The 2022 National Hurling League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz Hurling League, was the 91st season of the National Hurling League, an annual hurling competition held in Ireland for county teams. Three English county teams also featured (having missed the 2021 tournament due to COVID-19 restrictions).[1]
Galway and Kilkenny entered the season as holders, having shared the 2021 NHL title.[2][3][4]
On 2 April, Waterford won the National Hurling League for the fourth time after a 4-20 to 1-23 win against Cork in the final.[5][6][7]
Format
League structure
Thirty-five teams are due to compete in the 2022 NHL –
twelve teams organised in two six-team groups of approximately equal strength in Division 1
six teams in Divisions 2A, 2B and 3A
five teams in Division 3B.
All thirty-two county teams from Ireland take part. London, Lancashire and Warwickshire complete the lineup.
Each team plays all the other teams in their division once, either home or away. Two points are awarded for a win, and one for a draw.
Tie-breaker
If only two teams are level on league points, the team that won the head-to-head match is ranked ahead. If this game was a draw, score difference (total scored minus total conceded in all games) is used to rank the teams.
If three or more teams are level on league points, score difference is used to rank the teams.
Finals, promotions and relegations
Division 1
The winner of group 1A will play the runners up of group 1B in the first semi final, and the winner of group 1B will play the runners up of group 1A in the other semi final.
The winners of the semi-finals will play each other in the NHL final.
The bottom team in each group meet in a relegation play-off, with the losers being relegated to Division 2A
Division 2A
The top two teams meet in Division 2A final, with the winners being promoted to Division 1
The bottom team is relegated to Division 2B
Division 2B
The top two teams meet in Division 2B final, with the winners being promoted to Division 2A
The bottom two teams meet in a relegation play-off, with the losers being relegated to Division 3A
Division 3A
The top two teams meet in Division 3A final, with the winners being promoted to Division 2B
The bottom team is relegated to Division 3B
Division 3B
The top two teams meet in Division 3B final, with the winners being promoted to Division 3A[8]
Locations of the 2022 NHL Division 1 teams. Red: Group A; Green: Group B.
Division 1 Format
The top twelve teams compete in Division 1 in two six-team groups of approximately equal strength. This group structure was introduced in 2020; the groups were redrawn for 2022 and 2023.[9]
Each team play all the other teams in their group once. Two points are awarded for a win and one for a draw. The top two teams in each group qualify for the NHL semi finals. The bottom teams in each group meet in a relegation playoff with the losing team relegated to Division 2A.[10]
S Kingston 0-9 (0-5 f, 0-1 65), M Coleman 0-5 (0-3 free), D Fitzgibbon 0-4, C Joyce, S Barrett 0-3 each, L Meade, T O’Mahony 1-0 each, S Harnedy 0-2, R Downey, C Lehane, A Cadogan, P Power 0-1 each.
E Niland 1-6 (0-5f, 0-1 ’65), J Fleming 1-2, G McInerney 1-1, D O’Shea 1-1 (0-1 ’65), T Monaghan 0-3, C Whelan 0-3, R Glennon 0-2, B Concannon 0-1, C Fahy 0-1, J Hastings 0-1, E Burke 0-1.
S Kingston 2-8 (0-6 free), C Lehane 1-2, D Fitzgibbon 1-2, M Coleman 0-4 free, R O’Flynn 0-2; M Keane 0-1, T O’Mahony 0-1, L Meade 0-1; C Cahalane 0-1, P Horgan 0-1, S Quirke 0-1, C O'Brien 0-1.
Division 1A Round 3
Sunday, February 27th 2pm
Galway
0-15 - 2-15
Wexford
Pearse Stadium Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow)
C Cooney 0-9 (0-7f, 0-1 sideline), G McInerney 0-1, A Tuohey 0-1, J Cooney 0-1, C Fahy 0-1, J Fleming 0-1, K Cooney 0-1.
R O’Connor 0-5 (0-1 free), O Pepper 1-1, C Dunbar 1-0, D O’Keeffe 0-2, P Foley 0-2 (0-2 free), J O’Connor 0-2 (0-2 free), M Dwyer 0-1, L Og McGovern 0-1, S Donohoe 0-1.
Sunday, February 27th 2pm
Offaly
0-16 - 4-20
Clare
Bord na Móna O'Connor Park
E Cahill (0-11, 10 free), J Murphy (0-2), E Kelly (0-1), L Langton (0-1), L O'Connor (0-1, free).
P Horgan 0-8 (6 free, 1 65), S Kingston 2-0, R O’Flynn, M Coleman (1 free), D Fitzgibbon and C Lehane 0-2 each, S Barrett, C Cahalane and T O’Mahony 0-1 each.
