The 1988–89 National Hurling League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Royal Liver National Hurling League, was the 58th season of the National Hurling League (NHL), an annual hurling competition for the GAA county teams.[1][2] It was won by Galway. This season was notable as the first to hold both semi-finals and the final at Croke Park, giving the League additional prestige.[3]
Division 1
Tipperary came into the season as defending champions of the 1987-88 season. Antrim and Offaly entered Division 1 as the two promoted teams.
On 30 April 1989, Galway won the title after a 2-16 to 4-8 win over Tipperary. It was their first league title since 1987 and their fifth National League title overall.[4]
Waterford were the first team to be relegated after losing all of but one of their group stage games, while Offaly suffered the same fate after losing a series of play-off games with Antrim and Wexford.
Table
Group stage
Offaly v Galway
30 October 1988 |
Offaly |
0-11 - 2-12 |
Galway |
St. Brendan's Park, Birr |
|
M Corrigan 0-6, J Errity 0-2, J Dooley 0-1, P Corrigan 0-1, D Owens 0-1. |
|
G Burke 2-3, J Cooney 0-3, M Naughton 0-3, M McGrath 0-2, R Dwane 0-1. |
Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)
|
|
Antrim v Wexford
30 October 1988 |
Antrim |
2-15 - 0-11 |
Wexford |
Loughguile |
|
D McNaughton 1-7, M Sullivan 1-2, B Donnelly 0-2, C Barr 0-1, P McKillen 0-1, J McNaughton 0-1. |
|
M Fitzhenry 0-3, B Byrne 0-2, M Storey 0-2, L McDonnell 0-2, D Prendergast 0-1, B O'Connor 0-1. |
Referee: P Delaney (Laois)
|
|
Kilkenny v Antrim
6 November 1988 |
Kilkenny |
1-15 - 0-13 |
Antrim |
Nowlan Park, Kilkenny |
|
A Ronan 0-5, L Fennelly 1-1, K Brennan 0-4, J Hennessy 0-4, C Heffernan 0-1. |
|
D McNaughton 0-6, P McKillen 0-2, D Donnelly 0-2, O McFetridge 0-1, L McKeegan 0-1, C Barr 0-1. |
Referee: G Long (Tipperary)
|
|
Galway v Waterford
6 November 1988 |
Galway |
2-7 - 0-11 |
Waterford |
Kenny Park, Athenry |
|
E Ryan 1-3, G Burke 1-0, M Connolly 0-3, M Kenny 0-1. |
|
E Rockett 0-2, S Aherne 0-2, K Delahunty 0-2, P Murphy 0-1, B O'Sullivan 0-1, B Prendergast 0-1, G Connors 0-1, D Byrne 0-1. |
Referee: M Quinn (Clare)
|
|
Tipperary v Offaly
6 November 1988 |
Tipperary |
1-19 - 0-10 |
Offaly |
Semple Stadium, Thurles |
|
D Fogarty 0-4, P McGrath 0-4, J Leahy 0-4, M CLeary 1-0, J Cormack 0-2, J Kennedy 0-1, D Carr 0-1, D Ryan 0-1, Cormac Bonnar 0-1, M McGrath 0-1. |
|
M Corrigan 0-6, P Corrigan 0-2, D Fogarty 0-1, D Owens 0-1. |
Referee: W Horgan (Cork)
|
|
Wexford v Limerick
6 November 1988 |
Wexford |
1-7 - 3-12 |
Limerick |
Wexford Park, Wexford |
|
M Storey 1-0, B O'Connor 0-2, R Coleman 0-1, J O'Connor 0-1, T Dunne 0-1, S Fitzhenry 0-1, M Fitzhenry 0-1. |
|
S Fitzgibbon 3-0, G Kirby 0-5, B Flynn 0-2, M Reale 0-1, D Marron 0-1, J Carroll 0-1, D Punch 0-1, D Fitzgerald 0-1. |
Referee: J Moore (Waterford)
|
|
Tipperary v Wexford
13 November 1988 |
Tipperary |
2-20 - 1-4 |
Wexford |
Semple Stadium, Thurles |
|
