2016 National Hurling League
The 2016 National Hurling League was the 85th season of the National Hurling League for inter-county hurling teams since its establishment in 1925. The fixtures were announced on 16 November 2015. The season began on 13 February 2016, and finished on 8 May 2016.
Waterford came into the season as defending champions of the 2015 season. Kerry entered Division 1 as the promoted team from the 2015 season.
Clare won the title for the first time since 1978 after a 1-23 to 2-19 win against Waterford in a replay.
Format
League structureThirty four teams compete in the 2016 NHL – six teams in the top five divisions and four teams in Division 3B. Thirty one county teams from Ireland take part. Fingal, London and Warwickshire complete the lineup.
Each team plays all the other teams in their division once, either home or away. 2 points are awarded for a win, and 1 for a draw.
Tie-breaker
- If only two teams are level on league points, the team that won the head-to-head match is ranked ahead. If this game was a draw, score difference is used to rank the teams.
- If three or more teams are level on league points, score difference is used to rank them.
- Division 1A
- * The top four teams qualify for the Division 1 quarter-finals
- * The bottom two teams meet in a relegation play-off, with the loser relegated to Division 1B
- Division 1B
- * The top 2 teams are promoted to Division 1A and qualify for the Division 1 quarter-finals
- * Teams ranked 2, 3 & 4 qualify for the Division 1 quarter-finals
- * The bottom two teams meet in a play-off, with the loser playing a relegation/promotion match against the Division 2A champions
- Division 2A
- * The top two teams meet in Division 2A final, with both teams being promoted
- * The bottom team is relegated to Division 2B
- Division 2B
- * The top two teams meet in Division 2B final, with both being promoted
- * The bottom two teams meet in a play-off, with the loser playing a relegation/promotionn match against the Division 3A champions
- Division 3A
- * The top two teams meet in Division 3A final, with both being promoted
- * The second bottom team play a relegation/promotion match against the Division 3B champions
- * The bottom team is relegated to Division 3B
- Division 3B
- * The top two teams meet in Division 3B final, with both being promoted
Division 1A
On 8 May 2016, Clare won the title following a 1-23 to 2-19 win over Waterford in a replay of the final. It was their first league title since 1978 and their fourth National League title overall.
Galway, who actually finished above Cork, were relegated from Division 1A after losing the relegation play-off to Cork by 2-22 to 0-25. Clare, who were undefeated in Division 1B, secured promotion to the top tier.
Kilkenny's T. J. Reid was the Division 1 top scorer with 2-61. Clare's Patrick Kelly was the top goalkeeper having kept 4 clean sheets.
Structure
The 12 teams in Division 1 were divided into two groups of six teams named Division 1A and Division 1B. Each team played all the others in its group once. Two points were awarded for a win and 1 for a draw. The first four teams in 1A and 1B advanced to the league quarter-finals with the top team in Division 1A playing the fourth team in Division 1B, the second team in Division 1A playing the third in Division 1B, etc.Division 1A Table
Division 1A Rounds 1 to 5
Division 1B
Division 1B Table
Division 1B Rounds 1 to 5
Division 1 Knockout
Division 1 Quarter-finals
Division 1 Semi-finals
Division 1 Final & Replay
Division 1A Relegation Play-Off
Division 1B Play-Off
Division 1B Relegation/Promotion Play-Off
Statistics
;Top scorer overall| Rank | Player | Team | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