Division 1A Round 4
Saturday, March 5th 2pm
Wexford
1-22 - 2-12
Offaly
Chadwicks Wexford Park Referee: N Wall (Cork)
R O’Connor 1-11 9fs K Foley, 0-2, C Flood 0-2 C McDonald 0-2, C Dunbar 0-1, C Devitt 0-1, D O’Keeffe 0-1.
T Kelly 1-9 (1-0p, 0-6f, 0-2 ’65), R Taylor 0-5, D Fitzgerald 0-4, C Malone 0-1, S Meehan 0-1.
Sunday, March 20th 1.45pm
Limerick
4-29 - 0-17
Offaly
TUS Gaelic Grounds Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny)
A Gillane (0-12, six frees), P Ryan (1-2), G Mulcahy (0-4), B Nash (1-0); O O’Reilly (1-0), C Lynch (1-0), G Hegarty (0-3), D Byrnes (0-3, two frees), C O’Neill (0-2), D O’Donovan (0-1); T Morrissey (0-1); D Reidy (0-1).
L O’Connor (0-7, five frees, one ‘65), S Corcoran (0-3, three frees); L Langton (0-2), D Nally (0-1); C Burke (0-1), L Fox (0-1), E Kelly (0-1), P Clancy (0-1).
Sunday, March 20th 1.45pm
Wexford
1-22 - 1-17
Cork
Chadwicks Wexford Park Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary)
R O’Connor 1-12 (0-6 frees), C McDonald and O Foley 0-2 each, D O’Keeffe, J O’Connor, L Og McGovern, K Foley and C Byrne-Dunbar 0-1 each. P Foley 0-1 free.
D Burke 1-9 (1-0 pen, 7 free), P Crummey 1-0, F Whitely, D Sutcliffe 0-2 each, J Malone, J Bellew, J Madden, R McBride, E Dillon, C Crummey 0-1 each.
13 February 2022 Round 2
Waterford
7-31 - 0-19
Laois
Walsh Park
Stephen Bennett 3-8 (2-0p, 0-6 reef), P Curran 1-7, C Kirwan 1-4, A Gleeson 1-3, C Daly 1-1, T Barron 0-2, J Prendergast, J Fagan, DJ Foran, M Fitzgerald, I Beecher, B Power 0-1 each.
J Donnelly (0-5, 4 frees); P Walsh (0-4); T O’Dwyer (1-0); W Walsh (0-2); M Keoghan, T Phelan, D Blanchfield, M Carey, C Kenny, N Brassil, P Deegan (0-1 each).
Division 1B Round 3
26 February 2022 Round 3
Tipperary
0-21 - 2-16
Dublin
FBD Semple Stadium Referee: J Murphy (Limerick)
J Forde 0-12 (11 frees, 1 sideline); J Morris 0-3; R Byrne 0-2; M Breen, P Flynn, C Bowe, N McGrath 0-1 each.
D Burke 0-9 (8 frees); R McBride 1-2; R Hayes 1-1; F Whitely 0-2; C Burke, J Madden 0-1 each.
27 February 2022 Round 3
Antrim
2-22 - 3-21
Waterford
Corrigan Park Referee: T Gleeson (Dublin)
N McManus (0-13, 8 frees, 1 65, 1 penalty), C Clarke (1-00), D Nugent (1-00), C Cunning (0-02); M Bradley (0-02), K Molloy (0-02), D McKernan (0-01); S Elliott (0-01), G Walsh (0-01).
A Gleeson (0-08, 4 frees,1 sideline), C Dunford (2-01), Stephen Bennett (0-06, 5 frees), M Kiely (1-00), N Montgomery (0-02), T de Burca (0-01), T Barron (0-01); D Lyons (0-01), C Kirwan (0-01).
27 February 2022 Round 3
Kilkenny
2-28 - 0-17
Laois
UPMC Nowlan Park Referee: R Fitzsimons (Offaly)
A Murphy 0-13 (ten frees), B Ryan 0-4, T Phelan 2-1, M Keoghan 0-4, C Buckley 0-2, D Blanchfield 0-1, J Maher 0-1, W Walsh 0-1, J Walsh 0-1
S Maher 0-3 (two frees), J Kelly 0-3, R King 0-3 (one free), E Rowland 0-2 (two frees), J Keyes 0-2, F C-Fennell 0-1, C Byrne 0-1, P Delaney 0-1, R Mullaney 0-1.