P McGrath 0-10, M CLeary 1-1, D Fogarty 0-4, A Ryan 1-0, N English 0-3, J Leahy 0-1, J Hayes 0-1. |
|
M Fitzhenry 1-0, J O'Connor 0-2, S Fitzhenry 0-1, T Dunne 0-1. |
Referee: JJ Landers (Waterford)
|
|
Offaly v Limerick
13 November 1988 |
Offaly |
2-18 - 1-15 |
Limerick |
St. Brendan's Park, Birr |
|
P Corrigan 2-4, M Corrigan 0-7, D Owens 0-2, J Kelly 0-1, J Errity 0-1, D Pilkington 0-1, K Dooley 0-1. |
|
S Fitzgibbon 1-2, B Finn 0-4, D Fitzgerald 0-3, L O'Connor 0-3, J Carroll 0-1, G Hegarty 0-1, M Nelligan 0-1. |
Referee: J Denton (Wexford)
|
|
Waterford v Antrim
13 November 1988 |
Waterford |
3-14 - 2-10 |
Antrim |
Walsh Park, Waterford |
|
S Ahearne 1-3, E Rockett 1-1, K Delahunty 0-4, P Murphy 1-0, B O'Sullivan 0-3, D Byrne 0-1, B Prendergast 0-1, G Connors 0-1. |
|
D McNaughton 1-4, D Donnelly 1-0, P McKillen 0-2, D Armstrong 0-1, J McNaughton 0-1, O McFetridge 0-1, C Barr 0-1. |
Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)
|
|
Galway v Kilkenny
13 November 1988 |
Galway |
2-14 - 1-11 |
Kilkenny |
Pearse Stadium, Salthill |
|
J Cooney 2-1, E Ryan 0-3, M McGrath 0-3, M Naughton 0-3, T Keady 0-2, G Burke 0-2. |
|
A Ronan 0-7, M Phelan 1-0, C Heffernan 0-2, K Brennan 0-1. |
Referee: G Kirwan (Offaly)
|
|
Limerick v Tipperary
27 November 1988 |
Limerick |
3-11 - 4-14 |
Tipperary |
Gaelic Grounds, Limerick |
|
L Garvey 2-1, M Galligan 0-6, S Fitzgibbon 1-1, M Nelligan 0-2, D Fitzgerald 0-1. |
|
P McGrath 1-7, C Bonnar 2-1, P Fox 1-0, J Leahy 0-2, D Ryan 0-2, D Fogarty 0-1, N English 0-1. |
|
|
Wexford v Offaly
27 November 1988 |
Wexford |
0-12 - 0-11 |
Offaly |
St. Patrick's Park, Enniscorthy |
|
M Storey 0-4, T Dunne 0-2, M Fitzhenry 0-2, S Fitzhenry 0-2, T Walsh 0-1, M Morrissey 0-1. |
|
M Corrigan 0-6, D Owens 0-1, J Errity 0-1, J Kelly 0-1, D Pilkington 0-1, P O'Connor 0-1. |
Referee: G Ryan (Tipperary)
|
|
Kilkenny v Waterford
27 November 1988 |
Kilkenny |
2-15 - 0-9 |
Waterford |
Nowlan Park, Kilkenny |
|
A Ronan 1-6, L Fennelly 1-1, R Power 0-2, C Heffernan 0-2, A Prendergast 0-2, G Fennelly 0-1, T McCluskey 0-1. |
|
K Delahunty 0-6, K Ryan 0-1, B O'Sullivan 0-1, G Connors 0-1. |
Referee: G Ryan (Tipperary)
|
|
Antrim v Galway
27 November 1988 |
Antrim |
2-9 - 3-12 |
Galway |
Casement Park, Belfast |
|
C Barr 2-1, D McNaughton 0-3, O McFetridge 0-2, JP McKillop 0-1, P McKillen 0-1, J McNaughton 0-1. |
|
G Burke 2-1, E Ryan 1-0, J Cooney 0-3, M McGrath 0-2, M Coleman 0-2, T Kilkenny 0-2, M Naughton 0-1, T Keady 0-1. |
Referee: JF Bailey (Dublin)
|
|
Limerick v Galway
19 February 1989 |
Limerick |
1-8 - 1-14 |
Galway |
Gaelic Grounds, Limerick |
|
L Garvey 1-0, G Kirby 0-3, M Galligan 0-3, B Finn 0-1, D Marron 0-1. |
|
J Cooney 0-5, M McGrath 0-4, E Ryan 1-0, G Burke 0-3, T Kilkenny 0-2. |
Referee: P Delaney (Laois)
|
|
Wexford v Waterford
19 February 1989 |
Wexford |
3-21 - 0-4 |
Waterford |
Wexford Park, Wexford |
|
J Holohan 1-9, T Demspey 1-4, M Storey 1-1, S Fitzhenry 0-2, M Morrissey 0-2, M Fitzhenry 0-1, G O'Connor 0-1, J O'Connor 0-1. |
|
