The 1993–94 National Hurling League was the 63rd edition of the National Hurling League, which ran from 17 October 1993 until 8 May 1994.
Thirty-two teams participated in the league, comprising four divisions of eight teams. Two points were awarded for a win and one point was awarded for a drawn game. The knock-out phase featured the top four teams from division one and the top two teams from division two.
Tipperary won the league, beating Galway by 2–14 to 0–12 in the final.
Overview Division 1
The National Hurling League's top division featured eight teams. Galway, the 1993 All-Ireland runners-up, suffered just one defeat, topped the group and guaranteed themselves a place in the National League semi-final. Reigning league champions Cork finished second and booked their place in the second semi-final. Third placed Tipperary and fourth placed Antrim secured their places in the league quarter-finals. In spite of finished third, Tipperary defeated Galway in the National League final to secure their 16th title. It was the team's last silverware under the management of Michael "Babs" Keating.
Down at the other end of the table, Waterford, with five defeats, and Wexford, with six defeats, were relegated to Division 2 for the following season.
Division 2
In Division 2, Clare and reigning All-Ireland champions Kilkenny finished first and second respectively, thus securing automatic promotion to Division 1 for the following season. They also earned a place in the National League quarter-finals.
Westmeath, who only managed one draw during the group stage, were automatically relegated to Division 3.
Division 3
Carlow finished the group stage without defeat, topping the group with 14 points. Their success ensured automatic promotion to Division 2.
Mayo lost all seven of their group games, finishing with a points difference of -100, and were relegated to Division 4.
Division 4
Louth were the standard bearers in Division 4. They recorded six wins from seven games, thus ensuring their promotion to Division 3 for the 1994-95 National Hurling League.
Cavan lost all seven of their group games, finishing with a points difference of -116. They had the dubious honour of being the worst hurling team in Ireland.
Division 1
For the second time in three years, the league saw a major restructuring. The twelve-team Division 1 which was split into two groups of six was abolished in favour of a single eight-team division.
Cork came into the season as defending champions of the 1992-93 season.
On 8 May 1994, Tipperary won the title after a 2–14 to 0–12 win over Galway in the final. It was their 16th league title overall and their first since 1987-88.
Waterford and Wexford were relegated from Division 1.
Waterford's Paul Flynn was the Division 1 top scorer with 0-39.
Table
PosTeamPldWDLDiffPtsNotes1 Galway 75112911 National Hurling League runners-up2 Cork 750234103 Tipperary 75022310 National Hurling League champions4 Antrim 7412-895 Limerick 7322686 Down 7124-3347 Waterford 7025-242Relegated to Division 28 Wexford 7106-382Relegated to Division 2
Group stage
Knock-out stage
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Scoring statistics
Top scorers overall
Rank Player Team Tally Total Matches Average1Paul FlynnWaterford0-393975.572John LeahyTipperary3-273694.00Michael ClearyTipperary1-333684.504Ger ManleyCork4-233557.005Stephen DwanTipperary2-283465.666Liam BurkeGalway2-243074.287Barry EganCork1-232655.20Gary KirbyLimerick1-232673.719Martin StoreyWexford3-152464.0010Seán Paul McKillopAntrim4-092173.00
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player Team Tally Total Opposition1Michael ClearyTipperary1-0912Wexford2Seán Paul McKillopAntrim3-0110WexfordGer ManleyCork2-0410Wexford4Liam BurkeGalway1-069DownBarry EganCork1-069AntrimPaul FlynnWaterford0-099Limerick7Alistair ElliottAntrim2-028DownBrendan KeoghGalway2-028WaterfordStephen DwanTipperary2-028DownJohn LeahyTipperary1-058AntrimChris MageeanDown1-058WexfordTom DempseyWexford0-088WaterfordMark MullinsCork0-088AntrimDermot O'PreyDown0-088AntrimMichael ClearyTipperary0-088Cork
Division 2
In spite of a major restructuring of the league, Division 2 remained as a single unit consisting of eight teams.
Laois came into the season as defending champions of the 1992-93 season.
On 20 March 1994, Clare secured the title after an 0–11 to 0–9 win over Westmeath in the final round of the group stage.
Westmeath were relegated from Division 2.
Dublin's Aonghus O'Grady was the Division 2 top scorer with 2-38.
Table
PosTeamPldWDLDiffPtsNotes1 Clare 75112011 Division 2 champions, promoted to Division 12 Kilkenny 75022310 Promoted to Division 13 Laois 74033584 Offaly 73221885 Dublin 7403-486 Kerry 7304-867 Meath 7115-4838 Westmeath 7016-371Relegated to Division 3
Group stage
Scoring statistics
Top scorers overall
Rank Player Team Tally Total Matches Average1Aonghus O'GradyDublin2-384467.332Johnny DooleyOffaly0-404075.713Pat PottertonMeath2-323875.424Eamon MorrisseyKilkenny7-082974.14David KilcoyneWestmeath1-262955.80
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player Team Tally Total Opposition1David KilcoyneWestmeath1-1013Meath2Aonghus O'GradyDublin1-0912Laois3Paul BerginLaois3-0110DublinJoe HennessyKerry1-0710WestmeathAonghus O'GradyDublin1-0710Clare6Pat PottertonMeath1-069Kerry7Eamon MorrisseyKilkenny2-028DublinDavid CuddyLaois1-058OffalyJohnny DooleyOffaly0-088ClareJohnny DooleyOffaly0-088MeathJohnny DooleyOffaly0-088LaoisAonghus O'GradyDublin0-088Meath
Division 3 Table
PosTeamPldWDLFADiffPtsNotes1 Carlow 770020-9010-467414 Division 3 champions, promoted to Division 22 Roscommon 75027-754-6024103 Wicklow 73229-8911-562784 Derry 731314-759-652575 Kildare 723213-6513-62376 Armagh 730411-549-68-867 Monaghan 712414-4915-81-3548 Mayo 70075-4422-93-1000Relegated to Division 4
Division 4 Table
PosTeamPldWDLFADiffPtsNotes1 Louth 760125-1009-3711112 Division 4 champions, promoted to Division 32 Fermanagh 742114-697-4842103 Longford 741216-554-583394 Tyrone 741215-7110-612595 Donegal 730410-5516-67-3066 Sligo 73049-4914-85-5167 Leitrim 72057-5519-49-3048 Cavan 70075-3523-97-1160
External links
References