Division 1B Round 4
5 March 2022 Round 4
Dublin
0-16 - 2-23
Kilkenny
Parnell Park Referee: P O'Dwyer (Carlow)
D Burke 0-9 (0-5f, 0-2 65), D Sutcliffe 0-3, R Hayes 0-2, R McBride and P Crummey 0-1 each.
W Walsh 1-3, A Murphy 0-5 (0-4 free), P Walsh 0-4, M Keoghan 1-1, D Blanchfield 0-3, M Carey and B Ryan 0-2 each, C Kenny, C Buckley and J Donnelly 0-1 each.
6 March 2022 Round 4
Waterford
1-28 - 0-21
Tipperary
Walsh Park Attendance: 5,865 Referee: C Lyons (Cork)
Stephen Bennett (1-16, 1 65, 12 frees); J Prendergast, P Curran (0-3 each); I Daly (0-2); M Mahony, M Kiely, K Bennett, T de Burca (0-1 each).
N McManus 1-7 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65), P Burke, M Bradley, C Cunning, C Clarke 0-2 each, D Kearney, G Walsh, E Campbell, S Elliott 0-1 each.
Division 1B Round 5
Sunday, March 20th 1.45pm Round 5
Kilkenny
2-21 - 0-21
Waterford
UPMC Nowlan Park Referee: J Murphy (Limerick)
A Murphy (4 free), P Walsh 0-5 each, B Ryan 1-1, C Buckley 1-0, W Walsh 0-3, E Cody 0-2, A Mullen, E Murphy (free), C Kenny, J Maher, J Donnelly 0-1 each.
A Gleeson 0-7 (4f, 1 ‘65’), P Mahony (3 free), N Montgomery 0-3 each, D Hutchinson 0-2, M Kiely, D Lyons, J Fagan, C Dunford, C Dalton, C Daly 0-1 each.
Sunday, March 20th 1.45pm Round 5
Laois
1-24 - 2-31
Dublin
MW Hire O'Moore Park Referee: C Cunning (antrim)
PJ Scully (0-7, 6 free), J Keyes (1-2); J Walshe (0-4); C Dwyer (0-4), R King (0-3, 2 free), C Fennell (0-2), P Delaney (0-1), C Byrne (0-1).
D Burke (0-14, 10f, 1'65'), F Whitley (0-7), E Dillon (1-1), A Considine (1-1), D Keogh (0-3), R McBride (0-3); D Ryan (0-1); J Malone (0-1).
Sunday, March 20th 1.45pm Round 5
Tipperary
7-29 - 1-17
Antrim
FBD Semple Stadium Referee: R McGann (Clare)
J Forde (1-8; 0-4 free), M Kehoe (2-3), J McGrath (2-3), M Breen (1-1); N McGrath (0-4), S Kennedy (1-0), R Maher (0-3), P Flynn (0-2), C Bowe (0-2), C Stakelum (0-2), R Byrne (0-1).
K Molloy (0-5), J McNaughton (0-5; 0-2 free), D Nugent (1-0), S Elliott (0-2), C Cunning (0-1), C McCann (0-1), C Johnston (0-1); P Burke (0-1); S Walsh (0-1).
Division 1 Semi-finals
26 March 2022 19:15 Semi-final
Cork
1-27 - 2-20
Kilkenny
Páirc Uí Chaoimh Attendance: 16,910 Referee: S Stack (Dublin)
P Horgan 0-9 (0-8 free), C Lehane 0-6 (0-3 free), D Fitzgibbon 1-3, A Connolly 0-4, S Kingston, S Barrett, R O’Flynn, T O’Mahony, C Joyce 0-1 each.
C Cunning 0-11 (9 frees), K Molloy 1-2, J McNaughton 1-2 (0-1 free, 0-1 65), C Clarke 0-4, G Walsh 0-1, E Campbell 0-1, J Maskey 0-1, C McCann 0-1, E O'Neill 0-1
E Cahill 2-6 (1-3 frees, 1-0 penalty, 0-1 65), J Sampson 0-3, L O'Connor 0-3 (1 frees), D King 0-1, P Clancy 0-1, J Murphy 0-1, D Nally, S Corcoran 0-1 (free).
C Woods (0-5 frees), O McManus (1-1, 0-1 free), M Fisher (1-0), E Sands (0-1), R McCusker (0-1), P Sheehan (0-1 free), P Og McCrickard (0-1, sideline).
J Gillen 2-6 (1-0 pen, 0-5 free), N Mitchell (1-0); K Regan (0-2), C Doyle (0-2), C Boyle (0-1), K Doyle (0-1, ‘65’), S McGovern (0-1); D McNicholas (0-1), J Galvin (0-1).
