The 2009 National Hurling League (known as the Allianz National Hurling League for sponsorship reasons) was the 78th season of the National Hurling League.
Structure
The National Hurling League saw a major restructuring of the usual four divisions with the teams divided more equitably into a five-tier structure.
Division 1 was a single division and was confined to the top eight teams. The top two teams in the division qualified for the final. Division 2 operated in a similar manner.
Division 3A was a newly created division and consisted of six teams. The top two teams in the division qualified for the final. Division 3B operated in a similar manner, however, that division consisted of seven teams.
Division 4 was a single division consisting of six teams. The top two teams in the division qualified for the final.
Division 1
Tipperary came into the season as defending champions of the 2008 season.
On 3 May 2009, Kilkenny won the title after a 4–17 to 2-26 extra-time win over Tipperary. It was their first league title since 2006 and their 14th National League title overall.
Clare failed to win a single group stage game - finishing in the bottom position - and were relegated to Division 2 for the 2010 league.
Dublin's Alan McCrabbe was the Division 1 top scorer with 1-50.
Structure
A total of 8 teams contested the top division of the league, including all of the sides from the 2008 season that formerly took part in Divisions 1A and 1B. Due to the restructuring the 2008 Division 2 champions did not gain promotion to the top tier.
Each team played all the others in its group once, earning 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw. The first-placed teams in Division 1 contested the final.
Table
Group stage
Knock-out stage
Final
Top scorers
Overall Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average1Alan McCrabbeDublin1-505368.832Niall MoranLimerick3-384767.83Richie PowerKilkenny5-264166.834Séamus CallananTipperary2-344066.665Eoin KellyWaterford2-303666.006Henry ShefflinKilkenny1-293248.007David O'CallaghanDublin4-172974.148Niall HealyGalway3-192874.009Colin RyanClare1-242764.5010Richie HoganKilkenny1-232673.71
Single game
Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition1Niall HealyGalway2-814Clare2David O'CallaghanDublin2-713KilkennyRichie HoganKilkenny1-1013Tipperary4Niall MoranLimerick1-912WaterfordAlan McCrabbeDublin1-912Cork6David TreacyDublin3-211TipperaryMartin ComerfordKilkenny3-211TipperaryAndrew O'ShaughnessyLimerick2-511ClareJoe CanningGalway1-811LimerickHenry ShefflinKilkenny0-1111DublinAlan McCrabbeDublin0-1111GalwaySéamus CallananTipperary0-1111Galway
Division 2
Table
Group stage
Knock-out stage
Final
Scoring statistics
Top scorers overall
Rank Player Team Tally Total Matches Average1Shane DooleyOffaly8-487289.002Paul BraniffDown3-435277.423Brendan MurtaghWestmeath2-414776.714Rory JacobWexford8-214585.625Diarmuid LyngWexford5-213684.50Karl StewartAntrim1-333666.007Shane BrickKerry0-333356.608Ruairí DunbarCarlow1-283174.42Paul ShielsAntrim0-313147.75James YoungLaois0-313156.20
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player Team Tally Total Opposition1Shane DooleyOffaly1-1114Carlow2Shane DooleyOffaly2-0713Laois3Diarmuid LyngWexford3-0312AntrimPat KennyWexford3-0312CarlowBrendan MurtaghWestmeath2-0612WexfordShane DooleyOffaly1-0912Westmeath7Rory JacobWexford2-0511LaoisShane DooleyOffaly2-0511KerryPaul BraniffDown2-0511CarlowPaul BraniffDown1-0811WestmeathRuairí DunbarCarlow1-0811LaoisPaul ShielsAntrim0-1111Down
Division 3A
Final
Kildare won promotion to Division Two for 2010 while Meath remained in Division Three for 2010
Division 3B
Final
London won promotion to Division Three A for 2010 while Roscommon remained in Division Three B for 2010
Division 4
Final
Sligo won promotion to Division Three B for 2010 while Monaghan remained in Division Four for 2010
Promotion and relegation
+Promotion and relegation for 2009 Promoted Relegated Division One – Clare Division TwoOffaly Kerry Division Three A Kildare Wicklow Division Three BLondon Longford Division FourSligo –
References
External links