| 1 | T. J. Reid | Kilkenny | 2-61 | 67 | 6 | 11.16 |
| 2 | Shane Dooley | Offaly | 0-62 | 62 | 6 | 10.33 |
| 3 | Joe Canning | Galway | 1-52 | 55 | 6 | 0.16 |
| 4 | P. J. Scully | Laois | 2-47 | 53 | 7 | 7.57 |
| 5 | Patrick Horgan | Cork | 3-43 | 52 | 6 | 8.66 |
| 6 | Patrick Curran | Waterford | 2-45 | 51 | 8 | 6.37 |
| 7 | David Treacy | Dublin | 2-42 | 48 | 6 | 8.0 |
| 8 | Conor McGrath | Clare | 1-41 | 44 | 8 | 5.50 |
| 9 | John O'Dwyer | Tipperary | 0-38 | 38 | 6 | 6.33 |
| 10 | Conor McGrath | Clare | 1-33 | 36 | 7 | 5.14 |
;Top scorer in a single game
| Rank | Player | Team | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| 1 | John Fitzgibbon | Limerick | 1-14 | 17 | Laois |
| 2 | T. J. Reid | Kilkenny | 1-12 | 15 | Cork |
| 2 | Shane Dooley | Offaly | 0-15 | 15 | Wexford |
| 4 | Conor McDonald | Wexford | 2-8 | 14 | Offaly |
| 4 | Joe Canning | Galway | 1-11 | 14 | Tipperary |
| 4 | T. J. Reid | Kilkenny | 0-14 | 14 | Galway |
| 7 | John Egan | Kerry | 1-10 | 13 | Offaly |
| 7 | Shane Dooley | Offaly | 0-13 | 13 | Kerry |
| 7 | Conor McGrath | Clare | 0-13 | 13 | Waterford |
| 7 | Joe Canning | Galway | 0-13 | 13 | Cork |
;Clean sheets
| Rank | Goalkeeper | Team | Clean sheets |
| 1 | Patrick Kelly | Clare | 4 |
| 2 | Eoin Murphy | Kilkenny | 3 |
| 2 | Stephen O'Keeffe | Waterford | 3 |
| 2 | James Skehill | Galway | 3 |
| 2 | Conor O'Leary | Wexford | 3 |
| 6 | Nickie Quaid | Limerick | 2 |
| 6 | Conor Dooley | Dublin | 2 |
| 6 | Anthony Nash | Cork | 2 |
| 6 | Enda Rowland | Laois | 2 |
| 10 | Darren Gleeson | Tipperary | 1 |
| 10 | Mark Fanning | Wexford | 1 |
| 10 | James Dempsey | Offaly | 1 |
| 10 | Andrew Fahey | Clare | 1 |
| 10 | Gary Maguire | Dublin | 1 |
| 10 | Paddy Maloney | Westmeath | 1 |
Division 2A
On 26 March 2016, Westneath won the title after a 0-10 to 0-8 win over Carlow. It was their first league title since 2008 when they claimed the Division 2 title in the old system.London's Kevin O'Loughlin was the Division 2A top scorer with 3-37.
Table
Rounds 1 to 5
Division 2A Final
Statistics
;Top scorer overall| Rank | Player | Team | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
| 1 | Kevin O'Loughlin | London | 3-37 | 46 | 5 | 9.2 |
| 2 | Ruairí Convery | Derry | 1-32 | 35 | 5 | 7.0 |
| 3 | Denis Murphy | Carlow | 1-28 | 31 | 3 | 10.3 |
| 4 | Martin Fitzgerald | Kildare | 1-27 | 30 | 5 | 6.0 |
| 5 | Ciarán Clarke | Antrim | 1-25 | 28 | 5 | 5.6 |
| 6 | Brendan Murtagh | Westmeath | 1-20 | 23 | 6 | 3.8 |
| 7 | Derek McNicholas | Westmeath | 2-13 | 19 | 5 | 3.8 |
| 8 | Gerry Keegan | Kildare | 1-14 | 17 | 5 | 5.4 |
| 9 | Marty Kavanagh | Carlow | 1-12 | 15 | 4 | 3.75 |
| 10 | Kevin McKernan | Antrim | 0-13 | 13 | 5 | 2.6 |
;Single game
| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| 1 | Kevin O'Loughlin | London | 3-9 | 18 | Carlow |
| 2 | Denis Murphy | Carlow | 1-12 | 15 | Derry |
| 3 | Ciarán Clarke | Antrim | 1-9 | 12 | Kildare |
| 3 | Martin Fitzgerald | Kildare | 1-9 | 12 | Derry |
| 5 | Ruairí Convery | Derry | 1-8 | 11 | Antrim |
| 6 | Kevin O'Loughlin | London | 0-10 | 10 | Westmeath |
| 6 | Ruairí Convery | Derry | 0-10 | 10 | Kildare |
| 8 | Denis Murphy | Carlow | 0-9 | 9 | Kildare |
| 9 | Derek McNicholas | Westmeath | 1-5 | 8 | Antrim |
| 9 | Ciarán Clarke | Antrim | 0-8 | 8 | Derry |
| 9 | Kevin O'Loughlin | London | 0-8 | 8 | Antrim |
Division 2B
On 26 March 2016, Armagh won the title after a 0-20 to 1-15 win over Down. It was their first league title since 2006 when they claimed the Division 3 title in the old system. The victory also secured promotion to Division 2A for 2017.Armagh's Ryan Gaffney was the Division 2B top scorer with 0-53.
