1A and 1B. Each team plays all the others in its group once, earning 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw.

Each team in the Final Group plays the other three teams that it did not play in the first five games. The top two teams go into the NHL final – only points earned in these last three games count.Each team in the Relegation Group plays the other three teams that it did not play in the first five games. The bottom team is relegated – only points earned in these last three games count.

Division 2

There are 10 teams in Division 2, divided into 2A and 2B. Each team plays all the others in its group once, earning 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw.

Each team in the Promotion Group plays the other three teams that it did not play in the first four games. The top two teams go into the Division 2 final – only points earned in these last three games count. Final winners are promoted.Each team in the Relegation Group plays the other two teams that it did not play in the first four games. The bottom team is relegated – only points earned in these last two games count.

Division 3

There are 10 teams in Division 3, divided into 3A and 3B. Each team plays all the others in its group once, earning 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw.

Each team in the Promotion Group plays the other three teams that it did not play in the first four games. The top two teams go into the Division 3 final – only points earned in these last three games count. Final winners are promoted.Each team in the Shield Group plays the other two teams that it did not play in the first four games. The top two play the Division 3 Shield Final.

Overview

Division 1

Galway won their first league title in four seasons, as 'the Westerners' recorded two defeats throughout the entire league. Waterford, who were league runners-up, suffered three defeats in the group stages before falling to Galway in the final.

Down at the other end of the table, Dublin and Antrim went through the initial group stages without a single victory. However, a relegation group of six teams resulted in Offaly ending up at the bottom and facing relegation for the following season.

Division 1

Competition:National Hurling League Division 1
Season:2004
Winners:Galway
9th National League title
Captain: Ollie Canning
Manager: Conor Hayes
Relegated:Offaly
League Topscorer: Eugene Cloonan (10-62)
Biggest Home Win:Tipperary 5-23 - 0-13 Antrim
(21 March 2004)
Biggest Away Win:Waterford 2-12 - 6-17 Dublin
(13 March 2004)
Highest Scoring:Kilkenny 3-31 - 3-7 Antrim
(25 April 2004)
Matches:49
Prevseason:2003
Nextseason:2005
Updated:12 April 2017

Kilkenny came into the season as defending champions of the 2003 season. Antrim entered Division 1 as the promoted team.

On 9 May 2004, Galway won the title following a 2-15 to 1-13 win over Waterford in the final.[4] It was their first league title since 2000 and their 8th National League title overall.

Offaly, who were unlucky not to make the final group, were relegated from Division 1 after losing all of their group stage matches in the relegation group.

Galway's Eugene Cloonan was the Division 1 top scorer with 10-62.

Division 1A table

width=20Poswidth=150Teamwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20Ptswidth=250Notes
1 Galway 54018 Advanced to Group 1
2 Clare 54018
3 Waterford 53026
4 Kilkenny 53026 Advanced to Group 2
5 Laois 51042
6 Dublin 50050

Division 1B table

width=20Poswidth=150Teamwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20Ptswidth=250Notes
1 Cork 54109 Advanced to Group 1
2 Tipperary 53118
3 Limerick 53026
4 Offaly 53026 Advanced to Group 2
5 Wexford 51042
6 Antrim 50050

Group 1 table

width=20Poswidth=150Teamwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20Ptswidth=250Notes
1 Waterford 32105 Division 1 runners-up
2 Galway 32014 Division 1 champions
3 Clare 32014
4 Tipperary 31113
5 Limerick 31022
6 Cork 30030

Group 2 table

width=20Poswidth=150Teamwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20Ptswidth=250Notes
1 Kilkenny 33006
2 Laois 32105
3 Dublin 31113
4 Wexford 31113
5 Antrim 30121
6 Offaly 30030 Relegated to Division 2

Knock-out stage

Final

Scoring statistics

Top scorers overall
RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Eugene CloonanGalway10-6292910.22
2Paul FlynnWaterford5-587398.11
3James YoungLaois3-485787.12
4Eoin KellyTipperary5-3954
5Liam WatsonAntrim8-265086.25
6Niall GilliganClare5-3348
7Jonathan O'CallaghanCork0-4545
8Henry ShefflinKilkenny3-324166.83
9Rory HanniffyOffaly1-3033
10Conal KeaneyDublin5-1732
Andrew O'ShaughnessyLimerick3-2332
David CurtinDublin0-3232
Top scorers in a single game
RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalOpposition
1Eugene CloonanGalway3-0716Waterford
2Eoin KellyTipperary2-0814Antrim
Paul FlynnWaterford1-1114Tipperary
4Liam WatsonAntrim3-0413Kilkenny
5Eugene CloonanGalway1-0912Laois
Eoin KellyTipperary1-0912Limerick
Jimmy CooganKilkenny1-0912Antrim
Eugene CloonanGalway0-1212Kilkenny
9Paul O'BrienWaterford3-0211Dublin
Henry ShefflinKilkenny1-0811Clare
Niall GilliganClare1-0811Cork
Eugene CloonanGalway1-0811Limerick
Barry LambertWexford1-0811Laois

