The 1984–85 National Hurling League was the 54th season of the National Hurling League (NHL), an annual hurling competition for the GAA county teams. It was won by for the second year in a row.
Division 1 Limerick came into the season as defending champions of the 1983-84 season. Offaly and Tipperary entered Division 1 as the promoted teams.
On 14 April 1985, Limerick won the title following a 3-12 to 1-7 win over Clare in the final. It was their second league title in succession and their 9th National League title overall.
Tipperary and Wexford were relegated from Division 1.
Laois's Eugene Fennelly was the Division 1 top scorer with 2-44.
Table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Galway 7511112 Limerick 74038 National Hurling League champions3 Offaly 740384 Kilkenny 731375 Cork 730466 Laois 730467 Wexford73046 Relegated to Division 28 Tipperary72054 Relegated to Division 2
Group stage
Play-offs
Knock-out stage
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Scoring statistics
Rank Player Team Tally Total Matches Average1Eugene FennellyLaois2-445095.552Paddy CorriganOffaly1-424576.423Paddy KellyLimerick4-324494.884John HolohanWexford3-324185.125Séamus PowerTipperary5-233866.336Michael HavertyGalway0-363675.147Pat ClearyLaois10-043493.778Pat McCarthyLimerick8-073293.55Kieran BrennanKilkenny1-293293.5510Kevin HennessyCork4-142655.20
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player Team Tally Total Opposition1John HolohanWexford1-0811CorkPaddy CorriganOffaly0-1111Cork3Paddy KellyLimerick2-0410OffalyPádraig HoranOffaly1-0710WexfordPaddy KellyLimerick1-0710DublinPeadar CartonDublin1-0710LimerickMartin O'SheaGalway0-1010TipperaryEugene FennellyLaois0-1010Wexford9Pat McCarthyLimerick3-0010KilkennyPat ClearyLaois3-0010TipperaryMichael HavertyGalway0-099LimerickJohn FentonCork0-099OffalyPaddy CorriganOffaly0-099Galway
Division 2
Table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Clare 770014 Promoted to Division 12 Dublin 74129 Promoted to Division 13 Westmeath 740384 Roscommon 740385 Kerry 722366 Antrim 730467 Waterford72054 Relegated to Division 38 Kildare70161 Relegated to Division 3
Division 3
Table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Meath 770014 Promoted to Division 22 Down 760112 Promoted to Division 23 Carlow 740384 Wicklow 740385 Armagh 740386 Derry 720547 Mayo701618 Longford70161 Relegated to Division 4
Division 4
Knock-out stage
Final
References