K Delahunty 0-2, N Crowley 0-1, P Ryan 0-1. |
Referee: W Horgan (Cork)
|
|
Tipperary v Antrim
19 February 1989 |
Tipperary |
2-15 - 0-7 |
Antrim |
Semple Stadium, Thurles |
|
P McGrath 0-7, J Leahy 1-1, Cormac Bonnar 1-0, P Fox 0-2, D Carr 0-2, N English 0-2, J Cormack 0-1. |
|
O McFetridge 0-3, A McGarry 0-1, C Barr 0-1, G O'Kane 0-1, D Donnelly 0-1. |
Referee: T Murray (Limerick)
|
|
Antrim v Limerick
5 March 1989 |
Antrim |
1-12 - 0-17 |
Limerick |
Casement Park, Belfast |
|
O McFetridge 0-8, B Donnelly 1-0, P McKillen 0-2, A McGarry 0-1, D Armstrong 0-1. |
|
G Kirby 0-9, M Galligan 0-3, D Fitzgerald 0-2, L Garvey 0-2, B Finn 0-1. |
Referee: W Horgan (Cork)
|
|
Kilkenny v Wexford
5 March 1989 |
Kilkenny |
2-11 - 3-6 |
Wexford |
Nowlan Park, Kilkenny |
|
A Ronan 0-7, L Ryan 1-2, T O'Keeffe 1-1, G Fennelly 0-1. |
|
B Byrne 1-1, T Dunne 1-0, M Morrissey 1-0, J Holohan 0-2, J O'Connor 0-1, M Fitzhenry 0-1, S Fitzhenry 0-1. |
Referee: P Delaney (Laois)
|
|
Waterford v Offaly
5 March 1989 |
Waterford |
0-10 - 1-16 |
Offaly |
Fraher Field, Dungarvan |
|
K Delahunty 0-3, N Crowley 0-3, G O'Connor 0-2, P Ryan 0-1, K Ryan 0-1. |
|
M Corrigan 0-5, P Cleary 1-1, V Teehan 0-4, P Delaney 0-1, M Duignan 0-1, J Rigney 0-1, R Byrne 0-1, P O'Connor 0-1, D Pilkington 0-1. |
Referee: T Murray (Limerick)
|
|
Waterford v Limerick
12 March 1989 |
Waterford |
1-8 - 1-11 |
Limerick |
Walsh Park, Waterford |
|
S Ahearne 1-4, J Beresford 0-1, N Crowley 0-1, A Cooney 0-1, B Lawton 0-1. |
|
G Kirby 0-6, S Fitzgibbon 1-0, G Hegarty 0-1, D Flynn 0-1, J O'Connor 0-1, M Galligan 0-1, M Nelligan 0-1. |
Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)
|
|
Tipperary v Kilkenny
12 March 1989 |
Tipperary |
1-11 - 2-8 |
Kilkenny |
Semple Stadium, Thurles |
|
P McGrath 1-3, N English 0-3, J Hayes 0-2, D Carr 0-1, D Ryan 0-1, J Leahy 0-1. |
|
L Ryan 1-1, A Ronan 0-4, L Fennelly 1-0, A Prendergast 0-1, T O'Keeffe 0-1, C Heffernan 0-1. |
Referee: J Moore (Waterford)
|
|
Offaly v Antrim
12 March 1989 |
Offaly |
0-10 - 1-9 |
Antrim |
St. Brendan's Park, Birr |
|
M Corrigan 0-6, P Delaney 0-2, P Cleary 0-1, J Rigney 0-1. |
|
O McFetridge 1-4, P McKillen 0-1, D McMullen 0-1, B Donnelly 0-1, A McGarry 0-1, D McNaughton 0-1. |
Referee: T Murray (Limerick)
|
|
Galway v Wexford
12 March 1989 |
Galway |
1-17 - 1-4 |
Wexford |
Tuam Stadium, Tuam |
|
J Cooney 0-8, E Ryan 0-4, G Burke 1-0, A Staunton 0-2, P Higgins 0-2, M McGrath 0-1. |
|
M Storey 1-2, M Morrissey 0-1, D Prendergast 0-1. |
Referee: T Murray (Limerick)
|
|
Play-offs
Wexford v Antrim
9 April 1989 Relegation play-off |
Wexford |
3-21 - 2-9 |
Antrim |
Croke Park, Dublin |
|
T Dempsey 0-10, S Byrne 2-2, S Wickham 1-3, G O'Connor 0-3, M Storey 0-1, B Prendergast 0-1, S Fitzhenry 0-1. |
|
A McCarry 1-1, O McFetridge 0-4, T McNaughton 1-0, J McNaughton 0-2, M Sullivan 0-1, D McNaughton 0-1. |
Referee: G Ryan (Tipperary)
|
|
Antrim v Offaly
23 April 1989 Relegation play-off |
Antrim |
3-15 - 2-16 (AET) |
Offaly |
Drogheda Park, Drogheda |
|