Division 2

Competition:National Hurling League Division 2
Season:2004
Winners:Down
Captain: Simon Wilson
Manager: John Crossey
Relegated:Mayo
League Topscorer: Andrew Mitchell (1-56)
Biggest Home Win:Westmeath 1-25 - 0-10 Wicklow
(11 April 2004)
Biggest Away Win:Kerry 9-13 - 0-15 Carlow
(29 February 2004)
Highest Scoring:Down 2-28 - 4-11 Kerry
(11 April 2004)
Matches:32
Prevseason:2003
Nextseason:2005
Updated:12 April 2017

Derry and Mayo entered Division 2 as the respective relegated and promoted teams from the 2003 season.

On 9 May 2004, Down won the title following a 5-15 to 3-7 win over Westmeath in the final.[5]

Mayo were relegated from Division 2 after losing all of their group stage matches in the relegation group.

Westmeath's Andrew Mitchell was the Division 2 top scorer with 1-56.

Division 2A table

width=20Poswidth=150Teamwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20Ptswidth=250Notes
1 Down 43107 Advanced to Group 1
2 Westmeath 43107
3 Roscommon 42024
4 Kildare 41032 Advanced to Group 2
5 Derry 40040

Division 2B table

width=20Poswidth=150Teamwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20Ptswidth=250Notes
1 Kerry 44008 Advanced to Group 1
2 Wicklow 42024
3 Meath 42024
4 Mayo 41032 Advanced to Group 2
5 Carlow 40040

Group 1 table

width=20Poswidth=150Teamwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20Ptswidth=250Notes
1 Westmeath 33006 Division 2 runners-up
2 Down 22004 Division 2 champions
3 Roscommon 32014
4 Kerry 31022
5 Meath 20020
6 Wicklow 30030

Group 2 table

width=20Poswidth=150Teamwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20Ptswidth=250Notes
1 Kildare 11002
2 Derry 11002
3 Carlow 21012
4 Mayo 20020 Relegated to Division 3

Knock-out stage

Final

Scoring statistics

Top scorers overall
RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Andrew MitchellWestmeath1-565987.37
2Shane BrickKerry3-384776.71
Top scorers in a single game
RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalOpposition
1Shane BrickKerry3-0918Carlow
Paul BarniffDown3-0918Westmeath
3John Mike DooleyKerry4-0214Carlow
Jonathan O'NeillWicklow2-0814Down
5Gregory BiggsDerry2-0713Westmeath
Tom CarewKildare0-1313Westmeath
7Keith HigginsMayo1-0811Carlow
Tom CarewKildare1-0811Derry
Andrew MitchellWestmeath0-1111Wicklow
Andrew MitchellWestmeath0-1111Kerry

Division 3

Division 3A table

width=20Poswidth=150Teamwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20Ptswidth=250Notes
1 Sligo 43107 Advanced to Group 1
2 Armagh 43016
3 Leitrim 41214
4 Longford 40222 Advanced to Group 2
5 Donegal 40131

Division 3B table

width=20Poswidth=150Teamwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20Ptswidth=250Notes
1 Tyrone 43107 Advanced to Group 1
2 Fermanagh 43107
3 Louth 41123
4 Monaghan 41032 Advanced to Group 2
5 Cavan 40131

Group 1 table

width=20Poswidth=150Teamwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20Ptswidth=250Notes
1 Sligo 33006 Division 3 champions
2 Tyrone 32014 Division 3 runners-up
3 Fermanagh 32014
4 Armagh 31022
5 Leitrim 31022
6 Louth 30030

Group 2 table

width=20Poswidth=150Teamwidth=20Pldwidth=20Wwidth=20Dwidth=20Lwidth=20Ptswidth=250Notes
1 Donegal 22004 Division 3 Shield champion
2 Cavan 21012 Division 3 Shield runner-up
3 Longford 20111
4 Monaghan 20111

Knock-out stage

Shield final

Final

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Hurling League Results 1925-2009. Hogan Stand. 18 April 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100805063526/http://www.hoganstand.com/general/leagues/nhlrecords.aspx. 5 August 2010.
  2. http://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/sport/other-sports/hurling-league-fixtures-27552939.html 2002 Hurling League fixtures
  3. Web site: Gaelic Games Scoreboard.
  4. Web site: Galway cruise to League glory. Breaking News. 9 May 2004. 14 April 2017.
  5. Web site: Down claim NHL Division 2 title. Breaking News. 9 May 2004. 14 April 2017.