Table
Rounds 1 to 5
Division 2B Final
Division 2B Play-Off
Division 2B Relegation/Promotion Play-Off
Statistics
;Top scorer overall| Rank | Player | Team | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
| 1 | Ryan Gaffney | Armagh | 0-53 | 52 | 6 | 8.6 |
| 2 | Danny Toner | Down | 2-39 | 45 | 6 | 7.5 |
| 3 | Kenny Feeney | Mayo | 1-40 | 43 | 5 | 8.6 |
| 4 | Lee Henderson | Donegal | 0-29 | 29 | 5 | 5.8 |
| 5 | John Keena | Meath | 1-22 | 25 | 5 | 5.0 |
| 6 | Conor Corvan | Armagh | 3-14 | 23 | 5 | 4.6 |
;Single game
| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| 1 | Kenny Feeney | Mayo | 0-13 | 13 | Down |
| 1 | Ryan Gaffney | Armagh | 0-13 | 13 | Meath |
| 3 | Stephen Clynch | Meath | 0-12 | 12 | Donegal |
| 4 | Mikey Lee | Wicklow | 1-8 | 11 | Donegal |
| 4 | Lee Henderson | Donegal | 0-11 | 11 | Down |
| 4 | Ryan Gaffney | Armagh | 0-11 | 11 | Down |
| 4 | Diarmuid Masterson | Wicklow | 0-11 | 11 | Donegal |
| 8 | Adrian Murphy | Donegal | 3-0 | 9 | Roscommon |
| 8 | Danny Toner | Down | 1-6 | 9 | Armagh |
| 8 | Kenny Feeney | Mayo | 0-9 | 9 | Wicklow |
| 8 | Danny Toner | Down | 0-9 | 9 | Meath |
;Clean sheets
| Rank | Goalkeeper | Team | Clean sheets |
| 1 | Shane McGann | Meath | 4 |
| 1 | Stephen Keith | Down | 4 |
| 3 | Donal O'Brien | Mayo | 2 |
| 3 | D O'Neill | Wicklow | 2 |
| 5 | Bob Fitzgerald | Wicklow | 1 |
Division 3A
On 26 March 2016, Roscommon won the title after a 4-15 to 0-7 win over Monaghan. It was their first league title since 2011 when they claimed the Division 3B title in the old system. The victory also secured automatic promotion to Division 2B for 2017.At the other end of the table, Warwickshire were relegated after losing all five of their group stage games. They had secured promotion in 2015 but will return to Division 3B in 2017.
Tyrone's Damian Casey was the Division 3A top scorer with 2-52. Roscommon's Noel Fallon was the top goalkeeper having kept 3 clean sheets.
