2009 National Hurling League


The 2009 National Hurling League 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.

Knock-out stage

'''Final'''

Top scorers

;Overall
RankPlayerCountyTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Alan McCrabbeDublin1-505368.83
2Niall MoranLimerick3-384767.8
3Richie PowerKilkenny5-264166.83
4Séamus CallananTipperary2-344066.66
5Eoin KellyWaterford2-303666.00
6Henry ShefflinKilkenny1-293248.00
7David O'CallaghanDublin4-172974.14
8Niall HealyGalway3-192874.00
9Colin RyanClare1-242764.50
10Richie HoganKilkenny1-232673.71

;Single game
RankPlayerCountyTallyTotalOpposition
1Niall HealyGalway2-814Clare
2David O'CallaghanDublin2-713Kilkenny
2Richie HoganKilkenny1-1013Tipperary
4Niall MoranLimerick1-912Waterford
4Alan McCrabbeDublin1-912Cork
6David TreacyDublin3-211Tipperary
6Martin ComerfordKilkenny3-211Tipperary
6Andrew O'ShaughnessyLimerick2-511Clare
6Joe CanningGalway1-811Limerick
6Henry ShefflinKilkenny0-1111Dublin
6Alan McCrabbeDublin0-1111Galway
6Séamus CallananTipperary0-1111Galway

Division 2

Knock-out stage

'''Final'''

Scoring statistics

;Top scorers overall
RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Shane DooleyOffaly8-487289.00
2Paul BraniffDown3-435277.42
3Brendan MurtaghWestmeath2-414776.71
4Rory JacobWexford8-214585.62
5Diarmuid LyngWexford5-213684.50
5Karl StewartAntrim1-333666.00
7Shane BrickKerry0-333356.60
8Ruairí DunbarCarlow1-283174.42
8Paul ShielsAntrim0-313147.75
8James YoungLaois0-313156.20

;Top scorers in a single game
RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalOpposition
1Shane DooleyOffaly1-1114Carlow
2Shane DooleyOffaly2-0713Laois
3Diarmuid LyngWexford3-0312Antrim
3Pat KennyWexford3-0312Carlow
3Brendan MurtaghWestmeath2-0612Wexford
3Shane DooleyOffaly1-0912Westmeath
7Rory JacobWexford2-0511Laois
7Shane DooleyOffaly2-0511Kerry
7Paul BraniffDown2-0511Carlow
7Paul BraniffDown1-0811Westmeath
7Ruairí DunbarCarlow1-0811Laois
7Paul 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

PromotedRelegated
Division One–Clare
Division TwoOffalyKerry
Division Three AKildareWicklow
Division Three BLondonLongford
Division FourSligo–