J Regan 0-12, J Kelly 0-2, M O'Sullivan 0-2, S Morris 0-1, D Reilly 0-1.
Division 2A Round 2
13 February 2022 Round 2
Kerry
4-18 - 2-16
Kildare
Austin Stack Park Referee: N Wall (Cork)
S Conway (1-5, 2 free), P Boyle (0-5), S Nolan (1-1, pen), C Walsh (1-0), F Mackessy (1-0), C Harty (0-3), Paul Dolan (0-2), G Dooley (0-2), P Ahern (0-1), D Slattery (0-1).
G Keegan (0-4), B Byrne (0-4, 2 free), D Qualter (1-0), K Aherne (1-0), J Sheridan (0-3, 2f, 1 ‘65), P Dolan (0-2), J Burke (0-1), J Travers (0-1), S Ryan (0-1).
13 February 2022 Round 2
Meath
1-19 - 2-18
Down
St. Loman's Park Referee: S Hynes (Galway)
J Regan 0-12 (10f, 1 ’65); D Healy 1-0; N Potterton 0-2; M O’Sullivan, P Potterton, A Gannon, S Geraghty, E O Donnchadha 0-1 each.
P Sheehan (4 free), O MacManus (free) 0-5 each; D Sands 1-1; C Egan 1-0; C Woods 0-2 (2 free); M Conlon, D Hughes, R McCusker, J McManus, B Trainor 0-1 each.
13 February 2022 Round 2
Carlow
1-20 - 1-14
Westmeath
Netwatch Cullen Park Referee: M Kennedy (Tipperary)
K McDonald 1-6 (3f); C Nolan 0-4; J Kavanagh, J Doyle 0-2 each; F Fitzpatrick, C Kehoe, D Byrne, T Joyce, J M Nolan, B Tracey (f) 0-1 each.
S Conway (0-10, 8f, 1 sideline), P Boyle (0-4), P Ahern (0-2), G Dooley (0-1), P O’Connor (0-1), S Nolan (0-1), N Mulcahy (0-1).
27 February 2022 Round 3
Down
0-22 - 2-17
Kildare
McKenna Park Referee: K Brady (Louth)
P Sheehan (0-10), C Woods (0-5), M Fisher (0-2), C Taggart (0-2), P Óg McCrickard (0-2), M Conlan (0-1), T Murray (0-1), C Egan (0-1), R Costello (0-1).
J Gillen 0-9 (7fs); K Doyle 1-5 (0-4 fs); N Mitchell 2-1; C Doyle 0-4; E Keyes 1-0; A Clarke 0-2; J Boyle, E Ahearne 0-1 each.
Division 2A Round 4
6 March 2022 Round 4
Kerry
2-31 - 0-14
Meath
Austin Stack Park Referee: R McGann (Clare)
S Nolan (1-3), S Conway (0-6, 4f), M Leane (1-2), C Harty (0-5), P Boyle (0-5, 1f, 1 ‘65), N Mulcahy (0-2), F Mackessy (0-2), D Collins (0-2), P O’Connor (0-1), B Lonergan (0-1), M Slattery (0-1), D Slattery (0-1).
P Sheehan (0-10, 5f, 1 ‘65’), E Sands (1-3), O McManus (0-2f), C Woods (0-1f), C Egan (0-1); M Fisher (0-1).
Division 2A Round 5
19 March 2022 Round 5
Down
1-19 - 0-20
Kerry
McKenna Park Referee: C Mooney (Dublin)
P Sheehan (0-7f), C Woods (1-2, 1 pen, 2f), O McManus (0-3, 2f), M Fisher (0-2), T Murray (0-1), M Conlon (0-1), P Óg McCrickard (0-1), D Sands (0-1), J Doran (0-1).
S Conway (0-7, 6f), P Boyle (0-4), C Harty (0-3), M Leane (0-2), P O’Connor (0-1), F Mackessy (0-1), S Nolan (0-1), M O’Connor (0-1).
20 March 2022 Round 5
Meath
1-21 - 2-21
Carlow
Páirc Tailteann Referee: T Gleeson (Dublin)
J Regan 0-9 (6 fs, 2 65s), J Walsh 1-0, M Cole 0-3, J Kelly 0-2; S Whitty 0-1, D Reilly 0-1, S Morris 0-1, D Healy 0-1, M Burke 0-1, D Healy 0-1, P Potterton 0-1.
J Boyle 0-5, R Greville 0-4 (1 free), C Boyle 1-0, K Doyle 0-3, D McNicholas 0-3, A Clarke 0-2, J Gillen 0-1 (free), C Doyle 0-1, J Galvin 0-1, K Regan 0-1.