Table
- Fingal are ranked ahead of Tyrone as they won the head-to-head match in the league
Rounds 1 to 5
Division 3A Final
Division 3A Relegation/Promotion Play-Off
Statistics
;Top scorer overall| Rank | Player | Team | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
| 1 | Damian Casey | Tyrone | 2-52 | 58 | 5 | 11.6 |
| 2 | Stephen Lambe | Monaghan | 2-33 | 39 | 6 | 6.5 |
| 3 | Gerry Fallon | Roscommon | 0-37 | 37 | 6 | 6.16 |
| 4 | John Matthew Sheridan | Fingal | 2-26 | 32 | 5 | 6.4 |
| 5 | Liam Dwan | Louth | 2-22 | 28 | 4 | 7.0 |
| 6 | Kieran O'Sullivan | Fingal | 3-15 | 24 | 4 | 6.0 |
| 7 | Shane Morrissey | Warwickshire | 4-10 | 22 | 5 | 4.40 |
| 8 | Pauric Crehan | Warwickshire | 2-15 | 21 | 4 | 5.25 |
| 9 | Diarmuid Murphy | Louth | 2-14 | 20 | 5 | 4.0 |
| 10 | Mark Treanor | Monaghan | 3-10 | 19 | 6 | 3.16 |
;Single game
| Rank | Player | Team | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| 1 | Damian Casey | Tyrone | 1-11 | 14 | Louth |
| 2 | Pauric Crehan | Warwickshire | 2-7 | 13 | Roscommon |
| 3 | Kieran O'Sullivan | Fingal | 2-6 | 12 | Warwickshire |
| 3 | Damian Casey | Tyrone | 0-12 | 12 | Fingal |
| 3 | Damian Casey | Tyrone | 0-12 | 12 | Warwickshire |
| 3 | Gerry Fallon | Roscommon | 0-12 | 12 | Warwickshire |
| 7 | Shane Morrissey | Warwickshire | 2-5 | 11 | Louth |
| 7 | Kieran O'Sullivan | Fingal | 1-8 | 11 | Tyrone |
| 9 | Damian Casey | Tyrone | 1-7 | 10 | Roscommon |
| 9 | Damian Casey | Tyrone | 0-10 | 10 | Monaghan |
| 9 | John Matthew Sheridan | Fingal | 0-10 | 10 | Tyrone |
;Clean sheets
| Rank | Goalkeeper | Team | Clean sheets |
| 1 | Noel Fallon | Roscommon | 3 |
| 2 | Michael Cremin | Warwickshire | 1 |
Division 3B
On 26 March 2016, Fermanagh won the title after a 2-13 to 3-8 win over Longford. It was their first league title since 2013 when they also claimed the Division 3B title.Longford's Joe O'Brien was the Division 3B top scorer with 3-22. Longford's Reuben Murray was the top goalkeeper having kept one clean sheet.
Table
Rounds 1 to 3
Division 3B Final
Statistics
;Top scorer overall| Rank | Player | Team | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
| 1 | Joe O'Brien | Longford | 4-26 | 38 | 4 | 9.5 |
| 2 | Cathal Mullane | Longford | 8-10 | 34 | 4 | 8.5 |
| 3 | Seán Corrigan | Fermanagh | 1-24 | 27 | 4 | 6.75 |
| 4 | Seán Kenny | Sligo | 4-13 | 25 | 3 | 8.33 |
| 5 | Pádraig O'Donnell | Leitrim | 2-16 | 22 | 3 | 7.3 |
| 6 | Keith Raymond | Sligo | 1-17 | 20 | 3 | 6.66 |
| 7 | Paddy Farrington | Longford | 2-5 | 11 | 4 | 2.75 |
| 8 | Clement Cunniffe | Leitrim | 0-10 | 10 | 3 | 3.33 |
| 8 | Joe Duffy | Fermanagh | 1-7 | 10 | 4 | 2.5 |
| 10 | Declan McGarry | Fermanagh | 1-5 | 8 | 3 | 2.66 |
;Single game
| Rank | Player | Team | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| 1 | Seán Kenny | Sligo | 3-8 | 17 | Longford |
| 2 | Joe O'Brien | Longford | 1-10 | 13 | Sligo |
| 3 | Cathal Mullane | Longford | 3-3 | 12 | Sligo |
| 3 | Pádraig O'Donnell | Leitrim | 1-9 | 12 | Fermanagh |
| 5 | Seán Corrigan | Fermanagh | 1-8 | 11 | Leitrim |
| 6 | Pádraig O'Donnell | Leitrim | 1-7 | 10 | Sligo |
| 6 | Joe O'Brien | Longford | 1-7 | 10 | Fermanagh |
| 6 | Seán Corrigan | Fermanagh | 0-10 | 10 | Longford |
| 9 | Cathal Mullane | Longford | 2-3 | 9 | Leitrim |
| 10 | Joe O'Brien | Longford | 1-5 | 8 | Leitrim |
| 10 | Keith Raymond | Sligo | 0-8 | 8 | Leitrim |
;Clean sheets
| Rank | Goalkeeper | Team | Clean sheets |
| 1 | Reuben Murray | Longford | 1 |