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.2002 Hurling League fixtures
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. The top three in 1A and 1B advance to the Division 1 Final Group. The bottom three in 1A and 1B go into the Division 1 Relegation Group.
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. The top three in 2A and 2B advance to the Division 2 Promotion Group. The bottom two in 2A and 2B go into the Division 2 Relegation Group.
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. The top three in 3A and 3B advance to the Division 3 Promotion Group. The bottom two in 3A and 3B go into the Division 3 Shield Group.
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
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. 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
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Galway 54018 Advanced to Group 12 Clare 540183 Waterford 530264 Kilkenny 53026 Advanced to Group 25 Laois 510426 Dublin 50050
Group stage results
Division 1B table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Cork 54109 Advanced to Group 12 Tipperary 531183 Limerick 530264 Offaly 53026 Advanced to Group 25 Wexford 510426 Antrim 50050
Group stage results
Group 1 table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Waterford 32105 Division 1 runners-up2 Galway 32014 Division 1 champions3 Clare 320144 Tipperary 311135 Limerick 310226 Cork 30030
Group 1 results
Group 2 table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Kilkenny 330062 Laois 321053 Dublin 311134 Wexford 311135 Antrim 301216 Offaly 30030 Relegated to Division 2
Group 2 results
Knock-out stage
Final
Scoring statistics
Top scorers overall
Rank Player Team Tally Total Matches Average1Eugene CloonanGalway10-6292910.222Paul FlynnWaterford5-587398.113James YoungLaois3-485787.124Eoin KellyTipperary5-39545Liam WatsonAntrim8-265086.256Niall GilliganClare5-33487Jonathan O'CallaghanCork0-45458Henry ShefflinKilkenny3-324166.839Rory HanniffyOffaly1-303310Conal KeaneyDublin5-1732Andrew O'ShaughnessyLimerick3-2332David CurtinDublin0-3232
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player Team Tally Total Opposition1Eugene CloonanGalway3-0716Waterford2Eoin KellyTipperary2-0814AntrimPaul FlynnWaterford1-1114Tipperary4Liam WatsonAntrim3-0413Kilkenny5Eugene CloonanGalway1-0912LaoisEoin KellyTipperary1-0912LimerickJimmy CooganKilkenny1-0912AntrimEugene CloonanGalway0-1212Kilkenny9Paul O'BrienWaterford3-0211DublinHenry ShefflinKilkenny1-0811ClareNiall GilliganClare1-0811CorkEugene CloonanGalway1-0811LimerickBarry LambertWexford1-0811Laois
Division 2
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.
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
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Down 43107 Advanced to Group 12 Westmeath 431073 Roscommon 420244 Kildare 41032 Advanced to Group 25 Derry 40040
Group stage results
Division 2B table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Kerry 44008 Advanced to Group 12 Wicklow 420243 Meath 420244 Mayo 41032 Advanced to Group 25 Carlow 40040
Group stage results
Group 1 table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Westmeath 33006 Division 2 runners-up2 Down 22004 Division 2 champions3 Roscommon 320144 Kerry 310225 Meath 200206 Wicklow 30030
Group 1 results
Group 2 table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Kildare 110022 Derry 110023 Carlow 210124 Mayo 20020 Relegated to Division 3
Group 2 results
Knock-out stage
Final
Scoring statistics
Top scorers overall
Rank Player Team Tally Total Matches Average1Andrew MitchellWestmeath1-565987.372Shane BrickKerry3-384776.71
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player Team Tally Total Opposition1Shane BrickKerry3-0918CarlowPaul BarniffDown3-0918Westmeath3John Mike DooleyKerry4-0214CarlowJonathan O'NeillWicklow2-0814Down5Gregory BiggsDerry2-0713WestmeathTom CarewKildare0-1313Westmeath7Keith HigginsMayo1-0811CarlowTom CarewKildare1-0811DerryAndrew MitchellWestmeath0-1111WicklowAndrew MitchellWestmeath0-1111Kerry
Division 3
Division 3A table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Sligo 43107 Advanced to Group 12 Armagh 430163 Leitrim 412144 Longford 40222 Advanced to Group 25 Donegal 40131
Group stage results
Division 3B table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Tyrone 43107 Advanced to Group 12 Fermanagh 431073 Louth 411234 Monaghan 41032 Advanced to Group 25 Cavan 40131
Group 1 table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Sligo 33006 Division 3 champions2 Tyrone 32014 Division 3 runners-up3 Fermanagh 320144 Armagh 310225 Leitrim 310226 Louth 30030
Group 2 table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Donegal 22004 Division 3 Shield champion2 Cavan 21012 Division 3 Shield runner-up3 Longford 201114 Monaghan 20111
Knock-out stage
Shield final
Final
References
External links