Division 2A Semi-final
26 March 2022 Semi-final
Westmeath
2-18 - 0-21
Kerry
TEG Cusack Park Referee: P Murphy (Carlow)
K Doyle (0-9, 8f), D Glennon (1-0), N Mitichell (1-0), J Boyle (0-3), N O’Brien (0-1), R Greville (0-1), E Keyes (0-1), C Boyle (0-1), J Gillen (0-1), D McNicholas (0-01).
S Conway (0-8, 5f), P Boyle (0-5, 2f), P O’Connor (0-2), F Mackessy (0-2), S Nolan (0-2), C Walsh (0-1), M O'Connor (0-1).
Division 2A Final
2 April 2022 Final
Down
1-17 - 5-19
Westmeath
FBD Semple Stadium Referee: K Jordan (Tipperary)
R McCusker (0-4), P Sheehan (0-4; 1f, 1 ‘65), J Doran (1-0), T Murray (0-1), M Conlon (0-1), J McManus (0-1), C Woods (0-1f), C Teggart (0-1); P Og McCrickard (0-1), D Sands (0-1), T McGrattan (0-1), E Sands (0-1).
C O’Doherty (0-8, 6f), O McKeever (1-2), R Mullan (1-0), T McGrath (0-2), S Kelly (0-2), J Mullan (0-2), J McGuigan (0-2); D Foley (0-2), C Kelly (0-1), D McGilligan (0-1); C Hendry (0-1), R Mulholland (0-1).
13 February 2022 Round 2
Sligo
2-14 - 1-19
Donegal
Markievicz Park Referee: C Flynn (Westmeath)
G O’Kelly-Lynch (1-6, 4f), M Munnelly (1-0), A Kilcullen (0-2), K Gilmartin (0-2), G Connolly (0-1), R McHugh (0-1), J McHugh (0-1), K Prior (0-1f).
R McDermott (1-3), R Ryan (0-6, 3f) D Flynn (0-6, 2f), C O’Grady (0-1), S McVeigh (0-1), D Coulter (0-1), G Gilmore (0-1).
Division 2B Round 3
27 February 2022 Round 3
Sligo
1-24 - 1-15
London
Connacht COE Referee: B Keon (Galway)
G O’Kelly-Lynch (0-10, 9f 1’65), T Cawley (1-5), F Cawley (0-2), T O’Kelly-Lynch (0-2), R McHugh (0-1), F Moylan (0-1), J McHugh (0-1), A Kilcullen (0-1), E Rua McGowan (0-1).
G O’Kelly-Lynch (1-5, 5f), T O’Kelly-Lynch (2-1), E Comerford (1-0), A Kilcullen (0-2), P Foley (0-2); F Cawley (0-1), J McHugh (0-1); T Cawley (0-1).
Division 2B Round 5
20 March 2022 12:00 Round 5
Derry
0-25 - 0-09
London
Celtic Park Referee: C McDonald (Antrim)
G Bradley (0-6), D Foley (0-5f), T McCloskey (0-3f), R Mulholland (0-3); D McGilligan (0-3); B Laverty (0-2), G Farren (0-1); J Mullan (0-1), T McHugh (0-1).
M Feaneay (0-3), R Crowley (0-2f); D Hannon (0-1), J Goulding (0-1); D Bruen (0-1), B McCarry (0-1).
20 March 2022 13:00 Round 5
Wicklow
3-17 - 3-17
Sligo
Aughrim County Ground Referee: K Brady (Louth)
J Doyle (0-9, 6f); K Conway (2-1), J Toomey (1-0); M Murphy (0-2), S Browne (0-1), S Germaine (0-1f), J Byrne (0-1); T Collins (0-1); E Kavanagh (0-1).
A Kilcullen (1-6, 4f) T Cawley (0-2), T O’Kelly-Lynch (0-2), R McHugh (0-2), K Gilmartin (0-2); J McHugh (0-2), C Hanniffy (0-2), G O’Kelly-Lynch (0-1), R Brennan (0-1).
S Kerrisk (0-5, 0-4 frees), C Deane (0-3), N Keenan (0-3); P Mathews (1-2), A Smyth (0-1); C Quigley (0-1), J McDonnell (0-1 free); S Crosbie (0-1), S Conneely (0-1), A Mackin (0-1).
6 March 2022 Round 4
Armagh
1-19 - 2-17
Roscommon
Athletic Grounds
F Donnelly 0-15 (15f), D Gaffney 1-1, N Curry 0-1, R Gaffney 0-1, D Magee 0-1.