2012 National Hurling League


The 2012 National Hurling League commenced in February 2012. 34 GAA county hurling teams: 32 from Ireland, London and Warwickshire, contested it.
On 6 May Kilkenny defeated Cork in the final to win their 15th NHL title, moving them to second place in the all-time roll of honour, behind Tipperary who have won 19 Leagues.

Format

The 2012 format was originally to consist of five divisions: Divisions 1 and 2 having eight teams in each, Division 3A six, Division 3B seven, and six teams in Division 4.
However, this was controversially altered to a system of six divisions, with six teams in divisions 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 3A, and four in division 3B.
This meant that many counties were effectively relegated to a lower division.
It was agreed in October 2011 that here will no longer be an eight team Division 1, with the top division hurling counties giving their approval to the new system.
The league settings are as follows:

Division 1A

Division 1 Knockout

Top scorers

Season

RankPlayerCountyTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Richie PowerKilkenny3-4958511.60
2Niall BurkeGalway1-475077.14
3Pa BourkeTipperary2-384467.33
4Patrick HorganCork0-434367.16

Single game

Division 1B

Division 1B

Top scorers

Season
RankPlayerCountyTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Willie HylandLaois1-6164610.66
2Shane DooleyOffaly3-4352510.40
3Shane McNaughtonAntrim2-394559.00
4Conor McGrathClare2-3541410.25
Single game

Division 2A

Division 2A

Fixtures and results

Top scorers

Season
RankPlayerCountyTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Brendan MurtaghWestmeath3-5160610.00
2Paul BraniffDown3-374659.20
3Paddy HenryDerry1-313448.50
Single game

Division 2B

Division 2B

Division 3A

Division 3A

Fixtures and results

The Monaghan team gave a walkover after a dispute with the county board, who had refused to reschedule Gaelic football club games to allow their players to rest for the final.

Division 3B

Division 3B

Fixtures and results

Broadcasting rights

and TG4 provided live coverage of matches in Ireland with RTÉ providing highlights on Sunday nights. The finals were all shown live on TG4.
Setanta Sports broadcasts live matches in Australia. Setanta Sports also provides matches from the National Hurling League in Asia.