1998 National Hurling League


The 1998 National Hurling League was the 66th season of the National Hurling League.

Division 1

The league saw a major restructuring of the usual four divisions of eight teams. Division 1 was split into Group 1A and Group 1B with each group consisting of six teams. The top two teams in each group qualified for the knock-out stage.
Limerick came into the season as defending champions of the 1997 season. Antrim, Cork, Dublin and Waterford all entered Division 1 as part of the restructuring.
On 17 May 1998, Cork won the title after a 2-14 to 0-13 win over Waterford in the final. It was their 14th league title overall and their first since 1992-93.
Cork's Joe Deane was the Division 1 top scorer with 3-30.

Division 1A table

PosTeamPldWDLFADiffPtsNotes
1 Limerick 55007-574-581810-
2 Clare 53025-839-52196-
3 Galway 53029-674-66166-
4 Dublin 52038-595-6264-
5 Offaly 51046-6210-58-82-
6 Antrim 51047-479-49-82-

Group stage

Division 1B table

PosTeamPldWDLFADiffPtsNotes
1 Cork 54105-646-42199Division 1 champions
2 Waterford 53118-648-52127Division 1 runners-up
3 Wexford 52214-602-6066-
4 Tipperary 511310-527-5743-
5 Laois 51133-548-56-173-
6 Kilkenny 51045-545-69-152-

Group stage

Knock-out stage

Semi-finals
Final

Scoring statistics

;Top scorers overall
RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Joe DeaneCork3-304968.16
2Paul FlynnWaterford5-314676.57
3Paul CoddWexford1-333657.20
4Jamesie O'ConnorClare0-303065.00
5Ken McGrathWaterford1-262974.14
6Gary KirbyLimerick3-192855.60
7David CuddyLaois1-222555.00
8Eamon MorrisseyDublin6-62454.80
9Eugene O'NeillTipperary0-202045.00
10Niall MoloneyGalway2-131944.75
10Francis FordeGalway1-161944.75

;Top scorers in a single game
RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalOpposition
1Darragh CoenGalway0-1212Clare
2Francis FordeGalway1-0811Offaly
3Paul FlynnWaterford2-0410Laois
3Paul CoddWexford1-0710Tipperary
3Jamesie O'ConnorClare0-1010Antrim
6Paul FlynnWaterford1-069Tipperary
6Niall MoloneyKilkenny1-069Tipperary
6Paul CoddWexford0-099Laois
6Joe DeaneCork0-099Clare
6Paul FlynnWaterford0-099Limerick

Division 2

The league saw a major restructuring of the usual four divisions of eight teams. Division 2 was split into Group 2A and Group 2B with each group consisting of seven teams. The top two teams in each group qualified for the knock-out stage.
Armagh, Carlow, Derry, Down, Kildare, Louth, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tyrone and Wicklow all entered Division 1 as part of the restructuring.
On 25 July 1998, Kerry won the title after a 1-11 to 2-6 win over Westmeath in a replay of the final. It was their 5th Division 2 league title overall and their first since 1967-68.

Division 2A table

PosTeamPldWDLFADiffPtsNotes
1 Carlow 650117-885-527210-
2 Kerry 650117-995-716410Division 2 champions
3 Derry 640213-735-64338-
4 Wicklow 64024-848-51218-
5 Monaghan 62046-4018-82-784-
6 Roscommon 610512-538-68-32-
7 Armagh 60062-4122-90-1090-

Division 2B table

PosTeamPldWDLFADiffPtsNotes
1 Down 660020-1006-3910312-
2 Westmeath 650121-807-388410Division 2 runners-up
3 London 53027-569-5006-
4 Meath 620412-6910-60154-
5 Kildare 62045-5414-65-284-
6 Tyrone 62046-4018-89-854-
7 Louth 60069-2816-96-890-

Knock-out stage

Semi-finals
Finals

Division 3

PosTeamPldWDLFADiffPtsNotes
1 Cavan 651012-404-364811Division 3 runners-up
2 Mayo 650114-7910-266510Division 3 champions
3 Leitrim 63125-419-51-227-
4 Longford 630310-577-51156-
5 Fermanagh 63036-522-5866-
6 Sligo 61056-3013-79-702-
7 Donegal 60065-3813-66-520-

Knock-out stage

Final