2012 National Hurling League

The 2012 National Hurling League commenced in February 2012. 34 GAA county hurling teams: 32 from Ireland (including Fingal but not Cavan), London and Warwickshire, contested it.

On 6 May Kilkenny defeated Cork in the final to win their 15th NHL title, moving them to second place in the all-time roll of honour, behind Tipperary who have won 19 Leagues.^[1][2][3]

Format

The 2012 format was originally to consist of five divisions: Divisions 1 and 2 having eight teams in each, Division 3A six, Division 3B seven, and six teams in Division 4.

However, this was controversially altered to a system of six divisions, with six teams in divisions 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 3A, and four in division 3B.^[4] This meant that many counties were effectively relegated to a lower division.^[5][6] It was agreed in October 2011 that there would no longer be an eight-team Division 1, with the top division hurling counties giving their approval to the new system.^[7]The league settings are as follows:

• Division 1A: Top three teams qualify for NHL semi-finals. Bottom two teams play a relegation playoff, with the losing team relegated.
• Division 1B: Top two teams play division final, with the winner being promoted and qualifying for NHL semi-final. Bottom two teams play a relegation playoff, with the losing team relegated.
• Division 2A: Top two teams play division final, with the winner being promoted. Bottom two teams play a relegation playoff, with the losing team relegated.
• Division 2B: Top two teams play division final, with the winner being promoted. No relegation.
• Division 3A: Top two teams play division final, but the winner is not promoted. Bottom two teams play a relegation playoff, with the losing team relegated.
• Division 3B: Top two teams play division final, with the winner being promoted.

Division 1A

Division 1A

  NHL semi-finalists  Relegated team

• Waterford are placed ahead of Galway as they won the head-to-head match between the teams.

Fixtures and results

Cork v Waterford

Kilkenny v Tipperary

Galway v Dublin

Dublin v Cork

Waterford v Kilkenny

Tipperary v Galway

Cork v Galway

Kilkenny v Dublin

Tipperary v Waterford

Dublin v Tipperary

Galway v Waterford

Cork v Kilkenny

Waterford v Dublin

Kilkenny v Galway

Tipperary v Cork

Division 1 Knockout

Galway v Dublin

Dublin v Galway

Kilkenny v Clare

Cork v Tipperary

Kilkenny v Cork

Top scorers

Season

Single game

Division 1B

Division 1B

  Division champions and promoted team  Relegated team

• Antrim are placed ahead of Wexford as they won the head-to-head match between the teams.

Fixtures and results

Limerick v Clare

Offaly v Laois

Antrim v Wexford

Clare v Antrim

Wexford v Offaly

Laois v Limerick

Laois v Clare

Offaly v Antrim

Wexford v Limerick

Limerick v Offaly

Clare v Wexford

Antrim v Laois

Wexford v Laois

Offaly v Clare

Antrim v Limerick

Clare v Limerick

Wexford v Laois

Top scorers

Season

Single game

Division 2A

Division 2A

  Division champions and promoted team  Relegated team

Fixtures and results

Carlow v Down

Westmeath v Kerry

Wicklow v Derry

Kerry v Carlow

Down v Wicklow

Derry v Westmeath

Down v Derry

Wicklow v Kerry

Carlow v Westmeath

Westmeath v Wicklow

Kerry v Down

Carlow v Derry

Wicklow v Carlow

Down v Westmeath

Derry v Kerry

Carlow v Westmeath

Wicklow v Down

Top scorers

Season

Single game

Division 2B

Division 2B

  Division champions and promoted team

• London are placed ahead of Armagh because they won the head-to-head game between the teams.

Fixtures and results

Meath v Kildare

Roscommon v Mayo

London v Armagh

Kildare v London

Mayo v Meath

Armagh v Roscommon

Armagh v Mayo

Roscommon v Kildare

London v Meath

London v Mayo

Kildare v Armagh

Meath v Roscommon

Roscommon v London

Armagh v Meath

Mayo v Kildare

Kildare v Meath

Division 3A

Division 3A

  Division champions (not promoted)  Relegated team

Fixtures and results

Tyrone v Sligo

Monaghan v Donegal

Louth v Fingal

Sligo v Louth

Fingal v Monaghan

Donegal v Tyrone

Monaghan v Louth

Fingal v Tyrone

Donegal v Sligo

Sligo v Fingal

Tyrone v Monaghan

Louth v Donegal

Fingal v Donegal

Monaghan v Sligo

Louth v Tyrone

Donegal v Sligo

Fingal v Monaghan

The Monaghan team gave a walkover after a dispute with the county board, who had refused to reschedule Gaelic football club games to allow their players to rest for the final.^[9]

Division 3B

Division 3B

  Division champions and promoted team

Fixtures and results

Longford v Leitrim

Fermanagh v Warwickshire

Warwickshire v Longford

Leitrim v Fermanagh

Leitrim v Warwickshire

Fermanagh v Longford

Warwickshire v Fermanagh

Broadcasting rights

Setanta Sports and TG4 provided live coverage of matches in Ireland with RTÉ providing highlights on Sunday nights. The finals were all shown live on TG4.Setanta Sports broadcast live matches in Australia. Setanta Sports also provided coverage of matches from the National Hurling League to viewers in Asia.

References

1. "Kilkenny's early blitz ends Rebel resistance". Irish Independent. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
2. "Just another test passed for in-form Larkin and Kilkenny". Irish Times. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
3. "As it Happened: Cork 0-16 Kilkenny 3-21". RTÉ Sport. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
4. "Counties to vote on new hurling league format". Irish Independent. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
5. "Hurling League changes are announced". RTÉ Sport. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
6. "Revamp announced for next year's hurling league". Irish Examiner. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
7. "Hurling's elitist divide". Irish Independent. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
8. "Offaly Antrim". ^{[dead link]}
9. Entertainment. "Skerries rugby success - Gaelic Football, Sport". Fingal-Independent.ie. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.

External links

• 2012 National Hurling League Fixtures and Results