The 1989–90 season was the 59th completed season of the National Hurling League, the top league for inter-county hurling teams, since its establishment in 1925. The fixtures were announced on 19 September 1989. The season began on 14 October 1989 and concluded on 6 May 1990.
Division 1
Galway came into the season as defending champions of the 1988-89 season. Dublin and Cork entered Division 1 as the two promoted teams.
On 6 May 1990, Kilkenny won the title after an 0-18 to 0-9 win over New York. It was their first league title since 1986 and their eighth National League title overall.
Antrim were the first team to be relegated after losing all of their group stage games, while Galway suffered the same fate after losing to Wexford in the final round of the group stage.
Kilkenny's D. J. Carey finished the season as top scorer with 1-52.
Table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Cork 7511112 Kilkenny 742110 Division 1 champions3 Dublin 7502104 Wexford 7502105 Limerick 730466 Tipperary 721457 Galway 72054 Relegated to Division 28 Antrim 70070 Relegated to Division 2
Group stage
Knock-out stage
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Home final
Final
Top scorers
Top scorer overall
Rank Player Team Tally Total Matches Average1D. J. CareyKilkenny1-525596.12Jimmy HolohanWexford3-4049114.453Gary KirbyLimerick4-354776.74Kevin HennessyCork9-134075.75Éamonn MorrisseyKilkenny7-19406Michael ClearyTipperary0-393975.57Brian McMahonDublin5-213694.008Joe CooneyGalway0-32329Martin StoreyWexford2-212710Ger FitzGeraldCork6-0624Michael McGrathGalway1-2124
Top scorer in a single game
Rank Player Team Tally Total Opposition1Ger FitzGeraldCork4-0214Antrim2Gary KirbyLimerick1-0912Cork3Kevin HennessyCork3-0110TipperaryJimmy HolohanWexford2-0410CorkD. J. CareyKilkenny0-1010AntrimJoe CooneyGalway0-1010LimerickD. J. CareyKilkenny0-1010New York4Terence KennyLimerick3-009TipperaryEamon MorrisseyKilkenny2-039WexfordBrian McMahonDublin1-069WaterfordJoe CooneyGalway0-099TipperaryMichael ClearyTipperary0-099LimerickGary KirbyLimerick0-099Tipperary
Division 2
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Clare 761013 Promoted to Division 12 Waterford 761013 Promoted to Division 13 Offaly 741294 Meath 740385 Down 730466 Laois 721457 Westmeath 71062 Relegated to Division 37 Carlow 70070 Relegated to Division 3
Division 3
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Kerry 761013 Promoted to Division 22 Derry 751111 Promoted to Division 23 Wicklow 7502104 Kildare 740385 Roscommon 730466 Armagh 711537 Monaghan 711538 Mayo 70570 Relegated to Division 4
Division 4
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Sligo 761013 Promoted to Division 32 Fermanagh 7511113 Tyrone 7502104 Louth 740385 Longford 730466 Donegal 720547 Cavan 710628 Leitrim 71062
References