C Barr 2-0, A McCarry 1-3, O McFetridge 0-4, B Donnelly 0-3, D Armstrong 0-2, J McNaughton 0-1, M Sullivan 0-1, JP McKillop 0-1. |
|
M Corrigan 0-10, P Cleary 1-2, M Duignan 1-1, J Rigney 0-2, J Dooley 0-1. |
Referee: O Long (Kilkenny)
|
|
Knock-out stage
Quarter-finals
Dublin v Limerick
26 March 1989 Quarter-final |
Dublin |
1-17 - 0-12 |
Limerick |
O'Moore Park, Portlaoise |
|
S McDermott 1-4, K Hetherton 0-4, S Dalton 0-3, MJ Ryan 0-3, S Fleming 0-1, J Morris 0-1, B McMahon 0-1. |
|
G Kirby 0-6, M Galligan 0-1, S Fitzgibbon 0-1, M Nelligan 0-1, C Carey 0-1, M Reale 0-1, D Marron 0-1. |
Attendance: 12,000 Referee: J Denton (Wexford)
|
|
Kilkenny v Cork
2 April 1989 Quarter-final |
Kilkenny |
1-15 - 1-7 |
Cork |
Semple Stadium, Thurles |
|
L Ryan 1-1, A Ronan 0-4, G Fennelly 0-4, R Power 0-3, L Fennelly 0-1, L Walsh 0-1, T O'Keeffe 0-1. |
|
B Cunningham 1-1, M Mullins 0-2, P Kenneally 0-2, C Casey 0-1, T McCarthy 0-1. |
Attendance: 7,500 Referee: P Delaney (Laois)
|
|
Semi-finals
Tipperary v Kilkenny
16 April 1989 Semi-final |
Tipperary |
0-15 – 1-11 |
Kilkenny |
Croke Park, Dublin |
|
N English 0-5, M Cleary 0-4, P McGrath 0-2, Conal Bonnar 0-2, D Ryan 0-1, J Cormack 0-1. |
|
A Ronan 1-3, R Power 0-3, C Heffernan 0-1, L Fennelly 0-1, L Walsh 0-1, T O'Keeffe 0-1, L Ryan 0-1. |
Attendance: 35,881 Referee: J Denton (Wexford)
|
|
Galway v Dublin
16 April 1989 Semi-final |
Galway |
2-13 – 1-9 |
Dublin |
Croke Park, Dublin |
|
J Cooney 1-3, E Ryan 1-0, T Keady 0-3, M McGrath 0-3, G Burke 0-3, M Ryan 0-1. |
|
B McMahon 1-1, S McDermott 0-3, V Conroy 0-2, K Hetherton 0-2, J Twomey 0-1. |
Attendance: 35,881 Referee: T Murray (Limerick)
|
|
Final
Galway v Tipperary
30 April 1989 Final |
Galway |
2-16 – 4-8 |
Tipperary |
Croke Park, Dublin |
|
J Cooney 1-7, G Burke 1-2, E Ryan 0-3, M Naughton 0-2, M McGrath 0-1, M Coleman 0-1. |
|
P McGrath 1-3, M Cleary 1-3, Cormac Bonnar 1-0, J Leahy 1-0, J Cormack 0-1, D Carr 0-1. |
Attendance: 35,544 Referee: J Denton (Wexford)
|
|
Scoring statistics
- Top scorers overall
- Top scorers in a single game
Division 2
Clare, Cork, Derry and Meath entered Division 2 as the promoted and relegated teams from the previous season.
On 12 March 1989, Dublin secured the title following a 3-7 to 1-3 win over Cork in the final round of the group stage. Cork secured promotion to Division 1 as the second-placed team.
Kerry and Derry were relegated from Division 2.
Table
Division 3
Down, Longford and Roscommon entered Division 3 as the promoted and relegated teams from the previous season.
On 12 March 1989, Down secured the title following a 7-5 to 1-9 win over Kildare in the final round of the group stage. Carlow secured promotion to Division 1 as the second-placed team.
Longford and Mayo were relegated from Division 3.
Table
Division 4
Tyrone entered Division 4 as the relegated team from the previous season.
On 7 May 1989, Monaghan secured the title following a 4-7 to 1-9 win over Louth in the league final.
Knock-out stage
Semi-finals
Final
References