The 1971–72 National Hurling League was the 41st season of the National Hurling League (NHL), an annual hurling competition for the GAA county teams.
Overview
Structure
The National Hurling League's top division featured sixteen teams divided into two groups - 1A and 1B. Each group consisted of eight teams. The top two teams in Division 1A advance to the semi-finals. The third- and fourth-placed teams in 1A, as well as the top two from 1B, play in the quarter-finals.
Overview In spite of a poor standing in the group stages, having won just three of their seven games, Cork won their third league title in four seasons. Limerick, who were league runners-up, actually finished above Cork in the group stage, however, they fell to 'the Rebels' in the final.
Down at the other end of the tables, Dublin won just one of their group stage games and were relegated to Division 1B. They swapped places with Galway who, having enjoyed an unbeaten run in the group stage, topped Division 1B and gained promotion to the top eight in Division 1A for the following season. Westmeath lost all seven of their group stage games and finished bottom of Division 1B, however, they were not relegated to Division 2 as there was no promotion or relegation between these two separate divisions.
Tables
Division 1A
PosTeamPldWDLDiffPtsNotes1 Tipperary 7511+15112 Kilkenny 7502+33103 Limerick 7502+3210 Division 1 runners-up4 Cork 7313+137 Division 1 champions5 Wexford 7313+376 Clare 7214-1457 Offaly 7203-3848 Dublin 7106-442 Relegated to Division 1B
Division 1B
PosTeamPldWDLDiffPtsNotes1 Galway 7610+4313 Promoted to Division 1A2 Waterford 7502+44103 Laois 7502+29104 Antrim 7304+065 Kildare 7304-966 Kerry 7304-2867 Wicklow 7214+158 Westmeath 7007-800
Results
Group stage
Knock-out stage
League statistics
Scoring
Widest winning margin: 21 points Waterford 9-13 : 4-7 Laois Most goals in a match: 13 Waterford 9-13 : 4-7 Laois Most points in a match: 28 Cork 3-14 : 2-14 Limerick Most goals by one team in a match: 9 Waterford 9-13 : 4-7 Laois Most goals scored by a losing team: 5 Dublin 5-6 : 4-13 Wexford Most points scored by a losing team: 14 Waterford 0-14 : 3-12 Kildare Limerick 2-14 : 3-14 Cork
Top scorers
Season Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average1Eddie KeherKilkenny5-56712Charlie McCarthyCork10-35653Johnny WalshKildare2-51574Richie BennisLimerick4-36485Pat EnrightWaterford4-32446Seánie O'LearyCork12-541
Single game Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition1Éamonn FlynnDublin3-514WexfordCharlie McCarthyCork2-814Galway3Paddy FahyGalway2-713KildareT. MorrisseyWicklow2-713Laois5Charlie McCarthyCork3-312OffalyMichael MoroneyClare2-612DublinDeclan LovettKerry1-912GalwayCharlie McCarthyCork1-912Tipperary9Ger CuddyLaois3-211WicklowPat EnrightWaterford2-511KerryPat EnrightWaterford1-811LaoisJohnny WalshKildare0-1111WaterfordEddie KeherKilkenny0-1111Wexford14Brendan CumminsCork3-110WexfordP. J. MolloyGalway3-110KerryNick BehanKildare3-110KerrySeánie O'LearyCork3-110LimerickMichael KeatingTipperary2-410WexfordSéamus RichmondAntrim2-410WestmeathDeclan LovettKerry2-410WaterfordMichael KeatingTipperary2-410DublinEddie KeherKilkenny2-410DublinMick DwanKildare2-410AntrimCharlie McCarthyCork1-710KilkennyPaddy FahyGalway0-1010KerryJohnny WalshKildare0-1010Westmeath27P FlynnWexford3-09OffalyN CaseyClare3-09CorkWillie MooreLimerick3-09CorkGer CuddyLaois3-09WestmeathTom RyanGalway3-09LaoisSeánie O'LearyCork3-09OffalyP FlynnWexford2-39CorkEddie KeherKilkenny2-39LimerickJohnny WalshKildare1-69GalwayFrancis LoughnaneTipperary1-69CorkRichie BennisLimerick1-69CorkPat EnrightWaterford0-99KildareJohnny WalshKildare0-99Kerry
References